More information : Selsey cathedral founded by St. Wilfrid c.681; the see was united to Winchester in 686 but revived 711 and transferred to Chichester in 1075. (1)
In the late 7th c. A.D. St.Wilfrid is alleged to have founded a cathedral at Selsey and the episcopal seat of the first bishop of the South Saxons remained there until 1075 when it was transferred to Chichester. The traditional site, now inundated by the sea, is called 'The Park' .
There are in existence several relics which in the opinion of Heron-Allen give weight to the supposition that the cathedral once existed.
(i) Two sculptures in Chichester Cathedral found hidden there in 1829.
(ii) Saxon font now in Selsey church.
(iii) Two Anglo-Saxon carved stones (part of cross) found at Grange Farm [SZ 89 SE 3]
(iv) A sculptured foot in Caen stone, essentially Saxon, dredged up from the waters traditionally covering the site of the submerged cathedral. (2)
That the ancient cathedral of Selsey lies under the sea is a tradition that may well be true, though Camden's assertion that its ruins could be seen at low tide is romantic fiction. (3)
No field action - M/62/10 (4) |