Yapton can be explored through various aspects of its local history: the old canal bridge recalls the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal, while the parish church of St Mary has a much earlier history. There is also a local circular walking route through the parish that takes in the canal’s history. When planning your visit, it is therefore worth considering whether you would rather focus on a structure, the church’s long history or a longer walk.

The old canal bridge and its design

The old canal bridge is considered the only surviving structure of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal. It was built around 1820 and is a single-arch, hump-backed brick bridge. These features describe different aspects of its architecture: brick identifies the material, single-arch the number of arches, and hump-backed its raised profile. This makes it possible to consider its construction and date separately: the form describes its design, while around 1820 establishes its historical timeframe. The combination of canal history and specific architectural features makes the bridge a distinct historical highlight in Yapton.

St Mary: an earlier period

Yapton’s parish church is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. Its history can be traced back to Saxon times; by around 1230, it had been completed in substantially its present form. These dates mark different periods: its Saxon origins go further back, while the date around 1230 places its largely present-day appearance in context. Compared with the canal bridge, built around 1820, the church’s history began much earlier. Two different periods are therefore central here: the church’s long history and dedication, and the bridge’s construction in connection with the canal.

A walking route exploring canal history

A local circular walking route through the parish of Yapton is five and a half miles long and takes in the history of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal. The canal’s history is therefore also a theme of a longer walk. Its length makes the route a distinct walking option; it differs from the short walk across the playing fields to St Mary’s Church. This is a practical distinction when choosing: you can plan a longer walk with a historical focus or follow the short route described to a specific destination. Check current path conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Finding your way to the church

There is a free car park next to the village hall on Main Road. From there, a short path across the playing fields leads to St Mary’s Church. This practical guidance complements the historical context of the church by specifying the starting point, the destination and the route across the playing fields. If you are mainly interested in the church, this short walking option is distinct from the parish-wide walk. Check locally before your visit to see whether the car park is available. This lets you plan around the specific parking information and the short route described, while the circular route offers a different, longer walking option.

Discover more destinations: Billingshurst, Rake, West Chiltington, Findon, Rusper, Amberley, Shoreham-By-Sea, Thakeham.

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