Langstone Harbour

Langstone Harbour is an inlet of the English Channel in Hampshire, sandwiched between Portsea Island to the south and west, Hayling Island to the south and east, and Langstone to the north. It is part of the Ramsar site of Langstone and Chichester Harbour,{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK11013&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours | series= Ramsar Site|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 6 April 2019}} Special Protection Area{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK9011011&SiteName=&countyCode=46&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Chichester and Langstone Harbours | series= Special Protection Areas |publisher=Natural England|access-date = 6 April 2019}} and Nature Conservation Review site, Grade I.{{cite book|editor-first=Derek |editor-last=Ratcliffe |title=A Nature Conservation Review|volume=2 |pages=3–4 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|location =Cambridge, UK |year=1977|isbn= 0521 21403 3 }} Parts of it are in Solent Maritime and Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons Special Areas of Conservation.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0030059&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Solent Maritime | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 23 April 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0017073&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&unitId=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons | series= Special Areas of Conservation|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 23 April 2020}} Three areas are Local Nature Reserves, Farlington Marshes{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1008890&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: Farlington Marshes |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 23 April 2020}} West Hayling{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1009570&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: West Hayling|series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 23 April 2020}} and The Kench, Hayling Island.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteLNRDetail.aspx?SiteCode=L1009192&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title= Designated Sites View: The Kench, Hayling Island |series=Local Nature Reserves|publisher=Natural England |access-date= 23 April 2020}} Two areas are nature reserves managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Farlington Marshes{{cite web|url= https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/farlington-marshes-nature-reserve |title= Farlington Marshes |publisher= Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |access-date= 24 April 2020}} and Southmoor Nature Reserve{{cite web|url= https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/southmoor-nature-reserve |title= Southmoor |publisher= Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust |access-date= 30 April 2020}}

West of Portsmouth is Portsmouth Harbour and the three linked harbours are important recreational and conservation areas as well as supporting commercial fishing and shipping. It is administered by the Langstone Harbour Board.[http://www.langstoneharbour.org.uk/ Harbour Board] The eastern boundary with Chichester Harbour is defined by a historic causeway known as the Wade Way, which was originally the only crossing between Hayling Island and the mainland. It is now impassable, having been cut in two by a deep channel for the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal in the 1820s (for further information see Langstone).

Langstone Harbour contains a number of islands; Baker's Island ({{gbmappingsmall|SU694035}}), North Binness Island ({{gbmappingsmall|SU692046}}), South Binness Island ({{gbmappingsmall|SU698031}}) and Long Island ({{gbmappingsmall|SU701041}}). These are subject to erosion and during the 1990s a seven-year archaeology project took place[http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/projects/hampshire/portsmouth/langstone/index.html Summary of archaeology] before their history was lost to the seas. There are two smaller islands: Round Nap Island which is connected to South Binness Island by a tidal causeway{{cite book |last1=Adam |first1=Neil J |last2=Momber |first2=Gary |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |pages=104–5 |chapter=South Binness Island }} and Oyster Island.

Langstone Harbour was originally a river valley of one of the tributaries flowing into the then River Solent. With the end of the last ice age sea levels rose until sometime between 4000 and 3500BC the harbour took on the form it would have until the 18th century.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|pages=16–17 }}

For much of its history the harbour has been an area of salt production. The Domesday Book records three salthouses around the harbour{{cite web|title=Open Domesday: Havant|url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SU7106/havant/|access-date=23 September 2023}} and by the early 17th century a saltern at Copnor was well established. Here a large shallow area of the harbour meant that even without further improvement salt could be extracted from the area after each tide.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|pages=28–29 }} The Copnor saltern ceased production in 1800 but salt production continued elsewhere in the harbour until 1933.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|page=34 }}

File:Langstone salt water lagoon.JPG

In 1771 Farlington Marshes were reclaimed from the north of the harbour.{{cite book |last1=Fontana |first1=Val |last2=Fontana |first2=Dominic |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |page=82|chapter=A brief historical survey }}

Oyster farming began in the harbour around 1820 with winkle and clam cultivation probably starting around much the same time.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|page=50 }} Production ceased in the 1950s.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|page=59 }} An attempt at oyster farming in the 1980s soon failed. In 1997 work began to turn the remains into an artificial lagoon.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|page=54 }} The lagoon which has a small island at the centre has, as planned, become a breeding ground for birds, particularly little terns.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|pages=160–161 }}

During the Second World War the harbour was used as Starfish decoy site to misdirect German bombers.{{cite book |last1=Fontana |first1=Val |last2=Fontana |first2=Dominic |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |page=87|chapter=A brief historical survey }}

The {{convert| 2085.4 |ha|acre|abbr=off|adj=on}} harbour was designated a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1985.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1001182&SiteName=&countyCode=19&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Langstone Harbour| series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date = 13 May 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001182%27|title=Map of Langstone Harbour|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|access-date= 13 May 2020}}

A ferry has operated between Portsmouth and Hayling Island across Langstone Harbour for more than 200 years; in 2022-23 it carried more than 47,000 passengers.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Hayling Ferry agrees financial deal 'to save service'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-66847164|date=22 September 2023|access-date=22 September 2023}}

The harbour is home to an extensive range of marine and bird life. Fifty species of fish have been found in the harbour.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|page=155 }} The harbour's bird life is even richer, the harbour hosting a wide range of species some of which are represented by over 10,000 individuals. This is in a large part due to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds acquiring islands and a number of tidal areas in 1978 and turning them into bird sanctuaries. As a result of the number of birds the harbour as become a popular spot for bird watchers.

Seals occasionally appear in the harbour in winter.{{cite book |title=A History of Langstone Harbour and its environs in the County of Hampshire |last=Tweed |first=Ronald |year=2000 |publisher=Dido Publications |isbn=0-9533312-1-0|pages=157–161 }} American hard-shelled clams have been found in the harbour spreading from an initial release site on the lower River Test.{{cite web |url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1718-theme=default |title=Mercenaria mercenaria |date=25 April 2006 |website=Joint Nature Conservation Committee |publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee |access-date=10 January 2017}} The harbour is also home to a population of Sand smelt.{{cite book |last=Tubbs |first=Colin |date=1999 |title=The Ecology, Conservation and History of the Solent |publisher=Packard Publishing|page=40 |isbn=1853411167}}

On 31 July 2008 a 26-foot (8-metre), 7-tonne northern bottlenose whale was beached on a mudflat in Langstone Harbour. A rescue operation was carried out to try to save the whale off the south coast of England and managed to free the whale from mudflats using a special lifting pontoon but it remained in shallow water. A decision was made to give the whale a lethal injection as a blood test revealed that it was suffering from kidney failure. If the whale swam into deeper water it could take up to two days to die naturally from renal failure. The whale ended up about {{convert|3000|mi|km|-2}} off course due to its illness.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7538098.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Stranded sick whale put to sleep | date=1 August 2008}}{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7536905.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Aerial footage of beached whale | date=1 August 2008}}{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7537234.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Beached whale 'will not survive' | date=1 August 2008}}

The quality of water in the harbour was called into question when samples taken in 2022 were found to contain traces of numerous chemical compounds including prescribed medicines. The harbour has outflow from a water treatment plant.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|last1=Fisher|first1=Jonah|last2=Cozens|first2=Jo|title=Drugs, pesticides and medicine found in south coast seawater|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-65837459|date=9 June 2023|access-date=12 June 2023}}

In most years since 2011, the harbour made a loss. About a third of its income comes from dredged sand, which is reliant upon a single dredger. In 2023, a government grant of £233,000 would be spent on upgrading facilities for local fishing and leisure boating.{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Loss-making Langstone Harbour targets fishing and yacht trade|date=18 September 2023|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-66797922|access-date=20 September 2023}}

File:Langstone Harbour Phoenix breakwater 2013.JPG wreck]]

There are several boat wrecks in the harbour. One of these is a tug dating from 8 May 1941.Family History The tug named the Irishman was sunk by a magnetic mine and now rests partially submerged at low tide. A slightly older wreck dating from 1926 is a Bucket dredger named the Withern. Of unrecorded age is the wreck of the Excelsior, an 80-foot-long barge.{{cite book |last1=Momber |first1=Gary |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |pages=124–127 |chapter=Wrecks }} The harbour also contains a wrecked landing craft that rests with its bows almost permanently above the surface.

Close to the entrance of the harbour, there is a wrecked Phoenix breakwater type C. It was originally constructed to form part of a World War 2 Mulberry Harbour.{{cite book |last1=Hughes |first1=Michael |last2=Momber |first2=Gary |editor1-first=Michael J |editor1-last= Allen |editor2-first=Julie |editor2-last=Gardiner |title=Our Changing Coast a survey of the intertidal archaeology of Langstone Harbour Hampshire |year=2000 |publisher=Council for British Archaeology |location=York |isbn=1-902771-14-1 |pages=127–128 |chapter=The Mulberry Harbour Remains }}

Various artefacts have been found from the prison hulks that were kept in the harbour during the Napoleonic Wars.{{cite book |title=Dive Wight and Hampshire |last=Pritchard |first=Martin |last2=McDonald |first2=Kendall |year=1987 |publisher=Underwater World Publications |isbn=0-946020-15-9 |page=82 }}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Langstone Harbour}}

• [http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/l/langstoneharbour/index.asp RSPB reserve website]
• {{oscoor gbx|SU700025}}

{{Coord|50|49|05|N|01|00|30|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display=title}}

{{SSSIs Hampshire biological}}

{{Hydrology of Hampshire}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Geography of Hampshire

Category:Transport in Portsmouth

Category:Ports and harbours of the English Channel

Category:Special Protection Areas in England

Category:Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves in England

Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Hampshire

Category:Nature Conservation Review sites

Category:Ramsar sites in England

Category:Special Areas of Conservation in England