A seaside resort and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex and is situated 69 miles south west London. The nearby villages of Felpham and Aldwick along with those of North and South Bersted are now suburbs of the town. It was King George V in 1929 who bestowed the title ‘Regis’ due to his convalescence in the area.
For a town that has a world wide reputation for the manufacture of refrigerators, it is singularly appropriate that Bognor Regis should possess an excellent example of one of the earliest types of refrigerator, an 18th century ice house. Dating from around 1792 and once situated in the grounds of Hotham Park House, the Ice House today, is still in a remarkable state of preservation. Measuring about 28ft deep from the dome to the floor below ground level, the diameter of the chamber is approximately 12 feet. The circular exterior wall is of fine brickwork and the dome is cemented on the inside. The exterior is thickened by an extra skin of brick and flint and for further insulation a mound of earth has been built around it and planted with trees to provide shade. The building remained in use up to the First World War, after which it was used just as a cold storage area. Many changes have taken place in the production of ice since 1792, however, the Ice House and Lec Refrigeration will always be intrinsically linked with the history of Bognor Regis. Today The Ice House is situated just in front of the Edward Bryant School in London Road.
The Wireless Museum in Bognor exhibits domestic radio and television equipment including a small display of military and associated radios. There is also a display of radio history from 1920 onwards and visitors can also try their hand at Morse code. It is housed in the same building as the Local History Museum where exhibitions regarding the local and social history of Bognor Regis are on display. Almost every aspect of Bognor’s history is represented, from rocks and fossils millions of years old, the local history before the town was built and then from the towns creation through to the present day. There are also scale models showing the High Street as it was, the Esplanade Theatre and Hotham House. As well as the interesting exhibits, the museum sells a number of very good local guides, covering places of interest, fossils, and Inns and Taverns.
Just minutes away from the tranquillity and beauty of the South Downs, Bognor Regis is a lively town with much to offer. Clean bathing water and good facilities help make the resort extremely popular with young families. The European Blue Flag and Seaside Awards being proof of its high quality beaches. As well as traditional seaside fun and water sports, the large town centre, much of which has either been pedestrianized or made pedestrian-friendly boasts lively cafes and restaurants, a bustling shopping centre and good leisure facilities.