Bognor Regis Timeline

Centuries on this Page: | 1700s | 1800s | 1900s | 2000s |

1700s

The aim is now to place National or International Events beside Bognor events.

Date Bognor Regis Event National Events
1784
 Sir Richard Hotham arrived in the town  
1787 18th Jan The foundation stone was laid by Sir Richard Hotham for this new purpose built seaside resort. The first convicts leave Britain for Australia
1792
The Ice House was built Gas light is invented
1794 Clock installed in the Clock Tower of the house known today as Hotham Park House.  
1799 Sir Richard Hotham died aged 76 Income tax is introduced
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1800s

Date Bognor Regis Event National Events
1808
 Princess Charlotte stayed at the Dome
1817 Claremont Hotel, West St. opened  
1820
The William Hardwick pub was built and named the New Inn, then changed to The Sussex George IV becomes King
1830 Royal Norfolk hotel built William IV becomes King
1835 Bognor Improvement Company formed with capital of £200,000 Christmas becomes a Bank holiday
1845 Plans deposited with Parliament for a pier at Bognor Potato famine in Ireland
1852 First gasworks opened
1860 Victoria Drive built
1864 4th June Bognor Railway station opened  
1865 11th May Bognor Pier open as the 19th in the country End of American Civil War
1867 First Bognor Police station in Dorset Gardens  
1870 Bognor Water Company formed Education Act to improve state education
1872 Bognor Observer first published  
1873 Volunteer Fire Brigade formed  
1876 John Cyril Hawes, Architect of The White Tower born A.G.Bell invented the telephone
1880 Foundation stone of Catholic church was laid  
1881 Population 3,290 - Inhabited houses 647

UK population 35,026,108
1882 St. John's church built in London Road  
1882 Bognor forms its first Town Council Death of Charles Darwin
1886 May At a cost of £4,500 the New Assembly Rooms were built, later to become transformed into The Picturedrome cinema in 1919  
1897 Drinking Fountain first erected at the end of the Steyne on the Esplanade.  
1891 Population 4,610 - inhabited houses 923 First telephone link between London & Paris
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1900s

Date Bognor Regis Event National Events
1900
 Mixed bathing was allowed Death of Oscar Wilde
1901
 Population was 6,180 - inhabited houses 1,210

UK population 41,609,091

Queen Victoria dies
1902 The Arcade Opened
1908 Felpham Post Office opened and enlarged in 1928  
1908 The White Tower built
1911 Population 8,142 - inhabited houses 2,100 National Insurance Act is passed
1911 9th Aug Grand opening of Pavilion at the end of the Pier
1912 £20,000 spent on shore end of the Pier to include a theatre with seating for 1,400 Titanic sinks on maiden voyage
1913 Town gained electricity supply Panama Canal opens
1919 Norman Thompson Flight Company closed in Middleton on Sea Britain adopts a 48 hour working week
1919 The Picturedrome cinema opened
1919 Bognor's hospital first opened on Chichester Road
1920s Railway carriages used in Pagham as holiday homes First roadside petrol filling station in UK
1921 Golf Link's in Felpham commenced Irish Free State established
1929 King George V stayed at Craigweil House Abolition of Poor Law System in Britain
1930 As a result of the visit of King George V the town received the suffix of Regis The town became known as Bognor Regis
1930 The Town Hall was opened in Clarence Road Frank Whittle invents the jet engine
1936 Marks & Spencer opened in London Road George VI becomes King
1944 Bognor Advanced Landing Ground Opens prior to D Day north of Chalcraft Lane. Allied invasion of France
1946 Teacher Training College opened, later known as W.I.S.H.E and in 2006 became University of Chichester, Bognor Campus First session of new United Nations Organisation held
1946 Fire at The Fox in Felpham destroyed the thatched roof 1st session of United Nations Organisation held
1947 Bognor Regis UDC opened the park and renamed it Hotham Park The school leaving age is raised to 15
1960 The Queensway opened 44% of households own a washing machine
1960 Bognor Grammar School opened 44% of British households own a washing machine
1960 June Butlin’s opened their holiday center 1st lasers demonstrated
1964 Nature Reserve created in Pagham MOT Tests on cars introduced
1965 Pier Pavilion sinks into the sea  
1970 The Birdman Rally moves from Selsey The minimum age for voting is lowered from 21 to 18
1975 Archeologists find Saxon & Roman items around Church Farm Personal Computers introduced (PC's)
1978 Woolworth’s caught fire in London Road The first test tube baby is born
1980 11th March The Regis center opened on the Esplanade by the Duke of Norfolk
1985 The first Clown Convention held Miners strike ends
1987 Hotham Park devastated by a hurricane Corporal punishment ends in state schools
1989 Pier classed as a Grade II listed building

Berlin Wall torn down

Tim-Berner-Lee invents the World Wide Web (WWW)
1994 The IRA bombed London Road The Channel Tunnel opens
1999 24th Oct. Over 100ft. of the pier lost in stormy weather.
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2000s

Date Bognor Regis Event National Events
2000 March Civic Clock added to the Town Hall to Mark the Millennium London Eye opens
2000
 Tornado rips through residential area of Bognor Regis 11th Sept. Attack on World Trade Centre in America now referred to as 9/11
2001
 Floods bring misery to motorists around the town First self adhesive stamps on sale
2002 100 years since the current station building opened. Queen Mother dies at age of 101
2003 1st Festival of Local History organised for the month of June in Bognor Regis and the villages. 18th March war in Iraq commences
2005 The story of the 2nd WW airfield at North Bersted Published

7th July 4 Bombs exploded in London

London chosen as venue for 2012 Olympic Games
2006 Work starts on new flats on the Esplanade  
2006 The Clowns return to the town for a new convention  
2007   1st July smoking ban for outdoors commences in England
2008  
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