Fishbourne

Fishbourne is a village and civil parish in the Arun district of West Sussex, England. It lies on the eastern shore of Chichester Harbour, about two miles west of Chichester, and forms part of the harbour’s coastal landscape.

The village is best known for the Fishbourne Roman Palace, one of Britain's earliest and largest Roman domestic complexes. Discovered in 1961 during roadworks, excavations revealed a substantial villa with mosaic floors, courtyards, and bath suites dating to the 1st century AD. The site is associated with Cogidubnus, a local client king allied with Rome, and it provides important evidence of Roman influence in the region. The palace remains are preserved as an archaeological site and visitor attraction, operated by West Sussex County Council, with a museum and interpretation on Roman Britain.

Governance: Fishbourne is a civil parish within the Arun district of West Sussex. It has a parish council and falls under the jurisdiction of West Sussex County Council for broader services and Arun District Council for local government.

Today the village comprises residential housing, small local services, and access to the harbour and surrounding countryside. It is a popular base for boating, coastal walks, and nature enjoyment, with convenient road connections to Chichester and nearby towns.