There is evidence of early occupation at Stubcroft from the Roman period. Retired legionaries were often given parcels of land close to Roman cities. Chichester was a major Roman city & there are the remains of a late Romano – British palace at Fishbourne. Stubcroft lies between the Roman roads leading to Bracklesham & West Wittering where there were probably coastal lookout or defence forts to protect Chichester .

The first references to an early dwelling here come from Saxon times – the name was probably derived from "Stubba's" or "Stubbard's Croft".

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (AD 477) three Saxon ships arrived in a part of Britain which was to be later known as Sussex at a place called Cymenes ora or Cymens shore, probably somewhere between Selsey & the Witterings. King Aelle (died circa 514) accompanied by three sons Cymen, Wlenca and Cissa landed from Gaul ( France ). In 465 they fought the British at what is probably a boundary stream called Mearc redes burna probably between Selsey/Witterings and Chichester . There is a place name Ellanore near West Wittering which may have some connection with Aella and it was probably about this time that the Saxons established “Stubba's croft” – possibly on the site of an earlier Romano British farm. (Stubba or Stubbard is a Saxon name).

In 683AD there arrived in the South Saxon territory an exiled Bishop of York called Wilfrid. He sought refuge with King Aethelwalch at Selsey and was favourably received because his visit coincided with the end of a long drought. Wilfrid subsequently won over to Christianity the people of this, the last pagan out-post in England . With Aethelwalch's encouragement Wilfrid established a Cathedral at Selsey and the Witterings. 15 hides were given to Wilfrid including Stubcroft but curiously later 2 hides, Stubcroft & Keynor became detached from the original Church holdings.

In 1180 there is a reference to Stubcroft being given back to the Church by “Oliver de Wystringes” Oliver held part of a knight's fee of the Bishop in 1166, and towards the end of the century he gave the church, priests house and croft known as “Stubbcrofte” to the church.

From the 12 th – 16 th centuries Stubcroft was listed as a manor and in 1640 there is a reference to the revenues of Stubcroft being used by the church to endow the Chantry of St. Michael in Chichester or Stubbard's chantry at St. Michael's outside Chichester , the context is unclear.

In 1305 there is a record of a Grant (at Irnelye) by Elyas son of Walter at Wayure of Bracclesham to Joan daughter of John de Irnelye, of a croft called Stubb or Suthwude in the parish of Irnelye.

In 1498 Thomas Payne and Margaret his wife, and Elias Thurwell and Joan his wife conveyed to John Dawtry a moiety of the manor of STUBCROFTE

In 1501 there is a record of a “Common Recovery” (John Dawetrey - demandant; Richard Riggedale - tenant; Thomas Fysshe - vouchee) of one fourth part of the manor of 'Stubbecrofte'

In 1518 there is a reference to the tithes from Stubcroft being “reserved for the Dean & Chapter at Shamble Barnes”. A medieval “crotal” bell (sheeps bell) was found whilst digging the garden which probably dates from this period.

In 1539/40 there is a record of a Decree in the Exchequer discharging the messuage and farm called Stubcroft from a bond debt, for £160, due from Sir Thomas Ponings of East Lulworth, kt., John Norton of Norwood, esq., and Francis Dawtree of Southampton, esq. (the last-named of whom owned the said messuage), to Thomas, Lord Cromwell, in consideration of the payment of £5, being a reasonable proportion of the above debt, by Sir Thomas Bishoppe, kt., the present owner.

In 1666 there is a mention of “the manor of Stubcroft” being leased to Sir Cecil Byshopp of Parham when it became part of the Greatham Estate. By 1732, however, it belonged to the Mill family, for it was one of the properties in a private Act of Parliament, possibly relating to a marriage settlement. Stubcroft then descended with the Greatham estate until sold together by William Peere Williams about 1788 but there are no further references to it being a manor.

During the 17th & 18th centuries smuggling was rife locally. So popular was Bracklesham beach, nearby Snowhill Creek & Pagham Harbour with the “free-traders” that a watch-house and coastguard cottages were built to counter this trade. Stubcroft was at the centre of this triangle.

Martha Sparkes was born at Stubcroft Farm House in 1801, described in the 1881 census as a farmer with 200 acres employing 6 men & 1 boy. Her son Mr F.C. Sparkes was born in 1842 at Stubcroft and was recorded as a farmer of 700 acres employing 10 men & 2 boys. He endowed a stained glass window in the chapel.

Sometime around the turn of the century a major fire devastated the old farmhouse and the “new” Victorian / Edwardian period farmhouse was built that remains to this day, over 100 years later.

During WW2 a plane, probably a Junkers 88 crashed in fields to the south of the farmhouse which according to local aviation historians was possibly the first plane shot down by “Cat's Eye Cunningham” one of the greatest aces of the war & later a top test pilot after the war. Stubcroft was also used as a base later in the war during the D Day invasion for a unit of special tanks known as “Hobart's funnies”, prior to embarkation in Chichester Harbour for the D Day landings in Normandy . Whilst trenching near the house an MOD brass disc was found with “Salamander DCV” stamped on it, which was a type of specialist flame throwing tank used to spearhead the invasion.

There is a record of Stubcroft being auctioned on 19th August 1908. Between the wars the house belonged to the Gentle family (who still farm locally at nearby Hale Farm) and it remained in their family until it was sold it twenty years ago to the Green family.