[1] The Lavant's course has changed on multiple occasions, one significant instance being in Roman times when the river was believed to have been diverted through Chichester to provide drinking water for the town.

[3][4] Newbury notes historians have conjectured this diversion may have taken place in either Roman or medieval times, one side effect being less stress on drainage to lands to the north of Pagham.

When exceptionally high rainfall in the autumn of 2000 threatened renewed flooding of Chichester a project was led by the Environment Agency, using emergency powers to build a relief channel to divert excess water back into the natural route of Pagham Rife.

This brought forward work planned for 2001, compressing it into two weeks, and was completed days before the anticipated flood surge in the River Lavant occurred.

[10] The Lavant continues through farmland towards the former site of Westhampnett Mill, passing Summersdale and Graylingwell to the west and Goodwood airfield and racing circuit to the east.