100-512: The Adur ( / eɪ ˈ d ʊər / or / eɪ ˈ d ɜː / ) is a river in Sussex , England ; it gives its name to the Adur district of West Sussex . The river, which is 20 miles (32 km) long, was once navigable for large vessels up as far as Steyning , where there was a large Saxon port, but by the 11th century the lower river became silted up and the port moved down to the deeper waters at
200-562: A Germanic tribe that settled in the region from the North German Plain during the 5th and 6th centuries. The earliest-known usage of the term South Saxons (Latin: Australes Saxones ) is in a royal charter of 689 which names them and their king, Noðhelm , although the term may well have been in use for some time before that. The monastic chronicler who wrote up the entry classifying the invasion seems to have got his dates wrong; recent scholars have suggested he might have been
300-814: A Lib Dem-Independent coalition ( Mid Sussex ) one was run by an Independent-Labour-Lib Dem-Green coalition ( Rother ) and one had a Lib Dem-Green coalition ( Wealden ). Conservative Katy Bourne is the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner , having first been elected in 2012. In the 2016 referendum on UK membership of the EU , the people of Sussex voted to leave the EU by the narrowest of margins, by 50.23% to 49.77% or 4,413 votes. Headquartered in Lewes, Home Office policing in Sussex has been provided by Sussex Police since 1968. The first-tier Crown Court for all of Sussex
400-409: A division which was reinforced when the administrative counties of East Sussex and West Sussex were established in 1889. Subsequent local government reforms maintained the division into east and west. The county retained a single lord lieutenant and sheriff until 1974, when they were replaced with separate posts for East and West Sussex and Sussex lost its status as a ceremonial county. Sussex
500-527: A flat bridge of just a few feet over a tributary of the river, following silting, and a change of course. This should not be confused with the nearby Beeding Bridge, a hump-back bridge which now spans the main course of the river. King Charles II is claimed to have stayed at St Mary's House during his escape to France after defeat at the Battle of Worcester . The Monarch's Way long-distance footpath, following Charles' supposed route to Shoreham-by-Sea , crosses
600-561: A lesser scale, with several people being executed for their Catholic beliefs. In Elizabeth's reign, Sussex was open to the older Protestant forms practised in the Weald as well as the newer Protestant forms coming from Continental Europe; combined with a significant Catholic presence, Sussex was in many ways out of step with the rest of southern England. Sussex escaped the worst ravages of the English Civil War , although control of
700-811: A minor road from Upper Beeding to Bramber over the river, while a little further south, the A283 Steyning By-pass crosses. A footbridge carries the Downs Link over the river, as the former railway bridge near Coombes has been demolished. The river continues through a gap in the South Downs near Lancing College where the Adur is fed by the Ladywell Stream, and is then crossed by the A27 Shoreham By-pass. Further downstream
800-409: A number of salterns to the east of the river, which were on the floodplain before the river was embanked in the post-medieval period. The land was periodically flooded by incoming tides, and water trapped in pools was then evaporated to extract salt. The industry operated from Anglo-Saxon times until the early 17th century, when it was unable to compete with sources of rock salt, mined in other parts of
900-520: A period of rule by King Offa of Mercia , Sussex regained its independence but was annexed by Wessex around 827 and was fully absorbed into the crown of Wessex in 860, which later grew into the Kingdom of England. The Battle of Hastings was fought in Sussex, the victory that led to the Norman conquest of England . In September 1066, William of Normandy landed with his forces at Pevensey and erected
1000-551: A port since Roman times. During the Middle Ages, it was especially active, as it was the location of a Royal Arsenal, and later became a centre for ship building. During the 11th and 12th centuries, the river was tidal as far upstream as Bramber Bridge, and Bramber was a busy port. When Defoe visited in the 1720s, he noted that Shoreham was a seafaring town, with many of the inhabitants being ship's carpenters, chandlers or otherwise involved in trades connected with shipbuilding. At
1100-543: A quarter of a century too late. In the Domesday Book of 1086, Sussex is recorded as Sudsexe . Three United States counties (in Delaware , New Jersey and Virginia ), and a former county/land division of Western Australia , are named after Sussex. The flag of Sussex consists of six gold martlets , or heraldic swallows , on a blue background, blazoned as Azure , six martlets or . Recognised by
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#17327729875491200-470: A regional power. Shortly afterwards, Cædwalla returned to Sussex, killing its king and oppressing its people, putting them in what Bede called "a worse state of slavery". The South Saxon clergy were put under the control of West Saxon Winchester . Only around 715 was Eadberht of Selsey made the first bishop of the South Saxons , after which further invasion attempts from Wessex ensued. Following
1300-410: A separate channel. The canal ran from Bines Bridge to Baybridge at West Grinstead , and included two pound locks , each with a rise of 7 feet (2.1 m). Although the 1807 Act had not authorised the construction of any locks, at some point three flash locks were constructed, one on the eastern Adur at Betley Lock, just above the junction with the western Adur, and two on the western branch. The river
1400-533: A turn for the worse with an increasing amount of them becoming unemployed, those in work faced their wages being forced down. Conditions became so bad that it was even reported to the House of Lords in 1830 that four harvest labourers (seasonal workers) had been found dead of starvation. The deteriorating conditions of work for the agricultural labourer eventually triggered riots, first in neighbouring Kent, and then in Sussex, where they lasted for several weeks, although
1500-632: A wooden castle at Hastings , from which they raided the surrounding area. The battle was fought between Duke William of Normandy and the English king, Harold Godwinson , who had strong connections with Sussex and whose chief seat was probably in Bosham . After having marched his exhausted army 250 miles (400 km) from Yorkshire, Harold fought the Normans at the Battle of Hastings, where England's army
1600-525: Is Bewl Water on the Kent border, while the largest wholly within Sussex is Ardingly Reservoir . The coastal resorts of Sussex and neighbouring Hampshire are the sunniest places in the United Kingdom. The coast has consistently more sunshine than the inland areas: sea breezes, blowing off the sea, tend to clear any cloud from the coast. The sunshine average is approximately 1,900 hours a year; this
1700-436: Is Lewes Crown Court , which has courts in Lewes, Brighton and Hove. Like other first-tier Crown Courts it has its own resident High Court Judge . There is also a third-tier Crown Court at Chichester. The local prison in Sussex for men is Lewes Prison and there is also a Category D prison at Ford . A rape is a traditional territorial sub-division of Sussex, formerly used for various administrative purposes. Their origin
1800-430: Is Old Shoreham Bridge, a Grade II* listed structure originally built in 1791. It is 500 feet (150 m) long, with 27 spans, and although it was largely reconstructed in the early 20th century, it is still of great interest, because it is probably the only one of its type which still exists. The towpaths end at Old Shoreham Bridge, and the river becomes part of Shoreham Harbour. The West Coastway Line railway bridge and
1900-466: Is St Mary's House, a late 15th-century timber-framed house on a site associated with the Knights Templar . The present building was constructed in about 1470 by William of Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford . The house has beautiful gardens with topiary figures, and a quite large secret garden at the back. The house is open to the public in season, and there
2000-560: Is a tearoom in the grounds. The house has a music room which has two 14th-century ornately carved stone chantry tombs serving as fireplaces, and is regularly used for concerts and recitals. Originally it was a monastic hostel for pilgrims and monks who collected the tolls at Bramber bridge, a 170-foot-long (52 m) bridge over the River Adur, incorporating a Chapel dedicated to St Mary the Virgin on its central span, though now reduced to
2100-468: Is crossed by the A24 road, is joined by another tributary on the left bank, and flows on to West Grinstead , passing through the remains of a lock. It is joined by Blakes Gill just above Hatterell Bridge, where it passes through a large weir structure. There are the remains of another lock at Lock Bridge, Partridge Green , nad Honeybridge Stream joins it on the right bank. Near Bines Green , Bines Bridge carries
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#17327729875492200-592: Is crossed by the A281 road at Mock Bridge, and by the Downs Link , a long distance footpath which follows the track of two railways, at Betley Bridge. Below Betley Bridge, a public towpath runs along the left bank of the river. There is a weir just above the confluence with the Western Adur, which means that only the highest tides reach Shermanbury. Up to the early 1800s boats could navigate to Mock Bridge, where
2300-544: Is currently divided into Bramber Bramber is a former manor , village and civil parish in the Horsham District of West Sussex , England. It has a ruined mediaeval castle which was the caput of a large feudal barony . Bramber is located on the northern edge of the South Downs and on the west side of the River Adur . Nearby are the communities of Steyning to the west and Upper Beeding to
2400-628: Is much higher than the UK average of 1,340 hours a year. Most of Sussex lies in hardiness zone 8; the exception is the coastal plain west of Brighton, which lies in the milder zone 9. Rainfall is below average with the heaviest precipitation on the South Downs with 950 mm (37 in) of rainfall per year. The close proximity of Sussex to the Continent of Europe, results in cold spells in winter and hot, humid weather in summer. The climate of
2500-531: Is still known as the "Maudlin District", spelt following a phonetic pronunciation of the saint's name. Maudlyn House stands on the site of the hospital, and nearby roads include Maudlin Lane, Maudlyn Park, Maudlyn Parkway, and Maudlyn Close. Historically, Bramber returned two members (MPs) to the unreformed House of Commons. Amongst the most famous politicians to serve as Member for Bramber was William Wilberforce ,
2600-636: Is the 20th-century north–south development on the A23 - Brighton line corridor , Sussex's main link to London. Sussex's population is dominated by the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation that, with a population of over 470,000, is home to almost 1 in 3 of Sussex's population. According to the ONS urban area populations for continuous built-up areas, these are the five largest conurbations: The combined population of Sussex as of 2021
2700-583: Is the highest point in Sussex, or county top . With a height of 248 metres (814 ft) Ditchling Beacon is the highest point in East Sussex. At 113 kilometres (70 miles) long, the River Medway is the longest river flowing through Sussex. The longest river entirely in Sussex is the River Arun , which is 60 kilometres (37 mi) long. Sussex's largest lakes are man-made reservoirs. The largest
2800-616: Is unknown, but they appear to predate the Norman Conquest Each rape was split into several hundreds and may be Romano-British or Anglo-Saxon in origin. At the time of the Norman Conquest, there were four rapes: Arundel, Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings. The rape of Bramber was created later in the 11th century and the rape of Chichester was created in the 13th century. Local government in Sussex has been subject to periodic review over time . Currently, Sussex
2900-650: Is widely regarded as a single unified entity for some purposes, such as the environment, food and drink and sport . In 2007, Sussex Day was created to celebrate the county's culture and history . The name "Sussex" is derived from the Middle English Suth-sæxe , which is in turn derived from the Old English Sūþseaxe , meaning "(land or people) of the South Saxons " (cf. Essex , Middlesex and Wessex ). The South Saxons were
3000-503: The American Revolution . Known as 'the radical duke', Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond , was an early supporter of parliamentary reform and US independence. Richard Cobden was a product of Sussex's rural radicalism, and became a campaigner for free trade and peace. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley was another influential radical from Sussex. At the beginning of the 19th century agricultural labourers' conditions took
3100-589: The Bishop of Chichester and the Earl of Gloucester . These three were to elect a council of nine, to govern until a permanent settlement could be reached. During the Hundred Years' War , Sussex found itself on the frontline, convenient both for intended invasions and retaliatory expeditions by licensed French pirates. Hastings, Rye and Winchelsea were all burnt during this period and all three towns became part of
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3200-540: The Catuvellauni , a tribe based around modern Hertfordshire. Much of Sussex was a Roman canton of the Regni , probably taking a similar area to the pre-Roman tribal area and kingdom. Its capital was at Noviomagus Reginorum , modern-day Chichester, close to the pre-Roman capital of the area, around Selsey. Sussex was home to the magnificent Roman Palace at Fishbourne , by far the largest Roman residence known north of
3300-619: The Cinque Ports , a loose federation for supplying ships for the country's security. Also at this time, Amberley and Bodiam castles were built to defend the upper reaches of navigable rivers. One of the impacts of the war and the Black Death , which killed around half of the population of Sussex, was the perceived injustice that led many Sussex people to participate in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. Coastal areas suffered most from
3400-523: The Flag Institute on 20 May 2011, its design is based on the heraldic shield of Sussex . The first-known recording of this emblem being used to represent the county was in 1611 when cartographer John Speed deployed it to represent the Kingdom of the South Saxons . However, it seems that Speed was repeating an earlier association between the emblem and the county, rather than being the inventor of
3500-521: The Knepp Castle pleasure grounds laid out by John Nash in 1806–13. He designed the present castellated mansion known as Knepp Castle for Sir Charles Merrick Burrell, but the grounds include the remains of an 11th-century castle, known by the same name, which was demolished in 1726. The pond was constructed as a hammer pond for the iron industry in the 16th century by the Duke of Norfolk. At Bay Bridge it
3600-614: The Old English Sūþseaxe ; lit. ' South Saxons '; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England which was historically a kingdom and, later, a county . It includes the ceremonial counties of East Sussex and West Sussex . The area borders the English Channel to the south, and the ceremonial counties of Surrey to the north, Kent to the north-east, and Hampshire to the west. Sussex contains
3700-667: The Roman departure from Britain around 410 AD. The foundation legend of Sussex is provided by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , which states that in the year AD 477 Ælle landed with his three sons. Having fought on the banks of the Mearcredesburna , it seems Ælle secured the area between the Ouse and Cuckmere in a treaty. Traditionally this is thought to have been against native Britons, but it may have been to secure
3800-554: The UK Parliament , Sussex is represented by 17 MPs. At the 2024 general election , 6 Labour and Labour Co-op MPs, 5 Conservative MPs, 5 Lib Dem MPs and 1 Green MP were elected from Sussex constituencies. Amongst top-tier local authorities, East and West Sussex County Councils are both held by the Conservatives and Brighton and Hove City Council is led by Labour. Amongst district councils, as of June 2024,
3900-613: The Weald were all part of changes as significant to Sussex as those brought by the neolithic period, by the Romans and the Saxons. Sussex also experienced the most radical and thorough reorganisation of land in England. The county's existing sub-divisions, known as rapes, were made into castleries and each territory was given to one of William's most trusted barons. Castles were built to defend
4000-445: The union with Scotland two members represented the county in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. The Reform Act 1832 led to the disenfranchisement of some of the smaller Sussex boroughs and divided what had been a single county constituency into eastern and western divisions, with two representatives elected for each division. The reforms of
4100-679: The 17th century, after which it began to decline. It also brought widespread deforestation of parts of the Sussex Weald. Henry VIII 's separation of the Church of England from Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries led to the demolition of Lewes Priory and Battle Abbey and the sites being given to Henry's supporters. The shrine to St Richard at Chichester Cathedral was also destroyed. Mary I returned England to Catholicism and in Sussex 41 Protestants were burned to death . Under Elizabeth I , religious intolerance continued albeit on
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4200-413: The 19th century made the electoral system more representative, but it was not until 1928 that there was universal suffrage. There was a strong radical and republican tradition in Sussex from the 19th century. For most of the 20th century Sussex was a Conservative Party stronghold—from the 1906 to 1997 general elections the only seats in Sussex won by parties other than the Conservatives were in
4300-564: The A259 Norfolk Bridge cross the river before it turns to the east, to flow parallel to the English Channel at Shoreham-by-Sea . A new swing footbridge was constructed in 2013, linking Shoreham to Shoreham Beach. Replacing a previous structure which was beyond economic repair, it cost £10 million and was opened by the Duke of Gloucester. It was named the Adur Ferry Bridge after a public vote was held. The river enters
4400-632: The A273 road and the A23 road at Rice Bridge. To the west of Twineham ( 50°57′46″N 0°14′09″W / 50.962746°N 0.235728°W / 50.962746; -0.235728 ) the Herrings Stream joins on the left bank. At Shermanbury , the eastern Adur is fed by the Cowfold Stream. The normal tidal limit is just below this at the footbridge near Shermanbury Church . The tidal section
4500-420: The A281 crosses the Adur. The combined flow continues southwards, to a footbridge near Eatons Farm, below which there is a towpath on both sides of the river. Bineham Bridge carries another footpath over the river, and the river then enters Henfield Levels, an important wetland site which supports large populations of birds. A former railway bridge carries the Downs Link over the river at Stretham Manor. There are
4600-571: The Act to carry out the work, assisted by the Commissioners of Sewers for the Rape of Bramber. Finance for the scheme would come from rates levied on owners of land which would benefit from the new drainage scheme. The river channel was dredged, the banks were raised, and a towpath was constructed. The river was to be made suitable for barges drawing 3 feet (0.9 m) of water, and tolls for the use of
4700-498: The Adur at Bramber. The house has been used in a number of television productions including an episode of Doctor Who where the TARDIS landed inside. Its owners since 1984 are Peter Thorogood and Roger Linton. Just outside Bramber, in the direction of Botolphs village, formerly stood a medieval hospital and nunnery, caring for sufferers of leprosy , and dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Although long since closed, this part of Bramber
4800-566: The Adur, and in 1905 a tug with barges conveyed 12,989 tons of material from Shoreham to a cement works at Beeding. This trade continued until 1929. The lower reaches of the river, from its mouth to Old Shoreham Bridge, are managed by the Port of Shoreham Harbour Office. Above the bridge, the river is the responsibility of the Environment Agency . There is a Common Law right of navigation up to Shermanbury; small boats can reach there on
4900-524: The Alps. The Romans built villas, especially on the coastal plain and around Chichester, one of the best preserved being that at Bignor . Christianity first came to Sussex at this time, but faded away when the Romans left in the 5th century. The nationally important Patching hoard of Roman coins that was found in 1997 is the latest find of Roman coins found in Britain , probably deposited after 475 AD, well after
5000-580: The Anglo Saxon ǣdr meaning vein or artery . Other local rivers such as the Rother deriving from the Anglo Saxon rōðer which means Rower (as in a long river) and the Arun derived from hærn meaning tidal also appear to describe the river and its surrounds. From Norman times the county of Sussex was divided into sections known as rapes . Each rape was typically centred on a river and river port and
5100-584: The B2135 road over the river, and the river is tidal below this point. Soon afterwards, it joins the eastern Adur near Henfield. The eastern Adur rises at Ditchling Common , in East Sussex , from where it crosses into West Sussex and passes between Haywards Heath to the north and Burgess Hill to the south. It is crossed by the Brighton Main Line to the north of Wivelsfield railway station ,
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#17327729875495200-672: The Black Death, and took longest to recover. Instead much economic activity in Sussex was focused on the Weald. Merchants moved north from the coastal towns and many Continental craftsmen, fleeing religious persecution, brought their expertise to the timber, iron, clothmaking and glass industries. Economic and social tensions continued for many years as Sussex people were also involved in Jack Cade 's rebellion of 1450, in which Cade may have been killed at Cade Street , near Heathfield. Demands grew more radical in Sussex in 1451 when John and William Merfold advocated rule by common people. They also demanded that Henry VI be deposed and publicly incited
5300-432: The English Channel at Shoreham. The mouth of the Adur is now two miles (3 km) from the town centre of Shoreham due to longshore drift . Previously, the river mouth was further east, in Portslade , but an opening to the sea was made which allowed the creation of Southwick Ship Canal . The Baybridge Canal uses part of the Adur's watercourse. The name Adur is a relatively recent (probably 1612s) invention, based on
5400-427: The Lib Dems had a majority in three local authorities ( Chichester , Eastbourne and Horsham ) and the Labour Party had a majority in three local authorities ( Adur , Crawley and Worthing ). Of the six local authorities in no overall control , one had a minority Green administration ( Hastings ), one was run by a Lib Dem-Labour-Green coalition ( Arun ), one was run by a Green-Labour coalition ( Lewes ), one as run by
5500-406: The Roman army under Julius Caesar that temporarily occupied south-eastern Britain in 55 BC. Soon after the first Roman invasion had ended, the Celtic Regni tribe under their leader Commius initially occupied the Manhood Peninsula . Eppillus , Verica and Cogidubnus followed Commius as rulers of the Regni or southern Atrebates, a region which included most of Sussex, with their capital in
5600-420: The Selsey area. A number of archaeologists now think there is a strong possibility that the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43 started around Fishbourne and Chichester Harbour rather than the traditional landing place of Richborough in Kent. According to this theory, the Romans were called to restore the refugee Verica , a king whose capital was in the Selsey and Chichester area, who had been driven out by
5700-412: The Sussex Downs were the location of the Battle of Lewes , in which Simon de Montfort and his fellow barons captured Prince Edward (later Edward I ), the son and heir of Henry III . The subsequent treaty, known as the Mise of Lewes , led to Montfort summoning the first parliament in English history without any prior royal authorisation. A provisional administration was set up, consisting of Montfort,
5800-440: The Wealden iron industry was strategically important to both sides. In 1642 there was a skirmish at Haywards Heath when Royalists marching towards Lewes were intercepted by local Parliamentarians . The Royalists were routed with around 200 killed or taken prisoner. Shortly after there were sieges at Chichester and Arundel , and a smaller battle at Bramber Bridge . Despite its being under Parliamentarian control, Charles II
5900-472: The area east of the Saxon Shore fort of Anderida from the influence of the Kingdom of Kent, with whom the South Saxons may have had occasional disputes. Ælle was recognised as the first ' Bretwalda ' or overlord of southern Britain. He was probably the most senior of the Anglo-Saxon kings and led the ill-fated campaign against King Arthur at Mount Badon . By the 7th century, South Saxon kings were ruling from sites around Selsey (the pre-Roman capital of
6000-409: The area) and Chichester (the Roman capital of the area) initially with similar borders to the pre-Roman kingdom and Roman canton. For much of the 7th and 8th centuries, Sussex suffered attempts at invasion from the Kingdom of Wessex to its west. King Æðelwealh formed an alliance with Christian Mercia against Wessex, becoming Sussex's first Christian king. With support from St Wilfrid , Sussex became
6100-456: The armistice to be offered to Germany at the end of World War I were agreed at a meeting at Danny House , Hurstpierpoint . With the declaration of World War II , Sussex found itself part of the country's frontline with its airfields playing a key role in the Battle of Britain and with its towns being some of the most frequently bombed. Sussex was garrisoned by multiple British and Canadian Army units from 1940 until at least May 1942. During
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#17327729875496200-444: The association. It is now firmly regarded that the county emblem originated and derived from the coat of arms of the 14th-century Knight of the Shire , Sir John de Radynden . Sussex's six martlets are today held to symbolise the traditional six sub-divisions of the county known as rapes . Sussex by the Sea is regarded as the unofficial anthem of Sussex; it was composed by William Ward-Higgs in 1907, perhaps originally from
6300-412: The breadline and receiving regular relief. Socially acceptable crimes, including protest, riot, collective action and smuggling were commonplace in Sussex and were seen by many as a legitimate way to address grievances and assert freedoms. At this time, Sussex became a centre for radicalism . Thomas Paine developed his political ideas in Lewes, and later wrote Common Sense which was influential in
6400-439: The canal are maintained by locks at its entrance. Following the success of improvements to a number of rivers along the south coast, an Act of Parliament was obtained on 13 August 1807 to allow the river to be improved up to Bines Bridge on the western Adur and to Mock Bridge on the eastern Adur. The Act also authorised the drainage of the lowland levels above Breeding Bridge to be improved. Seventy-nine trustees were appointed by
6500-453: The castle chapel and is the only part of the castle site not in ruins. The church attracts large numbers of tourists, and is the oldest post-Conquest Norman church in Sussex. Bramber Castle originally protected the Rape of Bramber , the historic sub-division of the county of Sussex. The feudal barons of Bramber were as follows: After this time the honour of Bramber was held by the Dukes of Norfolk . Another historic building in Bramber
6600-469: The ceremonial counties of East and West Sussex in 1974. Boundaries were changed and a large part of the rape of Lewes was transferred from the eastern division into West Sussex, along with Gatwick Airport, historically part of the county of Surrey. From 1290, Sussex returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England . Each county returned two MPs and each borough designated by Royal charter also returned two MPs. After
6700-409: The city of Brighton and Hove and its wider city region , as well as the South Downs National Park and the National Landscapes of the High Weald and Chichester Harbour . Its coastline is 137 miles (220 km) long. The Kingdom of Sussex emerged in the 5th century; during Roman Britain the area was inhabited by the Regni tribe. In about 827, shortly after the Battle of Ellendun , Sussex
6800-419: The civil parish councils followed 400 years later in 1933. Bramber was the caput of a large feudal barony held from the 11th to 14th centuries by the Braose family which was noted for its impact on the medieval history of the southern Welsh Marches . On a small hill stand the remains of Bramber Castle , a Norman castle built by the family. Bramber Parish Church of St Nicholas was originally built as
6900-440: The coastal districts is strongly influenced by the sea, which, because of its tendency to warm up slower than land, can result in cooler temperatures than inland in the summer. In the autumn months, the coast sometimes has higher temperatures. Rainfall during the summer months is mainly from thunderstorms and thundery showers; from January to March the heavier rainfall is due to prevailing south-westerly frontal systems. In winter,
7000-399: The constituencies of Brighton and Brighton Kemptown . Since 1997 there has been a gradual shift to the left, especially in more urban areas. This has been most notable in Brighton and Hove, where in Brighton Pavilion the UK's first Green MP, Caroline Lucas , was elected in 2010 and the UK's first Green-led local authority was elected in 2011. In the House of Commons , the lower house of
7100-476: The country. Many of the middens were levelled in the 1960s, as the land was used for agriculture, but two important groups remain: one to the west of the river near Bramber , and the other to the east of the river near Upper Beeding . They are scheduled monuments , and those to the east are on land originally owned by Sele Priory, while those to the west were given to Durford Abbey around 1160, by William de Braose, who owned Bramber Castle . Beeding Bridge carries
7200-529: The county. The population of Sussex was 550,446 in 1891 and 605,202 in 1901. Finds at Eartham Pit in Boxgrove show that the area has some of the earliest hominid remains in Europe, dating back some 500,000 years and known as Boxgrove Man or Homo heidelbergensis . At a site near Pulborough called The Beedings, tools have been found that date from around 35,000 years ago and that are thought to be from either
7300-523: The east winds can be as cold as further inland. Selsey is known as a tornado hotspot, with small tornadoes hitting the town in 1986, 1998 and 2000, with the 1998 tornado causing an estimated £10 million of damage to 1,000 buildings. Most of Sussex's population is distributed in an east–west line along the English Channel coast or on the east–west line of the A272 . The exception to this pattern
7400-435: The east, and the other side of the river. The closest historical connection, however, is with the village of Botolphs to the south. The ecclesiastical parishes of Bramber and Botolphs were united possibly as early as 1526, but certainly by 1534 with the priest living at Botolphs. Later the priest's official residence became the imposing Bramber mansion and landmark now called "Burletts" and located on Clays Hill. The union of
7500-754: The eastern Mediterranean. Sussex is rich in remains from the Bronze and Iron Ages , in particular the Bronze Age barrows known as the Devil's Jumps and Cissbury Ring , one of Britain's largest hillforts. Towards the end of the Iron Age in 75 BC people from the Atrebates , one of the tribes of the Belgae , a mix of Celtic and German stock, invaded and occupied southern Britain. This was followed by an invasion by
7600-642: The eastern branch, and can also reach the lower lock of the Baybridge Canal at Partridge Green on the western branch. Careful timing is required, as the river drains down to a narrow channel at low tide, and Beeding Bridge has extremely limited headroom on spring tides. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway named one of their K class 2-6-4T tank engines no. A791 (later no. 1791 and 31791) River Adur after this river. 50°49′N 0°16′W / 50.817°N 0.267°W / 50.817; -0.267 Sussex Sussex ( /ˈsʌsɪks/ ; from
7700-477: The feast day of St Richard of Chichester , Sussex's patron saint , whose shrine at Chichester Cathedral was an important place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages . Sussex's motto, We wunt be druv , is a Sussex dialect expression meaning "we will not be pushed around" and reflects the traditionally independent nature of Sussex men and women. The round-headed rampion , also known as the "Pride of Sussex",
7800-463: The killing of the nobility and clergy. The Wealden iron industry expanded rapidly, especially after the first blast furnace arrived in Sussex in 1496, from the Low Countries , which greatly improved efficiency. Skilled Flemish workers moved to Sussex, followed again by Huguenot craftsmen from France, who brought new techniques. The industry was strategically important and flourished into
7900-462: The last Neanderthals in northern Europe or pioneer populations of modern humans. The thriving population lived by hunting game such as horses, bison, mammoths and woolly rhinos . Around 6000 BC the ice sheet over the North Sea melted, sea levels rose and the meltwaters burst south and westwards, creating the English Channel and cutting the people of Sussex off from their Mesolithic kinsmen to
8000-457: The last major Anglo Saxon kingdom to become Christian. South Saxon and Mercian forces took control of what is now east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Cædwalla of Wessex killed Æðelwealh and "ravaged Sussex by fierce slaughter and devastation". The South Saxons forced Cædwalla from Sussex and were able to lead a campaign into Kent , replacing its king. At this time Sussex could have re-emerged into
8100-638: The lead up to the Dieppe Raid and D-Day landings, the people of Sussex were witness to the buildup of military personnel and materials, including the assembly of landing crafts and construction of Mulberry harbours off the county's coast. In the post-war era, the New Towns Act 1946 designated Crawley as the site of a new town . As part of the Local Government Act 1972 , the eastern and western divisions of Sussex were made into
8200-531: The lyrics of Rudyard Kipling 's poem entitled Sussex . Adopted by the Royal Sussex Regiment and popularised in World War I , it is sung at celebrations across the county, including those at Lewes Bonfire , and at sports matches, including those of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club and Sussex County Cricket Club . The county day, called Sussex Day , is celebrated annually on 16 June,
8300-497: The mouth of the river in Shoreham-by-Sea . The Adur begins as two separate branches, the western Adur and the eastern Adur, which meet 1.2 miles (2 km) west of Henfield . The western Adur rises at Slinfold , from where it flows around Coolham and then through Shipley , where Hammer Pond and Lancing Brook join it on the right bank. On the left bank, it is joined by the outflow of Knepphill Pond, which forms part of
8400-555: The name of the Roman fort Portus Adurni which was mistakenly believed to be at Shoreham. The river had previously been known as the Bramber , and was also recorded as the Sore in the sixteenth century, the latter probably a back-formation by William Harrison's Description of England (1577) from Shoreham (often Sorham in early sources). A further possible translation derived from
8500-486: The river as specified by the Act were very low, but the work was completed, and a navigable depth of 4 feet (1.2 m) was achieved. A further extension to the navigable river was made in 1825, when seven promoters raised £5,250 and obtained an Act of Parliament to construct the Baybridge Canal , although in practice they widened the river channel and straightened out a few of the bends, rather than constructing
8600-591: The south. Later in the Neolithic period, the area of the South Downs above Worthing was one of Britain's largest and most important flint -mining centres. The flints were used to help fell trees for agriculture. The oldest of these mines, at Church Hill in Findon, has been carbon-dated to 4500 BC to 3750 BC, making it one of the earliest known mines in Britain. Flint tools from Cissbury have been found as far away as
8700-542: The territories including at Arundel, Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings. Sussex's bishop, Æthelric II , was deposed and imprisoned and replaced with William the Conqueror's personal chaplain, Stigand . The Normans also built Chichester Cathedral and moved the seat of Sussex's bishopric from Selsey to Chichester. The Normans also founded new towns in Sussex, including New Shoreham (the centre of modern Shoreham-by-Sea), Battle, Arundel, Uckfield and Winchelsea. In 1264,
8800-400: The time, the hinterland was able to supply large quantities of cheap timber, and although larger ships could not navigate up the river, it was used to float large rafts of timber from Bramber, Steyning and beyond down to the ship yards. This trade gradually declined as the forests were felled. One problem that the shipbuilders faced was the blocking of the mouth of the river with shingle, which
8900-511: The unrest continued until 1832 and became known as the Swing Riots . During World War I , on 30 June 1916, the Royal Sussex Regiment took part in the Battle of the Boar's Head at Richebourg-l'Avoué . The day subsequently became known as The Day Sussex Died . Within five hours the 17 officers and 349 men were killed, and 1,000 men were wounded or taken prisoner. In 1918 the terms of
9000-652: Was able to journey through the county after the Battle of Worcester in 1651 to make his escape to France from the port of Shoreham. In 1681 Charles II granted William Penn lands in what became Pennsylvania and Delaware . Amongst those whom he carried to North America as colonists were 200 people from Sussex, mostly Quakers, who founded settlements named after places in Sussex including Lewes and Seaford in Sussex County , Delaware and Horsham Township and Chichester in Pennsylvania. The Sussex coast
9100-542: Was about 1.7 million. In 2021, Sussex had a population density of 451 per km , higher than the average for England of 434 per km . The decline of the Sussex ironworks probably accounts for the small increase in population during several centuries, although after the Massacre of St Bartholomew upwards of 1,500 Huguenots landed at Rye, and in 1685, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes , many more refugees were added to
9200-544: Was adopted as Sussex's county flower in 2002. The physical geography of Sussex relies heavily on its lying on the southern part of the Wealden anticline , the major features of which are the high lands that cross the county in a west to east direction: the Weald itself and the South Downs . Natural England has identified the following seven national character areas in Sussex: At 280 metres (920 feet), Blackdown
9300-424: Was conquered by Wessex . From 860 it was ruled by the kings of Wessex , and in 927 it became part of the Kingdom of England . By the Norman period , Sussex was subdivided into six administrative districts known as rapes , which were themselves divided into hundreds . By the sixteenth century, the eastern three rapes and the western three rapes had been combined for most meetings of the court of quarter sessions ,
9400-415: Was defeated and Harold was killed. It is likely that all the fighting men of Sussex were at the battle, as the county's thegns were decimated and any that survived had their lands confiscated. William built Battle Abbey at the site of the battle, with the exact spot where Harold fell marked by the high altar. Sussex experienced some of the greatest changes of any English county under the Normans, for it
9500-410: Was greatly modified by the social movement of sea bathing for health which became fashionable among the wealthy in the second half of the 18th century. Resorts developed all along the coast, including at Brighton, Hastings, Worthing, and Bognor. Poverty increased and by 1801 Sussex had the highest poor law rates in England, with 23 per cent of its population (37,000 people out of 160,000) living on
9600-421: Was guarded by a castle. Bramber rape was centred on the port of Bramber and the river Adur, with Bramber Castle located close to the river. At various times in the medieval period, Bramber, Steyning and New Shoreham were all major ports on the river. The western Adur also flows close to Knepp Castle , near Shipley. The river has a long history of use for navigation, and Shoreham is known to have been used as
9700-473: Was moved along the coast by the tides. Harbour Commissioners were appointed in 1760 to resolve the issue, and two attempts to create a new mouth were made, but neither was particularly successful. However, in 1816 a new channel was cut through the shingle, and the original course of the river became the Southwick Ship Canal as development work took place over the next forty years. Water levels in
9800-483: Was never a commercial success. Tolls in 1812 amounted to £523, but then declined fairly quickly, and were only £258 in 1839. The Brighton Railway arrived in the area in 1861, when a branch from Shoreham to Horsham was constructed, which was in direct competition to the river. The Adur trustees could no longer afford to repay their loans from 1865, while the Baybridge Canal was virtually unused from 1861, and officially closed on 1 September 1875. Some traffic continued to use
9900-534: Was still 10 to 25 per cent lower than it had been in 1066. It was also during the Norman period that Sussex achieved its greatest importance in comparison with other English counties. Sussex was on the main route between England and Normandy , and the lands of the Anglo-Norman nobility in what is now western France. The growth in Sussex's population, the importance of its ports and the increased colonisation of
10000-434: Was the heartland of King Harold and was potentially vulnerable to further invasion. In the immediate aftermath of the Normans' landing at Pevensey and the Battle of Hastings and to put an end to any rebellion, the Norman army destroyed estates and other assets on their route through Sussex, leading to a 40 per cent reduction in Sussex's wealth, a situation worse than any other southern or midland county. By 1086 wealth in Sussex
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