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The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by William Page, F.S.A., published 1905 (vol. 1: Natural History, Geology, pre-medieval Archaeology, the Domesday survey, and Political History, xxi + 554 pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905855 & ISBN-13: 9780712905855) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2398] & The Keep [LIB/500089] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by William Page, F.S.A., published 1907 (vol. 2: Ecclesiastical, Maritime, Social and Economic History, Population 1801-1901, Industries, Agriculture, Forestry, Architecture, Schools and Sport, xv + 481 pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905863 & ISBN-13: 9780712905862) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2399][Lib 9097] & The Keep [LIB/500090][Lib/504899] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by L. F. Salzman, M.A., F.S.A., published 1935 (vol. 3: Romano-British Sussex, and the City of Chichester, xiii + 169 pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905871 & ISBN-13: 9780712905879) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9098][Lib 7397][Lib 3206] & The Keep [LIB/500081] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

A part-volume describing the cathedral and port city of Chichester, including a detailed account of the architecture of the cathedral.

The publication of the third volume of the Victoria County History of Sussex is a matter of great importance to all who are interested in Sussex.
Held up for nearly 30 years by many causes, it now resumes its progress under the able editorship of Mr. L. F. Salzman, M.A., F.S.A.
The first part of the present volume deals with the Roman occupation of Sussex and its remains. This is contributed by Mr. S. E. Winbolt, who has made a special study of the period. It contains a map of the sites of all known Roman finds and a list of the finds themselves, except that at Balcombe, recorded in S.N. Q. iii, 160.
The second portion gives the history of Chichester, its City, Cathedral and Port, with a note on Kingsham. The architectural and general descriptions of the City were drawn up by the late Dr. William Page (the original Editor of the V.C.H. Series) and Mr. Hurford Rowe, the Heraldic details being contributed by the Rev. E. E. Dorling.
Both portions are fully illustrated.
The history of the City was undertaken by Professor Elizabeth Levett, but her lamented death, followed by that of Dr. Page himself, left the matter incomplete and caused further delay. Special mention should be made of the assistance given by Mr. W. D. Peckham in many ways and by Mr. W. H. Godfrey, who has contributed a fine plan of the Cathedral in addition to giving much time to the preparation of the plan of the Precincts.
It is hoped that the issue of the present volume will be quickly followed by one dealing with the Rape of Hastings, while another comprising the Rape of Lewes will follow in 1936.
It is hoped that all concerned with the history of Sussex (and who of our readers is not ?) will possess themselves of these valuable volumes, which may be obtained for two guineas each.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by L. F. Salzman, M.A., F.S.A., published 1937 (vol. 9: The Rape of Hastings, xv + 279 pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905901 & ISBN-13: 9780712905909) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2402] & The Keep [LIB/500080][Lib/504285] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries

Borough of Hastings, Cinque Ports, Borough of Rye, Winchelsea.
Baldslow Hundred: Crowhurst, Hollington, Ore, Westfield
Battle Hundred: Battle, Whatlington

The issue of a volume of this County History is looked forward to with keen interest, and the new volume fully maintains the high standard expected. It will, no doubt, make a wide appeal from the fact that the area covered contains such well-known places as Battle Abbey, Bodiam Castle and Herstmonceux Castle, as well as the ancient Towns of Rye and Winchelsea.
An editorial note explains that Dr. William Page at the time of his death was preparing the material for the volume, which is geographically the ninth volume of the History, though fourth in order of issue. Then, following a general account of the Rape and Honour of Hastings, the Borough of Hastings is dealt with from every conceivable aspect, descriptive, architectural, historical, economic, manorial and ecclesiastical; the castle and churches receive particular attention, and the article concludes with the unusual but useful feature - adopted also throughout the volume - of a detailed statement of the various Charities, in this case extending to no less than five and a half pages. Truly Hastings has been favoured with a host of benefactors, not the least being the compilers of this history, the study of which greatly enhances one's respect for this ancient port.
The story of the Cinque Ports is probably the most complete that has ever been written; and under this head the Boroughs of Rye and Winchelsea receive similar treatment to that accorded to Hastings. In the remaining 200 pages of the volume each of the thirteen Hundreds in the Rape, with the parishes and manors they contain, comes under review, and when we add that 40 ancient parishes and over 140 manors are included, some idea will be gathered of the enormous amount of research involved. The architectural descriptions of the churches are in nearly every case accompanied by dated ground plans, and we note that the responsibility for these plans is shared by Mr. W. H. Godfrey and Mr. John E. Ray, while the actual draughtmanship is by Mr. E. F. Harvey whose excellent work is familiar to the readers of these pages.
A statement concerning the officers of the Hundred of Foxearle (p.125), which is apparently a quotation from the Burrell MSS. calls for some comment, as the position suggested seems to depart from the normal. We read :- "The officers of the hundred, who were always chosen at the Easter court, were two headboroughs, only one of whom was sworn, two constables and two alderman". This is not altogether borne out by the Court Rolls which show that in the time of Henry VIII the officers were chosen at an Easter court, as stated, but in the reign of Elizabeth and also in the late 17th century, for which periods alone rolls are available, the elections were at the Michaelmas court. In regard to headboroughs, we find as might be expected, that each of the six tithings had one headborough ; two names in each case were put before the court, but the second was an alternative choice, failing the first, who was usually appointed and sworn. Two constables and one alderman were appointed for the hundred, but another may have been appointed at the Lawday which is mentioned as being held for Boreham and Wareing.
The detailed descriptions of the devolution of the various manors furnish a mass of useful genealogical material, and perhaps one of the most noticeable cases is that of the manor of Pett (p.191) which on the death of the last male member of the Thatcher family in or about 1650 became divisible, with the other family estates, between his seven sisters or their descendants, involving some 10 marriages and much sub-division of the shares. It is said with truth that after 1650 the division is confused, but what happened later is clear. In 1698 a partition of the estates was made and the manors of Pett and Mersham fell to the share of Andrew Wharton, and it was he who sold to Joseph Gage in 1699.
In conclusion, we must mention the illustrations which add greatly to the interest and beauty of the volume; there are 30 full-page plates of photographic reproductions of very high merit, besides many line drawings in the text, and other plans besides those of the churches already mentioned. Altogether it is a sumptious book and the Editor and his staff and all connected with its publication are to be warmly congratulated upon their work.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by L. F. Salzman, M.A., F.S.A., published 1940 (vol. 7: The Rape of Lewes, xv + 286 pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0712905898 & ISBN-13: 9780712905893) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500079] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

Covers the rape and honour of Lewes, in the east of the county. It includes an extensive account of the borough of Lewes itself, as well as detailing the parishes from the old parish of Crawley and the county border in the north, to coastal areas in the south, including Brighton to the west and Newhaven in the east.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, edited by L. F. Salzman, published 1953 (Vol 4: The Rape of Chichester, xv + 239pp. (facsimile edition published 1973), London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 071290588X & ISBN-13: 9780712905886) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7398] & The Keep [LIB/500082] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

Chichester Rape
Dumpford Hundred: Chithurst, Didling, Elsted, Harting, Rogate, Terwick, Treyford, Trotton

To those who love their country and its past there is no pleasure quite so delightful as the opening of a new volume of the Victoria County History. Its contents are a continual feast and their form of presentation as satisfying to the eye as the highest standard of bookcraft can make them. In this new volume of Sussex, covering the Rape of Chichester, Mr. Salzman has not only maintained the high qualities which belong to this series as a whole but has succeeded in making it a model of what such a book should be in arrangement, balance, sufficiency of historical detail and apt illustration. There is a new policy in the Victoria Histories (shown in the Wiltshire volume just published) which omits the plans and much of the description of architecture on the plea that these will be amply supplied by the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments. But the topographical volumes on Sussex already issued, the City of Chichester and the Rapes of Chichester, Lewes and Hastings, follow the older pattern and, against the pleasant and instructive picture of the local historical background, give us its remaining tangible evidences.
Mr. Salzman is indebted to several expert contributors but to no one more than Mr. W. D. Peckham for the large number of plans of parish churches and their intelligent interpretation. Out of 66 parishes, no less than 52 have church plans and it is an indication of how ancient and therefore valuable these churches are in the study of English architecture that at least 14 of them possess more or less important parts of their fabric dating back to before 1100. In these churches much of the history of the parishes is reflected and made manifest. They are worthy of our greatest care, from the commanding importance of Bosham and Boxgrove to the modest dimensions of Chithurst and Selham.
Needless to say the historical information is handled with the utmost competence and the county will be fortunate if the three remaining rapes, Arundel, Bramber and Pevensey can be forthcoming under the same direction.
It may seem ungracious to add a regret for the omission of plans of the important examples of domestic architecture at Cowdray and Halnaker, the blocks of which were available. They would have been a useful addition to the text since plans of ancient houses are not easily found. There is a curious failure to acknowledge the source of 25 per cent. of the church plans (other than the blocks from which they are reproduced) and a not perhaps altogether merited neglect to notice, by way of footnote, the alternative interpretation of West Harting Church, which is given in the guide included in the Sussex Archaeological Society's series.
This brief notice can best be concluded with the hope that all who can will possess themselves of this and its companion volumes and will do their utmost to forward the interests of the Victoria County History which is cumulatively the most valuable contribution of the century to the local history of our country, so far attempted.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, by A. P. Baggs, C. R. J. Currie, C. R. Elrington, S. M. Keeling, A. M. Rowland and edited by T. P. Huson, published 1 January 1980 (vol. 6, part 1: Southern part of the Rape of Bramber, xix + 307 pp. & 20 pp. of plates, London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0197227538 & ISBN-13: 9780197227534) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 7542][Lib 14778] & The Keep [LIB/500085] & R.I.B.A. Library & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

This volume describes the southern part of Bramber rape, the easternmost of the three rapes of West Sussex. It tells the history of 19 parishes lying along the coastal strip and over the South Downs. The rape takes its name from the castle at Bramber, which was the centre of the feudal honour and in whose shadow the de Braoses, the lords of the rape, planted a new town. Neighbouring Steyning, once one of the chief towns of the county, was a Saxon foundation with a college of secular canons and a port on the river Adur. The port gradually silted up and was replaced by that at New Shoreham, another Norman town planted in a corner of Old Shoreham parish. New Shoreham, once a major channel port and a centre for shipbuilding, has been much affected by changes in the coastline; the modern harbour lies in Kingston Bowsey and Southwick. The silting and reclamation of the Adur estuary has also changed the face of Lancing, where the college and chapel overlook the new ground. Sompting near by has one of the several noteworthy Romanesque churches is the area. The growth of Worthing was impeded in the 19th century by sanitary problems, but the town is now the second largest in Sussex. It was also formerly renowned for its glasshouse produce. It has swallowed its parent parish of Broadwater and the parishes of Durrington, Heene, and West Tarring, the last named including two fine medieval secular buildings. The urban sprawl takes in part of Findon, scene of the annual sheep fair, which like Clapham and Patching to the west retains extensive downland. Washington, north of the downs is noted for market gardening and sand quarrying, while at Wiston was one of the most important country houses in Sussex. The tally of parishes is completed by the deserted villages of Botolphs and Coombes.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, by A. P. Baggs, C. R. J. Currie, C. R. Elrington, S. M. Keeling, A. M. Rowland and edited by T. P. Huson, published 1 January 1986 (vol. 6, part 2: North-western part of the Rape of Bramber including Horsham, 277 pp., London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0197227678 & ISBN-13: 9780197227671) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9669][Lib 9670] & The Keep [LIB/500086] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

The volume gives the history of the ten parishes that form the north-western part of Bramber rape, from Sullington in the south to Warnharn in the north, lying mostly in the Weald. Horsham is the focus of the area, and its history occupies more than a third of the volume. It was a borough by 1235 and developed later as one of the chief towns of the county, hav-ing the county gaol from the 16th to the 19th century and being from 1889 to 1916 joint county town of West Sussex with Chichester. Horsham parish also contained an extensive rural area, and West Grin-stead and Shipley were other unusually large parishes. The land was heavily wooded in the Middle Ages and settlement was scattered; many settlements originated as outlying holdings of manors centred in the south end of the rape. Later, some settlements grew as ribbons along main roads, others around the edges of commons. From the mid 19th century there was an influx of wealthy residents: among the new- comers was Hilaire Belloc, and the large houses built or rebuilt included Warnham Court, seat of the Lucases, and Little Thakeham, designed by Lutyens. Humbler houses in considerable numbers were built at Ashington, Barns Green, Partridge Green, Sullington, and Thakeham, and Horsham more than trebled in size between 1891 and 1971. Agriculture was limited by the extensive woodland; open fields were few and small, and there were many parks and commons. To provide for London and the coastal towns stock raising and dairying came to predominate over arable from c.1850, and was accompanied by poultry farming and market gardening. The main industrial activities have been ironworking and brickmaking.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, by A. P. Baggs, C. R. J. Currie, C. R. Elrington, S. M. Keeling, A. M. Rowland and edited by T. P. Huson, published 1 January 1987 (vol. 6, part 3: North-eastern part of the Rape of Bramber including Crawley New Town, 258 pp., London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0197227686 & ISBN-13: 9780197227688) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 9945][Lib 9946] & The Keep [LIB/500077] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

The volume gives the history of the eleven parishes that form the north-eastern part of Bramber rape, from Upper Beeding in the south to Ifield in the north, together with that of Crawley new town, founded in 1947. The area lies mostly on Wealden sands and clays, where settlement was chiefly scattered. Many settlements originated as outlying holdings of manors centred in the south end of the rape; the parish of Beeding lay in two parts, Upper Beeding astride the scarp of the South Downs, and Lower Beeding eleven miles to the north. St. Leonard's Forest in Lower Beeding was roughly divided in the Middle Ages between woodland and heath; its present appearance is the result of 19th- and 20th -century afforestation and reclamation for agriculture, and settlement was later there than elsewhere. The 19th century saw a great influx of wealthy new residents, some of whom built large houses or laid out parks or gardens like those at Sedgewick Park or Leonardslee. In the mid 20th century the villages or hamlets of Upper Beeding, Hen-field, and Mannings Heath in Nuthurst have been much expanded. Crawley, part of whose built-up area lay in Ifield parish, was already a town by the later 19th century; of other places, only Henfield was larger than the average, offering some urban functions. There is little evidence of open-field agriculture except in the south; St. Leonard's Forest was largely used as rabbit warrens in the 17th and 18th centuries; and market gardening and fruit and flower growing were prominent, for instance around Albourne, in the 20th. Industrial activities before the foundation of Crawley new town included medieval saltworking in the Adur valley, ironworking, quarrying, and fishing, together with varied woodland industries, and cement manufacture at Upper Beeding.

The Victoria History of the County of Sussex, by A. P. Baggs and H. M Warne and edited by T. P. Huson, published 1 January 1997 (vol. 5, part 1: South-western part of the Rape of Arundel, 320 pp., London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 0197227813 & ISBN-13: 9780197227817) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13609][Lib 13610][Lib 14779] & The Keep [LIB/500083] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries   View Online

This volume describes the history of the borough of Arundel, with its noted castle, religious houses, and Roman Catholic cathedral, and 11 rural and suburban parishes in the adjoining coastal region of Sussex, including Felpham and Middleton.

A History of the County of Sussex, edited by C. P. Lewis, published 1 January 2009 (vol. 5, part 1: South-eastern part of the Rape of Arundel, comprising Poling Hundred, 394 pp., London: Victoria County History, ISBN-10: 1904356192 & ISBN-13: 9781904356196) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/500084] & West Sussex Libraries

Covers the parishes of Angmering, Burpham, Ferring, Goring, Kingston, Littlehampton, Lyminster, Poling, East Preston, Rustington, North Stoke and Warningcamp, assessing their history from the earliest times to the present day. There is a particular emphasis on seaside coastal development from the eighteenth century onwards.