Art Holiday Travel and Vacation information for Sussex

Sussex, maritime County in SE. of England, bounded N. and NE. by Surrey and Kent, SE. and S. by the English Channel, and W. and NW. by Hants; greatest length, N. and S., 27 miles; greatest breadth, E. and W., 76 miles; area, 933,269 acres, population 490,505. From the Hants border, near Petersfield, to Beachy Head, the county is traversed by the South Downs; to the N. of this range of chalk hills is the valley of the Weald, rising into the Forest Ridge on the NE., and sinking on the SE., towards the sea, into wide marshes. The rivers are not important; they are the Arun, Adur, Ouse, and Rother, all flowing S. to the English Channel. The principal means of communication are the railways; these belong chiefly to the London, Brighton, and South Coast system, which has steamers running daily between Newhaven and Dieppe. The most fertile soil is the low land along the coast, which yields heavy crops of grain and hay; the South Downs are chiefly pastoral, and support a well-known breed of sheep to which they give name; the Weald consists generally of sandy or tenacious clays of a very indifferent description, but the clays produce a stiff soil, remarkably favourable to the growth of forest trees, particularly the oak, and about 150,000 acres are under wood; hops are grown in the eastern part of the county, which borders on the hop districts of Kent. Ironstone is abundant, and so long as wood only was used for smelting the county was one of the chief seats of the British iron trade. "Sussex marble," a kind of limestone containing freshwater shells, is worked near Petworth. The manufactures include woollens, paper, gunpowder, bricks and tiles, &c., but are not extensive. The seaports are now small and comparatively unimportant, but the mildness of the climate along the sea coast has led to the growth of numerous watering and bathing places and health resorts, including Brighton, Hastings, Easthourne, Worthing, Seaford, Littlehampton, and Bognor. Sussex was the scene of much of the early history of the country, and is rich in archeological remains. The county contains 6 rapes, which comprise 68 hundreds, 2 liberties, the parliamentary and municipal boroughs of Brighton (2 members) and Hastings (1 member), and the municipal boroughs of Arundel, Chichester, Eastbourne, Lewes, and Rye. It is almost entirely in the diocese of Chichester. For parliamentary purposes it is divided into 6 divisions -viz., North-Western or Horsham, South-Western or Chichester, Northern or East Grinstead, Mid or Lewes, Southern or Eastbourne, and Eastern or Rye, 1 member for each division; the representation was increased from 4 to 6 members in 1885.

Attractively varied scenery, sunny resorts, plenty of interesting places to visit A favourite county with our readers, with a great variety of places to visit, many of them ideal for families. Readers particularly like the town of Rye, Leonardslee gardens at Lower Beeding, Uppark at South Harting, Pallant House in Chichester, Beachy Head (good well organised walks from visitor centre), and with children the sheep centre at East Dean and Bentley at Halland.

Bodiam Castle is one of the most fun for children in Britain, and other great family outings include Drusillas zoo nr Alfriston, the open-air museum at Amberley, the lively collection of rescued buildings at Singleton, the Bluebell steam line nr Sheffield Park, the Foredown Centre nr Brighton, and the llama farm at Wych Cross. Some of the smaller places such as Living World at Exceat can enthral children, too. And even the splendid Roman villas at Bignor and Fishbourne, appealing primarily to adults, are enjoyed by many children. Sussex stands out for its spectacular gardens, with many of the finest specimen trees and shrubs to be found anywhere, and all sorts of rarities: besides Leonardslee, there's Wakehurst Place at Ardingly, Nymans at Handcross, Borde Hill nr Haywards Heath and Sheffield Park, with many really worth while smaller places. Earnley Gardens is rather special for its unusual range of other attractions. The Goodwood sculpture park is most appealing (but very expensive), and some of the county's many vineyards are attractively geared towards visitors. Sussex is rich in great houses to visit: besides Uppark, most notably Arundel Castle, Goodwood, Parham at Pulborough, and Petworth; Firle has some smaller gems around it. The Sussex countryside has very varied yet very characteristic scenery: the South Downs with their attractive flint buildings and expansive views, culminating in Beachy Head and its nearby cliffs; the sparsely wooded high sandy heathland of the Ashdown Forest (the B2026 gives drivers the best views); and the intricate landscapes of the Weald, with its steep slopes and valleys, ancient woods and hedgerows punctuated by great oaks, pretty villages, tile-hung or weatherboarded coast houses and wood-and-tile barns with their long "cats'-slide" roofs.Much of the coast is developed. Brighton combines elegant Regency architecture, in the remarkable Royal Pavilion, with a more raffish side; it's a great place for antiques, and its museum is one of very few free museums to have won a place on the Heritage Secretary's new shortlist of excellence and national importance. Eastbourne is an unusually civilised old-fashioned seaside resort, and sandy Bognor and Worthing have a restrained appeal. Chichester has its devotees - and the great sea inlet of Chichester Harbour has some very attractive places along its shore.

Attractively varied scenery, sunny resorts, plenty of interesting places to visit A favourite county with our readers, with a great variety of places to visit, many of them ideal for families. Readers particularly like the town of Rye, Leonardslee gardens at Lower Beeding, Uppark at South Harting, Pallant House in Chichester, Beachy Head (good well organised walks from visitor centre), and with children the sheep centre at East Dean and Bentley at Halland.

Other great family outings include Drusillas zoo nr Alfriston, the open-air museum at Amberley, the lively collection of rescued buildings at Singleton, the Bluebell steam line nr Sheffield Park, the Foredown Centre nr Brighton, and the llama farm at Wych Cross. Some of the smaller places such as Living World at Exceat can enthral children, too. And even the splendid Roman villas at Bignor and Fishbourne, appealing primarily to adults, are enjoyed by many children. Sussex stands out for its spectacular gardens, with many of the finest specimen trees and shrubs to be found anywhere, and all sorts of rarities: besides Leonardslee, there's Wakehurst Place at Ardingly, Nymans at Handcross, Borde Hill nr Haywards Heath and Sheffield Park, with many really worth while smaller places. Earnley Gardens is rather special for its unusual range of other attractions. The Goodwood sculpture park is most appealing (but very expensive), and some of the county's many vineyards are attractively geared towards visitors. Sussex is rich in great houses to visit: besides Uppark, most notably Arundel Castle, Goodwood, Parham at Pulborough, and Petworth; Firle has some smaller gems around it. The Sussex countryside has very varied yet very characteristic scenery: the South Downs with their attractive flint buildings and expansive views, culminating in Beachy Head and its nearby cliffs; the sparsely wooded high sandy heathland of the Ashdown Forest (the B2026 gives drivers the best views); and the intricate landscapes of the Weald, with its steep slopes and valleys, ancient woods and hedgerows punctuated by great oaks, pretty villages, tile-hung or weatherboarded oast houses and wood-and-tile barns with their long "cats'-slide" roofs.Much of the coast is developed. Brighton combines elegant Regency architecture, inc the remarkable Royal Pavilion, with a more raffish side; it's a great place for antiques, and its museum is one of very few free museums to have won a place on the Heritage Secretary's new shortlist of excellence and national importance. Eastbourne is an unusually civilised old-fashioned seaside resort, and sandy Bognor and Worthing have a restrained appeal. Chichester has its devotees - and the great sea inlet of Chichester Harbour has some very attractive places along its shore.