Sussex
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Sussex from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Sussex's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Wych Cross Place
Danehill
Wych Cross Place's gardens, designed by Thomas Hayton Mawson in 1901 for geographer Douglas Freshfield, are praised as one of Mawson's best achievements, retaining most of the original...
Fishbourne Roman Palace
Fishbourne
Fishbourne Roman Palace, occupied since 43 AD and expanded by AD 75, was constructed on a former military site possibly for King Togidubnus.
Shoreham Airfield dome trainer, 240m south west of Sussex…
Lancing
Shoreham Airfield dome trainer is a rare World War II structure for training airfield gunners, highlighting Britain’s military training advancements during a major airborne threat.
Heathfield Park
Heathfield and Waldron
Heathfield Park, established in the 17th century, features improvements by Humphry Repton and Reginald Blomfield. It includes historic gardens, lakes, and the notable Gibraltar Tower.
Wootton Manor
Long Man
Wootton Manor, extensively remodeled by Detmar Blow in the early 20th century, combines Arts and Crafts architecture with historical significance.
Stanmer House
Brighton and Hove
Stanmer House in Brighton is an 18th-century country house by architect Nicholas Dubois. Built for Henry Pelham and expanded in the 19th century, it showcases historical architecture.
The New House, including orangery, Millennium Pavilion, t…
Wadhurst
The New House, built from 1982, is a rare and idiosyncratic post-modern country house designed by the architect John Outram for the Rausing family, developers of the Tetra Pak.
Harrock House
Buxted
Harrock House is a late 17th-century red brick structure featuring a half-H plan and notable for its modillion eaves cornice and pilastered wings.
Warnham Court
Warnham
Warnham Court is an historic estate with gardens designed by Edward Milner, expanded in the 19th century by Charles Lucas. It later served as a school before its closure.
Eridge Park
Frant
Eridge Park, originally a medieval deer park, was developed in the late 18th century by the Abergavennys into a picturesque estate with significant historical visits and industrial usage.
Stonehurst
Ardingly
Stonehurst, designed by Thomas H Mawson and architect Norman Searle in 1907, is a notable historic estate with extensive pleasure grounds and gardens in the Sussex weald.
Tudor Close
Rottingdean
Built in around 1929, the houses of Tudor Close incorporated two former barns and a cow shed from nearby Court Farm.
Old Lifeboat Station (Mary Stanford Boathouse)
Icklesham
Former lifeboat house. Built in 1882 by a local builder, a Mr M Anne, financed from donations by the RNLI.
Pitshill and the Manor of Dean
Tillington
Pitshill estate includes a Grade II* listed 18th-century house set within mid-19th-century gardens and parklands, historically associated with the Mitford family.
Former Wadhurst College
Wadhurst
Country house, later in educational use. Completed in 1885, designed by Adolphus Croft, an in house architect for Gillow and Company (later Waring and Gillow) for John Bruce.
Polegate Windmill
Willingdon and Jevington
Polegate Windmill, built in 1817, is a notable tower mill with historical significance, known by several names and featuring a red brick, tile-hung design.
Charleston Manor
Cuckmere Valley
Charleston Manor, once the home of Sir Oswald Birley, features gardens designed by Walter Hines Godfrey. It was a cultural hub hosting the Sussex festival.
The Old Mint House and Mint Cottage
Pevensey
Hall, detached kitchen and house, originally built in about the early to mid-C16 as detached buildings but joined by a cross-wing and link range to form a single complex in the late C16 or...
Roman amphitheatre
Chichester
The Chichester Roman Amphitheatre, a rare monument, served as a major entertainment center reflecting Roman culture and history in the regional capital, Noviomagus Regnensium.
Herstmonceux Castle and Place
Herstmonceux
Herstmonceux Castle, built in the 15th century, features a medieval park and has undergone several restorations. It is currently owned by Queen's University.
Former Singleton Railway Station
West Dean
Former railway station of 1880, by T H Myres, consisting of the station house, toilet block and a water tower. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Kidbrooke Park
Forest Row
Kidbrooke Park features 18th-century origins with significant landscaping by Humphry Repton, including a water system and gardens developed through the 19th and 20th centuries.
Blackdown Park
Lurgashall
Blackdown Park, an early to mid-19th-century garden, features historic elements from the 18th century and earlier, enriched with 20th-century additions, located near Haslemere.
Anne of Cleves House Wings Place
Ditchling
Anne of Cleves House, a late 16th-century timber-framed building in Ditchling, features a distinctive L-shape, ornate timbering, period fireplaces, and historic architectural details.
Petworth House
Petworth
Petworth House features 16th and 17th-century landscaped grounds by Lancelot Brown, historically linked to the Percy family, Somerset Duke, and artist J.M.W. Turner.
Knepp Castle
Shipley
Knepp Castle, designed by John Nash in the early 19th century, incorporates historical elements such as a hammer-pond and grounds reflecting the Regency Picturesque style.
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Wakehurst Place, a garden developed starting in the early 20th century by Gerald Loder, features diverse plant collections managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Buxted Park
Buxted
Buxted Park, an 18th-century park with significant 17th and 19th-century features, transitioned ownership through historical families and now serves as a country house hotel.
Ashburnham Place
Ashburnham
Lancelot Brown crafted Ashburnham Place's landscape, with improvements by the Ashburnham family since the 12th century, forming a cohesive estate developed into a Christian Conference...
Burpham camp
Burpham
Burpham camp is an Iron Age fort reoccupied as an Anglo-Saxon burh, preserving significant archaeological data with limited modern disturbance.
Lavington Park
Duncton
Lavington Park's estate dates back to the late 16th century, with developments in the 18th and 19th centuries, notable for historical figures like Bishop Wilberforce and Cardinal Manning.
Chapel to the Former Convent of the Holy Child Jesus
Hastings
An intact High Victorian Gothic chapel, featuring altars and reredos by Pugin, with noteworthy marble, painted walls, and a nun's choir, listed at Grade II*.
The Devil's Jumps round barrow cemetery
Elsted and Treyford
The Devil's Jumps round barrow cemetery is a well-preserved Bronze Age site featuring rare bell barrows and common bowl barrows, indicating aristocratic and diverse burial practices.
Preston Manor and Preston Park
Brighton and Hove
Preston Manor and Park feature Victorian foundations, significant expansions in the 1920s-30s, and gardens demonstrating Edwardian life, managed by Brighton and Hove Council.
HMS/m A1
Eastern Solent, Off East Wittering, West Sussex
HMS A1, the first British designed submarine, sank twice: once in 1904 after a collision and permanently in 1911 as a target. Discovered in 1989.
Explore more
Search for more listed placesSussex through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Sussex changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion and the introduction of writing. Primarily hunter-gatherers of several human species including Neanderthals, the peoples moved across Europe, hunting animals, exchanging ideas and developing complex culture and belief systems including burial rites and astronomical understanding, as at Stonehenge for example.
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Sussex
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images

Wadhurst Park
Wadhurst Hall, Wadhurst Park, 1931

Wadhurst Park
Wadhurst Hall and environs, Wadhurst Park, 1931

Ticehurst
Whiligh, Ticehurst, 1952

Ticehurst
Whiligh, Ticehurst, 1952

Forest Row
Plawhatch Hall and the surrounding countryside, Forest Row, 1950

Forest Row
Plawhatch Hall, Forest Row, 1950

Hastings
Carlisle Parade and environs, Hastings, 1926

Hastings
The entrance to the Carlisle Parade underground car park alongside Robertson Terrace and the seafront, Hastings, 1932

Fletching
Sheffield Park House, Fletching, 1950

Fletching
Sheffield Park Farm and environs, Fletching, 1950
Sussex in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Sussex's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Charles George Harper Collection
Chichester, West Sussex
Date created: 1892 - 1933
A view from the east of the Market Cross, with the spire of Chichester Cathedral in the background
Eric de Mare
Chichester, West Sussex
Date created: 1961 - 1980
Exterior view of the Chapel at Bishop Otter Teacher Training School in Chichester showing a glass gable.
John Gay Collection: Railway Stations
The City Of Brighton And Hove
Date created: 1967 - 1985
View from the Holly Bush public house looking towards Trafalgar Street and showing the canopy of Brighton station overhead
John Gay Collection: London
Richmond Park, Kingston Upon Thames, Greater London Authority
Date created: Jan 1962 - May 1964
A herd of deer lie on the grass in the shade at Richmond Park.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Coopersale, Epping Forest, Essex
Date created: 1970 - 1979
The modern terrace of houses at 60 to 63 Parklands, part of a late 20th century housing estate at Coopersale
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
Chichester, West Sussex
Date created: 1950 - 1960
A view from an elevated position of a large group of people dancing on the lawn in front of the south facade of Bishops Palace, Chichester, with the...
John Gay Collection: Miscellaneous
West Sussex
Date created: 1950 - 1960
Portrait of a man wearing a carnation in his buttonhole standing in a glasshouse. Likely to be a member of the Allwood family of carnation growers.
John Gay Collection: Counties
West Sussex
Date created: 1950s - 1960s
The gnarled trunks of a group of trees
John Laing Collection
Worthing, West Sussex
Date created: 18 Jul 1996
An interior view of Durrington High School showing the main reception desk
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Rother, East Sussex
Date created: 06 Jul 1909 - 09 Jul 1909
A view showing Ypres Tower from the north-west
Alfred Newton and Sons
Rother, East Sussex
Date created: 1896 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW LOOKING EAST ALONG STREET
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
West Worthing, Worthing, Worthing, West Sussex
Date created: 1910 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Sussex. Skip this section and go to education
£750k Grant Kickstarts Madeira Terrace Restoration in Brighton
Mentions Madeira Terrace, Madeira Walk, lift tower and related buildings, Western Bandstand and Lavatories and Walls and Railings Opposite Bedford Square, The Corn Exchange and Dome Theatre
Historic England has committed £750,000 towards the restoration of Grade II* listed Madeira Terrace in Brighton, East Sussex.
What Is the Oldest Castle in England?
Mentions Pevensey Castle: a Saxon Shore fort, Norman defences, a medieval enclosure castle, and later associated remains, Hastings Castle
Discover the oldest English castle contenders, including the Norman Berkhamsted Castle, Windsor Castle, Dover Castle and The White Tower, London.
The History of England’s Village Greens
Mentions Ringmer War Memorial
The origins of village greens in England date back to the early Middle Ages. Village greens are open spaces that can be registered.
The History of Brick Building in England
Mentions Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct the Ouse Valley Railway Viaduct
Discover 7 examples of how brick building in England has changed over the centuries.
Historic North Sea Floods
Mentions Hastings Castle, the Collegiate Church of St Mary and the Ladies' Parlour
The 1953 East Coast floods and other major historic floods that have impacted coastal England over the last 1,000 years.
The Colourful World of Architect John Outram
Mentions The New House,
The brilliant colours and exuberant gestures of Outram’s work have captured the popular imagination, yet still retain the ability to shock.
The Story of Eleanor Coade
Mentions The Royal Pavilion
The pioneering business woman who successfully adapted a secret formula to manufacture an elegant artificial stone.
Empress Matilda and ‘The Anarchy’
Mentions Arundel Castle
A look at the career of 12th century claimant to the English throne the Empress Matilda.
An Introduction to Quaker Meeting Houses
Mentions Blue Idol Quaker Meeting House and Guest House
The earliest Quaker meeting houses were distinctive for their simple, functional design; built by local craftsmen, they sit modestly in the landscape.
7 of the Best Post-war Parks, Gardens and Landscapes in England
Mentions Denmans Garden
Here are seven of the amazing post-war parks, gardens and landscapes that exist all over England.
4 Reasons to Visit Historic Cornwall
Mentions Saltdean Lido
There’s nowhere else quite like Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Here are some historic highlights.
10 Brilliant Historic Bookshops
Mentions The Former Church of St Olave
We love any excuse to celebrate a bookshop, with their comforting atmosphere and wonderful smell. Here are some highlights from around the country.
7 Places to Celebrate the National Trust
Mentions Bodiam Castle
The National Trust was founded on 12 January 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley.
Fishing for Heritage
Mentions Sussex
Maritime archaeologists worked with fishermen to investigate underwater heritage off the Sussex coast, including a crashed US military aircraft.
Research Reports Roundup February 2025
Mentions Sussex
A roundup of the latest additions to our research reports database from October 2024 to February 2025, arranged by theme.
Archaeological Sensitivity Mapping
Mentions Sussex
Developing a methodology for understanding where future significant archaeological discoveries may be made.
Managing Lithic Sites
Mentions Sussex
New advice addresses research and management issues for sites where prehistoric stone tools contain unique evidence.
Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2024
Mentions Sussex
Historic England has today revealed its Heritage at Risk Register 2024. This is a snapshot of the health of England’s historic buildings and places.
£750k Grant Kickstarts Madeira Terrace Restoration in Brighton
Mentions Madeira Terrace, Madeira Walk, lift tower and related buildings, Western Bandstand and Lavatories and Walls and Railings Opposite Bedford Square, The Corn Exchange and Dome Theatre
Historic England has committed £750,000 towards the restoration of Grade II* listed Madeira Terrace in Brighton, East Sussex.
The Lost Roman Road From Chichester To Arundel
Mentions Sussex
Analysis of lidar and aerial photography leads to the rediscovery of a long-speculated route of a Roman Road.
Research Reports Roundup to February 2024
Mentions Sussex
A roundup of new additions to the Historic England Research Reports database and a longer term overview of industrial heritage reports.
500 Years of Oasts and Hop Kilns in England
Mentions Sussex
An overview of the research behind a recent Historic England book, which tells the story of hop processing.
Historic England Supports University of Sussex Plans for Listed Library
Mentions Library, Sussex
Historic England supports plans to improve access to the University of Sussex’s Grade II* listed Library, designed by architect Sir Basil Spence.
New Funding to Uncover and Celebrate Working Class Heritage
Mentions Sussex
Historic England's Everyday Heritage Grant programme is funding 56 new projects across the nation, telling the stories of working class heritage.
Wellbeing and Historic Environment: Why Bother?
Mentions Sussex
Exploring the relationship between wellbeing and the historic environment.
Sussex's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Yeoman's House, Bignor, West Sussex
Period: Tudor (1485 - 1602)
The Yeoman's House dates is a 15th-century thatched and timber-framed cottage with jettied overhangs.
Yeoman's House, Bignor, West Sussex
Worth Park, Crawley, West Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Exterior of the principal entrance front of Worth Park in Crawley, West Sussex, viewed from the north east
Worth Park, Crawley, West Sussex
Worth Park, Crawley, West Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Interior of the kitchen looking towards the chimney
Windmill, Climping, East Sussex
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
Climping smock mill was built in 1799 to replace an earlier mill. It ceased working in about 1900.
Windmill, Climping, East Sussex
Windmill, Birdham, West Sussex
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
This small smock mill was constructed alongside a chicken run and was only one year old when this picture was taken in 1936.
Windmill, Birdham, West Sussex
Wind Wheel, Punnetts Town, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
This unusual wind wheel supplied power to a circular saw in Mr C Cornford's carpenter's shop. The mechanism was installed around 1909 by F Neve & Sons.
Wind Wheel, Punnetts Town, East Sussex
West Parade, Bexhill, East Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This elegant promenade, which looks rather like a garden terrace, has not yet been cluttered with 'attractions'. The ornate structure is a bandstand.
West Parade, Bexhill, East Sussex
West Ashling Mill, Funtington, West Sussex
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
Also known as Hackett's Mill.
West Ashling Mill, Funtington, West Sussex
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find historic places in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Amberley Museum, New Barn Road
The Bagmender's shed is a single-story building once used by a bagmender at the quarry.
Kidbrooke Park, (Michael Hall School)
Kidbrooke Park, a registered Grade II* designed landscape, features the Mansion House and stables (The Clockhouse).
Maison Dieu (Greyfriars), Mill Road
The Former Hospital of the Holy Trinity, dating back to 1395, features some ruinous walls made of coursed rubble, including flints and clunch.
Austin Friars Chapel, Conduit Hill
The Austin Friary dates back to around 1380.
Discover more
Ready for more local heritage? Take a look at these other places nearby