West Sussex
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about West Sussex from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of West 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
Wakehurst Place, built by Sir Edward Culpeper in 1590, is now managed by Kew Gardens. Notable historical tenants include Viscount Canterbury and Sir Alexander Cockburn.
Picturedrome
Bognor Regis
Cinema, originally built as community assembly rooms in 1886, and used for various local functions and entertainment; converted to full cinema use in 1919.
Goodwood House
Boxgrove
Goodwood House features an 18th-century garden, expanded with ornamental and late 20th-century additions, within a historic park of medieval origin associated with the Dukes of Richmond.
Borde Hill
Ansty and Staplefield
Borde Hill features gardens developed by Colonel Stephenson Clarke from the late 19th to mid-20th century, founded on a 16th-century estate with extensive parkland.
Former Worthing Library, Museum and Art Gallery
Worthing
Former Worthing library, museum and art gallery, by the architects Crouch, Butler and Savage, the library funded by Andrew Carnegie, opened on 14th December 1908.
King Edward VII Hospital
Easebourne
King Edward VII Hospital was a tuberculosis sanatorium founded by King Edward VII in 1906, featuring gardens designed by Gertrude Jekyll for therapeutic activities.
Brockhurst
East Grinstead
Brockhurst, originally known as Ashurst Lodge, features a renowned rock garden laid out by Frederick J. Hanbury, botanist and gardener, from 1908 to 1935. The estate was divided in 1954.
Stansted Park
Stoughton
Stansted Park features gardens and parkland dating from the late 17th century, developed further through the centuries with contributions from notable figures like Lancelot Brown.
Roman road and 18th century coaching road N of Pyecombe c…
Pyecombe
The site at Welstonbury Hill features a Roman road and a late 18th-century coaching road, showcasing ancient civil engineering and road travel evolution.
Leonardslee
Lower Beeding
Leonardslee originated in the early 19th century and expanded under Sir Edmund Loder. It features diverse gardens, rare animal collections, and remains privately owned.
Balcombe Place
Balcombe
Balcombe Place, a Tudor-style country house built in 1856 by Henry Clutton, is historically significant for its association with Lady Gertrude Denman and the Women's Land Army.
St Hugh's Monastery
Cowfold
St Hugh's Monastery, built in 1875-83, is the only Carthusian monastery in England, showcasing French Gothic architecture by Monsieur Norman of Calais.
The Vandalian Tower, Up Park
Harting
The Vandalian Tower in Uppark is a notable part of an 18th-century garden designed by Lancelot Brown, symbolizing its owner's status and linked to the Hellfire Club.
Wiggonholt Church
Parham
Wiggonholt Church, dating from the 13th century, features a chancel and nave, a western bell-turret, and a south porch, illustrating historical architectural significance.
West Dean College West Dean Park
West Dean
West Dean College was originally built by James Wyatt for Lord Selsey in 1804 and later expanded. King Edward VII frequently visited William James here.
Nymans
Ansty and Staplefield
Nymans is a late 19th and 20th-century ornamental garden developed by the Messel family, featuring extensive landscapes, historic elements, and innovative plant collections.
The Hazardous (formerly Le Hazardeux)
Bracklesham Bay, off West Sussex
Remains of 1706 wreck of a British Third Rate ship of the line which was beached in Bracklesham Bay during a storm.
West Dean
Lavant
West Dean, an estate developed from the 19th century, features ornamental gardens and an arboretum. Historically owned by notable families, it now hosts an educational foundation.
Watch Office (Control Tower), former RAF Tangmere
Tangmere
Watch office (control tower) of 1944 to the former RAF Tangmere airbase. Read the official list entry to find out more.
The Fox Goes Free
Singleton
Inn, mainly C17, though thought to have C16 origins, and with additions and alterations of subsequent centuries. Read the official list entry to find out more.
Burton Park
Barlavington
Burton Park features 19th and early 20th-century gardens in an 18th-century park. Historically owned by prominent families, it now serves private residential purposes.
Explore more
Search for more listed placesWest Sussex 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 West 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 West 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

Crawley
The Beehive terminal building at Gatwick Airport, Crawley, 1937

Crawley
The railway station near The Beehive (Gatwick Airport South), Crawley, 1953

Horsted Keynes
Treemans, Horsted Keynes, 1949

Horsted Keynes
Treemans and surrounding countryside, Horsted Keynes, 1949

Chichester
Chichester Cathedral and the city centre, Chichester, 1938

Chichester
The Wingard (M.A.) Ltd Factory, Chichester, 1948

Horsham
Christ's Hospital, Horsham, 1928

Southwater
Christ's Hospital, Southwater, 1951

Fernhurst
Plant Protection Ltd Fernhurst Research Station at Verdley Place and environs, Fernhurst, 1951

Fernhurst
Plant Protection Ltd Fernhurst Research Station at Verdley Place and environs, Fernhurst, 1951
West 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 West 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: 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: 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
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
West Worthing, Worthing, Worthing, West Sussex
Date created: 1910 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW
John Gay Collection: Rural Life
Chichester, West Sussex
Date created: 1950 - 1960
A view looking down onto a presentation during a fete held at Bishops Palace, Chichester, with onlookers seated and standing in a semi-circle on the...
John Laing Collection
Worthing, West Sussex
Date created: 18 Jul 1996
A view along a corridor with a mezzanine level and rooflights at Durrington High School
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
West Worthing, Worthing, Worthing, West Sussex
Date created: 1910 - 1917
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 West Sussex. Skip this section and go to education
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.
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.
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.
Protected Parks and Gardens to Visit this Autumn
Mentions Wakehurst Place
As the nights grow shorter and the leaves get crispier, here are some of the best parks and gardens to visit this Autumn.
History boys: Howell Killick Partridge & Amis
Mentions Arts Centre and Music School at Christs Hospital
Modern architecture is too often considered a clean-slate affair, razing entire sites to start afresh with buildings shorn of any link to the past.
Where the Heart is: 5 Landmark LGBTQ+ Homes
Mentions Chantry House
Before 1967, homosexuality was illegal. The privacy of the home provided safety and security for many LGBTQ people.
Fashionable Fakery: 8 Fantastical Follies
Mentions Clayton Tunnel North Portal Tunnel Cottage
Follies litter our 18th century landscapes, representing the humour and eccentricity of the financier. Here we take a look at 8 fantastical features.
7 International Architects who Helped Shape England
Mentions Sea Lane House
Architects from around the world have contributed to England’s built environment.
Golden Touch: 6 Buildings that deserve an Oscar
Mentions Horsted Keynes Railway Station
Over the years, English architecture has been the backdrop to many major productions.
A Brief Introduction to the Women’s Institute
Mentions The Fox Goes Free, Balcombe Place
Britain’s first WI was formed in Wales in September 1915, and the first in England followed soon afterwards, at Charlton, West Sussex.
Archaeological Sensitivity Mapping
Mentions West Sussex
Developing a methodology for understanding where future significant archaeological discoveries may be made.
Research Reports Roundup to February 2024
Mentions West Sussex
A roundup of new additions to the Historic England Research Reports database and a longer term overview of industrial heritage reports.
Creating Access to Reference Collections
Mentions West Sussex
Work on a resource to provide a key identification aid for distinguishing between the different animal species found on archaeological sites.
Heritage at Risk in the South East Revealed
Mentions Buncton Chapel of All Saints, West Sussex
25 sites have been saved and 15 sites added to the Heritage at Risk Register 2023 in the South East of England.
Research Reports Roundup November 2022
Mentions West Sussex
An overview of additions to the Historic England Research Reports database from January to November 2022.
Enriching the List, Enriching Lives
Mentions West Sussex
Research into how Historic England's Enriching the List initiative can help the personal wellbeing of contributors.
Historic England Reveals its Heritage at Risk Register 2021
Mentions Blake's Cottage, West Sussex
Historic England publishes its annual Heritage at Risk Register, the yearly health-check of England’s most valued historic places.
Unusual Second World War Sites Listed and Upgraded to Mark the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain
Mentions The former Spitfire Club, RAF Tangmere, RAF Tangmere: Barrack Block (Building 116) to the Former RAF Airbase, Watch Office (Control Tower), former RAF Tangmere
Four new listings are highlighted alongside three other sites either upgraded or re-listed which show how the Battle has left its mark across England.
The Best of England’s Post-War Parks, Gardens and Landscapes Protected
Mentions Denmans Garden, West Sussex
Newly announced protections by Historic England are the result of a three-year collaboration with The Gardens Trust.
Liverpool Philharmonic Pub Becomes Grade I Listed
Mentions The Blue Ship, West Sussex
News of listing upgrades to historic public houses, ranging from an opulent Victorian example in Liverpool to quaint west country village pubs.
Remembering D-Day - Second World War Sites Given Protection
Mentions West Sussex
Landing crafts, tanks, bulldozers and floating harbours are listed to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
Britain’s Earliest Easter Bunny Found at Roman Palace
Mentions Fishbourne Roman site, Fishbourne Roman Palace
Experts have made a discovery which reveals rabbits came to England 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.
West 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
West Ashling Mill, Funtington, West Sussex
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
Also known as Hackett's Mill.
West Ashling Mill, Funtington, West Sussex
Waterloo Square Gardens, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
Period: 1930s (1930 - 1938)
General view showing the drinking fountain.
Waterloo Square Gardens, Bognor Regis, West Sussex
War Memorial, Beach Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex
Period: 1920s (1920 - 1929)
This memorial commemorates the 1914-18 war and includes a plaque for the 1939-45 war. It is topped by a cross with a sword on it.
War Memorial, Beach Road, Littlehampton, 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.
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.