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Faizan
Just a short drive or train ride from London, the county of West Sussex sits between the rolling hills of the South Downs and a string of quintessentially English seaside resorts along the coast, packing in historic castles, parkland, museums and beaches. With a summer menu of cricket, polo, Morris dancing, horse racing, open air classical music concerts and flower shows, many of the attractions evoke a bygone era. In fact, West Sussex is steeped in history, from the Iron Age and Roman times through the Normans to the Industrial Revolution. However, nature is never far away, and the county offers a welcome escape from city life to the north.
Palaces and Castles
West Sussex has accumulated a fine collection of palaces and fantasy castles throughout its history. Dominating a town that dates back to medieval times, Arundel Castle was built in the 11th century and combines formal gardens with a castle bursting with historic artifacts, tapestries and art, including items belonging to Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria. Fishbourne Roman Palace, on the other hand, was discovered by accident in the 1960s by a team of workmen unearthing a site dating back to the first century. The palace includes Britain’s largest collection of Roman mosaics. While the original palace featured more than 100 rooms, only the north wing remains today. Another Roman villa in the quiet village of Bignor also provides testament of the Roman occupation of Sussex.
Museums
The 36-acre Amberley Industrial Museum in the South Downs National Park pays homage to a part of southern England’s industrial past. Staffed by volunteers, the working museum offers the chance to ride on a narrow gauge railway, visit an authentic printing workshop and witness traditional crafts such as stained glass making, pottery and blacksmith work. In a similar vein, the Weald and Downland Open Air museum in the Lavant Valley recreates aspects of the traditional Sussex village throughout a 600-year period, from a toll cottage to a Tudor kitchen. Visitors can wander among 50 historic buildings from all over Sussex which were dismantled, restored and relocated in one site.
Water, Wildlife and the Way
Since Roman times, Chichester Harbour has provided sheltered protection from the English channel. As well as a popular yachting destination, the surrounding mud flats are rich in bird life, including curlews, snipe and geese, while the harbor was designated an area of outstanding natural beauty in 1964. The pretty harborside villages along the coast, including Bosham and Birdham, suggest a plethora of excuses to enjoy a relaxing summer pint in a pub. For walkers, part of the 100-mile South Downs Way, which stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne, passes through 48 miles of West Sussex countryside. An ancient bridleway, the Way is now one of Britain’s great walks. The best access to the trail is by rail at Petersfield and Amberley.
Spires to Speed
Another influential group to invade West Sussex were the Normans, who built Chichester Cathedral in the otherwise Georgian city which serves as the county’s administrative capital. The cathedral is visible from afar, although the distinctive spire was a rebuild from the Victorian era. The stained glass windows and calm cloisters make the cathedral a popular destination for tourists, echoing the hordes of pilgrims who came in medieval times. The Pallant House Art Gallery near Chichester is a significant repository of Modern British art, said to be one of the best outside London, while fans of vintage motorsport descend en masse to the Goodwood circuit in September for the Goodwood Revival meeting which sees cars from the 50s, 60s and Formula 1 in action.
Palaces and Castles
West Sussex has accumulated a fine collection of palaces and fantasy castles throughout its history. Dominating a town that dates back to medieval times, Arundel Castle was built in the 11th century and combines formal gardens with a castle bursting with historic artifacts, tapestries and art, including items belonging to Mary Queen of Scots and Queen Victoria. Fishbourne Roman Palace, on the other hand, was discovered by accident in the 1960s by a team of workmen unearthing a site dating back to the first century. The palace includes Britain’s largest collection of Roman mosaics. While the original palace featured more than 100 rooms, only the north wing remains today. Another Roman villa in the quiet village of Bignor also provides testament of the Roman occupation of Sussex.
Museums
The 36-acre Amberley Industrial Museum in the South Downs National Park pays homage to a part of southern England’s industrial past. Staffed by volunteers, the working museum offers the chance to ride on a narrow gauge railway, visit an authentic printing workshop and witness traditional crafts such as stained glass making, pottery and blacksmith work. In a similar vein, the Weald and Downland Open Air museum in the Lavant Valley recreates aspects of the traditional Sussex village throughout a 600-year period, from a toll cottage to a Tudor kitchen. Visitors can wander among 50 historic buildings from all over Sussex which were dismantled, restored and relocated in one site.
Water, Wildlife and the Way
Since Roman times, Chichester Harbour has provided sheltered protection from the English channel. As well as a popular yachting destination, the surrounding mud flats are rich in bird life, including curlews, snipe and geese, while the harbor was designated an area of outstanding natural beauty in 1964. The pretty harborside villages along the coast, including Bosham and Birdham, suggest a plethora of excuses to enjoy a relaxing summer pint in a pub. For walkers, part of the 100-mile South Downs Way, which stretches from Winchester to Eastbourne, passes through 48 miles of West Sussex countryside. An ancient bridleway, the Way is now one of Britain’s great walks. The best access to the trail is by rail at Petersfield and Amberley.
Spires to Speed
Another influential group to invade West Sussex were the Normans, who built Chichester Cathedral in the otherwise Georgian city which serves as the county’s administrative capital. The cathedral is visible from afar, although the distinctive spire was a rebuild from the Victorian era. The stained glass windows and calm cloisters make the cathedral a popular destination for tourists, echoing the hordes of pilgrims who came in medieval times. The Pallant House Art Gallery near Chichester is a significant repository of Modern British art, said to be one of the best outside London, while fans of vintage motorsport descend en masse to the Goodwood circuit in September for the Goodwood Revival meeting which sees cars from the 50s, 60s and Formula 1 in action.
Posted in: Travel UK
