Where is Sussex?
In our first episode, and fifty-second episodes we referred to loads of interesting Sussex-based things - and promised links and photos, so here they are:
Bodiam Castle
Set in the heart of an historic landscape, with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis, 14th century Bodiam Castle is one of Britain's most picturesque and romantic ancient monuments.
A wide moat encircles the seemingly untouched Medieval exterior. In the impressive gatehouse is the castle's original wooden portcullis, an extremely rare example of its kind. In the courtyard, enough of the interior ruins survive to give an impression of castle life.
Arundel Castle
here are nearly 1,000 years of history at this great castle, situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the River Arun in West Sussex and built at the end of the 11th century by Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Arundel.
The oldest feature is the motte, an artificial mound, over 100 feet high from the dry moat, and constructed in 1068: followed by the gatehouse in 1070. Under his will, King Henry I (1068-1135) settled the Castle and lands in dower on his second wife, Adeliza of Louvain. Three years after his death she married William d'Albini II, who built the stone shell keep on the motte. King Henry II (1133-89), who built much of the oldest part of the stone Castle, in 1155 confirmed William d'Albini II as Earl of Arundel, with the Honour and Castle of Arundel.
Apart from the occasional reversion to the Crown, Arundel Castle has descended directly from 1138 to the present day, carried by female heiresses from the d'Albinis to the Fitzalans in the 13th century and then from the Fitzalans to the Howards in the 16th century and it has been the seat of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors for over 850 years. From the 15th to the 17th centuries the Howards were at the forefront of English history, from the Wars of the Roses, through the Tudor period to the Civil War.
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in West Sussex, England. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075, when the seat of the bishop was moved from Selsey.
Chichester Cathedral has fine architecture in both the Norman and the Gothic styles, and has been described by the architectural critic Ian Nairn as "the most typical English Cathedral".Despite this, Chichester has two architectural features that are unique among England's medieval cathedrals—a free-standing medieval bell tower (or campanile) and double aisles.
Novium Museum
Built over the remains of a Roman bath house and with three floors of fantastic exhibitions, The Novium Museum is Chichester District's award-winning museum located in the heart of the city centre. Telling the fascinating story of Chichester District and its rich heritage, we look after more than 500,000 artefacts, both on display and in our store.
As you enter the museum, you're invited to step back in time to discover Chichester's rich Roman heritage. Centred around the breathtaking archaeological remains of a Roman bath house, our Roman Chichester gallery features the stunning Chilgrove mosaic as well as objects discovered in excavations across the district.
Our first floor takes you through a timeline of Chichester District and features our famous Mystery Warrior - The North Bersted Man. Arguably the most elaborately equipped Iron Age Warrior grave ever found in England, archaeologists believe the Mystery Warrior was a refugee French Gallic fighter who fled Julius Caesar's Roman Army as they swept across continental Europe around 50BC.
The top floor of the museum hosts an exciting range of touring and temporary exhibitions, as well as offering a spectacular view of Chichester Cathedral and Bell Tower.
Saint Richard
Richard of Chichester (1197 – 3 April 1253), also known as Richard de Wych, is a saint (canonized 1262) who was Bishop of Chichester.
In Chichester Cathedral a shrine dedicated to Richard had become a richly decorated centre of pilgrimage. In 1538, during the reign of Henry VIII, the shrine was plundered and destroyed by order of Thomas Cromwell. Richard of Chichester is the patron saint of Sussex in southern England; since 2007, his translated saint's day of 16 June has been celebrated as Sussex Day.
Fishbourne Roman Palace
Fishbourne Roman Palace or Fishbourne Villa is in the village of Fishbourne, near Chichester in West Sussex. The palace is the largest known Roman residence north of the Alps,[1] and has an unusually early date of 75 AD, around thirty years after the Roman conquest of Britain.
Much of the palace has been excavated and is preserved, along with an on-site museum. The rectangular palace surrounded formal gardens, the northern parts of which have been reconstructed.
Extensive alterations were made in the second and third centuries AD, when many of the original black and white mosaics were overlaid with more sophisticated coloured work, including the perfectly preserved Dolphin mosaic in the north wing. More alterations were in progress when the palace burnt down in around 270 AD, after which it was abandoned.
Bignor Roman Villa
Imagine the excitement of George Tupper who in 1811, now over 200 years ago, uncovered the Summer dining room water basin after striking it with his plough.
Today the Villa is still managed by the Tupper family under the control of the Trustees who continue to strive to maintain the site for the education and enjoyment of all who visit.
No records exist from the Roman period. It may have been a Roman immigrant family, a family from elsewhere in the Empire, or more likely, according to experts, a Romano-British family. Judging by the quality of the mosaics it was someone of considerable wealth. The family in the painting that is displayed in the foyer at the Villa, may have dressed as shown. Their clothing may have been more elaborate when they were entertaining. The man is wearing a ring and brooch found during excavations at Bignor during the nineteenth century.
Soon after its initial discovery a local resident John Hawkins of Bignor Park, took responsibility for the excavations of the Villa. He invited leading antiquary Samuel Lysons to supervise work.
Discovering the Villa caused many concerns from vandalism to earthworms.
Protecting the Villa in following years as more and more of the site was exposed was vital. It began with high thorn fences and then in the early 1812 the first brick building construction began. These flint thatched buildings are Grade II listed in their own right.
Cuckmere Haven
With fantastic views of the Seven Sisters, Cuckmere Valley is a haven for wildlife, from over-wintering wildfowl to colourful wild flowers.
Cradle Valley is a wonderful example of this species-rich chalk grassland, attracting rare and colourful butterflies and plants in summer.
High and Over's dramatic river cliff has been carved out of the soft chalk by the river below. In 1836 a white horse was cut into the chalk on the steep scarp and it remains a popular natural attraction.
Chyngton Farm was ploughed for food during World War II and artefacts, like anti-tank traps, pill boxes and bunkers, are still visible today.
Pass through Chyngton Farm to Cuckmere Haven and admire stunning views of the iconic Seven Sisters stretching away into the distance.
Pevensey Castle
Pevensey Castle’s impressive ruins stand on what was once a peninsula projecting from the Sussex coast. This naturally defensible site, first fortified by the Romans, was most famously the place where the Norman Conquest of England began, when William the Conqueror landed there on 28 September 1066. He built temporary defences at Pevensey, probably within the Roman fort, and later a great medieval castle developed inside its walls.
Bramber Castle
Bramber Castle was founded by William de Braose as a defensive and administrative centre for Bramber, one of the six administrative regions – each of which was controlled by a castle – into which Sussex was divided following the Norman Conquest. It was held almost continually by de Braose and his descendants from its foundation by 1073 until 1450.
One of these descendants, another William de Braose, was among those barons suspected of disloyalty to King John in the early 13th century. The king demanded William’s two sons as hostages. Lady de Braose refused, saying she would not trust her sons to a man who had already murdered his own nephew. The castle was confiscated by the king and the family captured. Lady de Braose and her two sons died of starvation while imprisoned at Windsor Castle.
King John held Bramber Castle only briefly but is known to have carried out repairs to the buildings. Later the castle passed back to the de Braose family, who held it until the 14th century, and then to the Mowbray family.
Subsidence on a large scale led to the ruin of the castle during the 16th century. Its masonry was later used for building roads in the area, and it may have been occupied briefly by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War.
Lewes Castle
Visit Lewes Castle, a Norman Castle built after the Battle of Hastings by supporters of William the Conqueror.
Climb the steps to the top of The Keep for stunning panoramic views across Sussex. As you ascend, explore the history of this 950-year-old fortress and how it played a key role in the development of the town.
Visit the adjoining Museum of Sussex Archaeology to view artefacts from prehistoric to medieval Sussex, plus temporary exhibitions that showcase treasures from our collections.
Discover the story of Lewes through a delightful model of the town and short film, and look out for talks and workshops throughout the year.
Cowdray Ruins
Cowdray Heritage is one of England’s most important early Tudor houses and is known to have been visited by both King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.
In September 1793, whilst undergoing repairs and refurbishments for the impending marriage of the 8th Viscount Montague, a devastating fire took hold and most of the property was destroyed. The Kitchen Tower is the only part of the mansion to remain intact.
The magnificent ruins are set in the stunning landscape of Cowdray Park, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Explore the Tudor Kitchen, Buck Hall, Chapel and Gatehouse.
Castle Goring
Castle Goring has an intriguing history and is understood to be the only large house in Sussex built by the Shelley family. Sir Bysshe Shelley, grandfather of the great Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, commissioned the property. Construction began in the 1790s and continued for a period of 15 years or more. The intention was that the property would be the ancestral home of the Shelley family to be lived in by Percy Shelley; however, following his tragic death from drowning aged 29, this never materialised.
In 1825, the building was let to Captain (later Vice Admiral) Sir George Brooke-Pechell, fourth Baronet of Paglesham, and Lord of the Manor of Angmering, who was also the MP for Brighton from 1835-1860. An Equerry of Queen Victoria, he was responsible for creating the fabled dome, which is the oldest and largest in a private residence in the country.
Hastings Castle
Hastings Castle is a keep and bailey castle ruin situated in the town of Hastings, East Sussex. It overlooks the English Channel, into which large parts of the castle have fallen over the years.
The construction of Hastings Castle depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, showing the raising of an earthen motte topped by a wooden palisade.
Immediately after landing in England in 1066, William of Normandy ordered three fortifications to be built, Pevensey Castle in September 1066 (re-using the Roman Saxon Shore fort of Anderitum), Hastings (prior to the Battle of Hastings) and Dover. Hastings Castle was originally built as a motte-and-bailey castle near the sea. Later that year, the famous Battle of Hastings took place some miles to the north of Hastings Castle, in which William was victorious. In 1070, William issued orders for the castle to be rebuilt in stone, along with the St Mary's Chapel.
Herstmonceux Castle
erstmonceux Castle sits at the mouth of a small valley facing south over the Pevensey Levels to the sea, presently about seven kilometres away. Before Roman times, however, the Levels themselves were marshlands. During the Roman period and as late as the Norman invasion, these marshes were in flood and an inlet of the sea came up almost to the present site of the castle.
During the thirteenth century a series of great storms, recorded by many contemporary chroniclers, accelerated the gradual silting up of the area. This, combined with increased artificial draining of the marshes, began to form the landscape we can see today.
Cissbury Ring
Cissbury Ring, just north of the coastal town of Worthing, is one of the jewels in the crown of the new South Downs National Park. It's the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years.
Set high up on a chalk promontory, its ditch and ramparts enclose about sixty-five acres. From the top on a clear day you can see forever, with views across to the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton and as far as the Isle of Wight.
Centuries of continuous grazing have produced a wonderful habitat for butterflies and flowers. Rare plants such as the round headed rampion, known as the ‘Pride of Sussex’, thrive here. If you want to walk, fly a kite or just enjoy some spectacular views Cissbury has it all.
During spring and autumn you can see a wide variety of migratory birds as Cissbury is one of the first coastal landing points after their long flight across the channel.
Parham House
The name Parham (the "par" is pronounced like the "par" in parrot) is thought to derive from the Old English "perham", a compound word meaning "pear enclosure".
The land was granted by King Henry VIII to Robert Palmer of Henfield, and on 28th January 1577 the foundation stone of the current House was laid by his two-year-old grandson Thomas, a custom thought to bring good luck. When he grew up, Thomas sold Parham to Thomas Bishopp, whose descendants lived here for eleven generations until 1922, when it was sold to the Hon. Clive and Alicia Pearson.
Clive Pearson was the second son of Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray. He married Alicia Knatchbull-Hugessen, daughter of 1st Lord Brabourne. They fell in love with Parham as soon as they saw it.
The House was in a very bad state of repair, and the Pearsons employed the architect Victor Heal to supervise renovation works during the 1920s and 1930s. Everything was done with the greatest care and sensitivity, with minute attention to detail and historical accuracy.
Petworth House
Inspired by Baroque palaces of Europe, the 17th-century Petworth House displays one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. See the state rooms featuring paintings and sculpture, including artwork by Van Dyck, Turner, Reynolds and Gainsborough.
Petworth House’s history has been created by one family over 900 years, with the collection highlighting a journey through history including the Gunpowder Plot and Napoleonic Wars. Collection highlights include the earliest English globe in existence, dating to 1592, and carvings by Grinling Gibbons.
The Servants’ Quarters, including the historic kitchens, show a glimpse into the life of the people who worked here.
Outside, the Pleasure Garden features formal borders, woodland walks, and architectural features, such as the Ionic Rotunda. The 700-acre Deer Park, which was transformed in the 1750s and early 1760s by the landscape architect Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, is home to ancient trees and fallow deer.
Nymans
The comfortable, yet elegant, house reflects the personalities and stories of the talented Messel family. In spring see blossom, bulbs and a stunning collection of subtly fragranced magnolias. The Rose Garden, inspired by Maud Messel’s 1920s design, is scented by hints of old-fashioned roses. Dramatic shows of vibrant native tree colour in autumn precede winter’s structural form, with pockets of perfumed daphne throughout the garden. Discover hidden corners through stone archways, walk along tree-lined avenues while surrounded by the lush countryside of the Sussex Weald. The adjoining woodland, with lake and bird hides, has plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife.
Uppark
Uppark's story begins with the creation of a deer park in the 14th century, recorded in a later survey as 'Le Upparke, with pasture and wood’.
By 1440, it was being leased as a pair, 'Up Parke and Down Parke', but it wasn’t until 1595 that a house was recorded here, built by the Ford family. One of the Ford daughters married Ralph, the 2nd Lord Grey of Warke, and it was their son Ford Grey who built the house.
Uppark was built in 1690 by Ford Grey, the Earl of Tankerville, to demonstrate not just his wealth but also his political allegiances.
Ford Grey was a colourful character by all accounts. As a prominent Protestant Whig, he was deeply involved in anti-Catholic plotting, culminating in the invasion by William of Orange in 1688. He was arrested more than once but despite being convicted he escaped imprisonment, once on a technicality, once by plying the sergeant-at-arms with alcohol. He later escaped action for his part in the campaign against James II by testifying against his cohorts and the somewhat dubious transfer of large sums of money.
After William III took to the throne, Ford was rewarded for his support with a string of appointments, among them Privy Councillor, Commissioner for Trade, First Commissioner of the Treasury, and Lord Privy Seal.
Standen House
ames and Margaret Beale chose an idyllic location with views across the Sussex countryside for their rural retreat. Designed by Philip Webb, the house is one of the finest examples of Arts and Crafts workmanship, with Morris & Co. interiors creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The house is dressed for a weekend stay in 1925, so you can imagine you are a guest of the family.
A major restoration of the 5-hectare (12-acre) hillside garden showcases year-round seasonal highlights and an award-winning plant collection. On the wider estate, footpaths lead out into the woodlands, Ashdown Forest and wider High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Brighton Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion was constructed as the seaside pleasure palace of King George IV. But it has seen many twists and turns throughout its long history.
In the mid 1780s George, Prince of Wales, rented a small lodging house overlooking a fashionable promenade in Brighton. Brighton was developing from a decayed fishing town to an established seaside retreat for the rich and famous, being close to London. It also proved popular for the therapeutic health-giving sea water remedies made famous by Dr Richard Russell, a physician from nearby Lewes.
The prince had been advised by his physicians to benefit from Brighton’s fortunate climate and to try out the sea water treatments, which included ‘dipping’ (total body immersion into the salt sea water).Brighton suited George who was a vain and extravagant man with a passion for fashion, the arts, architecture and good living. He rebelled against his strict upbringing and threw himself into a life of drinking, womanising and gambling.
This decadent lifestyle combined with his love of architecture and the fine and decorative arts – his residences in London and Windsor were like immaculate sets to show off his superb collections – resulted in his incurring heavy personal debts.
In 1787, after much pleading and many promises by the Prince of Wales, the House of Commons agreed to clear his debts and increase his income.
George hired architect Henry Holland to transform his Brighton lodging house into a modest villa which became known as the Marine Pavilion. With his love of visual arts and fascination with the mythical orient, George set about lavishly furnishing and decorating his seaside home. He especially chose Chinese export furniture and objects, and hand-painted Chinese wallpapers.
In 1808 the new stable complex was completed with an impressive lead and glass-domed roof, providing stabling for 62 horses.
Sussex Pond Pudding
Ingredients
For the suet crust:
225g/8oz self-raising flour, plus extra for dusting
100g/3½oz shredded suet
75ml/2½fl oz milk
For the filling:
3 Cox’s apples
150g/5½oz butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing
175g/6oz light muscovado sugar
1 large lemon
To serve:
cream or custard
Method
For the suet crust, put the flour and suet into a bowl. Measure the milk in a jug and then add 75ml/2½fl oz cold water to make 150ml/5½oz of total liquid. Add this to the suet and mix to make a soft dough.
Lightly dust the work surface with flour and then roll out the dough to a 30cm/12in circle. Cut one-quarter out of the circle and set aside for the lid. Thickly butter the pudding basin and then line with the pastry, pressing the join together.
For the filling, peel and core the apples, then cut them into cubes and mix together in a mixing bowl with the butter and sugar. Place a little of this mixture in the pudding basin on top of the suet pastry. Prick the lemon all over with a cocktail stick and then place it in with the apples so that it sits upright. Pack the remaining apples and butter mixture around the lemon.
Roll out the reserved suet pastry to a circle to fit on top of the pudding, trim any excess pastry and pinch the edges to seal.
Cut a square of foil and make a pleat in the centre. Tie the foil around the basin with string, then loop the string over the basin and back under the string a couple of times to make a handle. Tie securely.
If you don’t have any string, fold a long strip of tin foil horizontally in half – and then half again. Place the foil around the bottom of the basin, and wrap the sides up and around to act as support as the basin is lowered into the pan.
Place the lid of a jam jar in the large saucepan to stop the basin touching the bottom of the pan.
Add the pudding basin to the pan and then pour boiling water around it so that it comes three-quarters of the way up the side of the basin. Cover with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 3½ hours. Check occasionally and top up with more boiling water as necessary.
To serve, remove the foil and invert the basin onto a large serving plate. Remove the basin and serve in slices with cream or custard.
Weald and Downland Museum
Founded in 1970, the award-winning Weald & Downland Living Museum is a leading museum of historic buildings in England, covering 40 acres in the South Downs National Park in West Sussex.
It includes over 50 historic buildings dating from 950AD to the 19th century, re-erected from their original sites in south east England, together with period gardens, traditional farm animals and a mill pond.
The exhibit buildings range from a reconstruction of a Saxon hall house to working buildings of the late 19th century. They are complemented by a collection, located in the Downland Gridshell Building, of building fixtures and fittings such as hinges, latches and doors, as well as larger structural elements and materials used in building construction and conservation.
The Museum also holds excellent collections relating to rural life, including agriculture, domestic life, trades and industries, and transport. A library of printed books, maps and other published materials relevant to the collections is held by the Museum for study purposes. The collections are ‘Designated’ as being of national importance in England, and the Museum has full “Accreditation”.
As well as bringing to life the homes, farmsteads and rural industries represented by its collections and exhibits, other themes are strongly represented at the Museum, including landscape, agriculture, animal husbandry, science and sustainability. Interpretation is achieved mainly through people, together with modest panel displays and publications. There are no plans to introduce electronic gadgets.
Tomb of Mad Jack Fuller, Brightling
John Fuller (20 February 1757 – 11 April 1834), better known as "Mad Jack" Fuller (although he himself preferred to be called "Honest John" Fuller), was Squire of the hamlet of Brightling, in Sussex, and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1780 and 1812. He was a builder of follies, philanthropist, patron of the arts and sciences, and slave owner and a supporter of slavery. He purchased and commissioned many paintings from J. M. W. Turner. He was sponsor and mentor to Michael Faraday.
In 1818, Fuller built the Observatory at Brightling which had been designed by Robert Smirke, and in 1822, he endowed Eastbourne in Sussex with its first lifeboat. Unsubstantiated sources claim that in 1828, he financed the building of the Belle Tout Lighthouse, on the cliff at Beachy Head, near Eastbourne. The first Belle Tout lighthouse was a temporary wooden structure that started service on 1 October 1828. The construction of the permanent granite lighthouse began in 1829 and it became operational on 11 October 1834. On Thursday, 18 September 1828, Jack Fuller bought Bodiam Castle for 3000 guineas at auction to save it from destruction.
On the afternoon of Friday 11 April 1834, Fuller died at his home, 36 Devonshire Place, London. He was buried under the Pyramid in Brightling churchyard. The main beneficiaries of his will were his nephew, Peregrine Palmer Fuller Palmer Acland (1789–1871) and General Sir Augustus Elliot Fuller (1777–1857) who was John Fuller's first cousin once removed.
Penda of Mercia
Here is the stained glass window of Penda that we mentioned from Worcester Cathedral:
...and Martin as Penda, facing off against Iken's Marsh Demon Queen with his battle-axe:
Lewes Bonfire Celebrations
from the Lewes Bonfire Celebrations website:
The Lewes Bonfire Night, or the #LewesBonfire Night Celebrations, is the biggest celebrated Fifth November Event in the world, and is held in the usually peaceful county town of Lewes (pronounced “lu-is or loo-is”), East Sussex, every year on 5th November.
The carnival or festival is known as either the Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations, Lewes Bonfire Night or just simply "The Fifth."
...and, not to leave them out, here's a taste of the Ottery St Mary Tar Barrels:
Lewes Castle
First built shortly after the Norman Invasion of 1066, Lewes Castle is very unusual for having two mottes - the only other castle that has this structure in England is in Lincoln Castle.
Harvey's Brewery
Harvey's Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex. A family business, the brewery has been in the guardianship of seven generations of John Harvey's descendants since 1790, with five family members from the seventh and eighth generations currently working there.
Learn more about it from the Harvey's Brewery website.
The White Horse at Litlington
from Atlas Obscura:
This mysterious chalk figure of a horse has been recreated and restored for more than a century.
According to the National Trust, the first figure was originally crafted by four men in 1836. It was carved again in 1924 by one of the original creator’s grandsons. The technical term for this type of figure is a geoglyph. The predecessor to this amazing creation and many others like it is the prehistoric Uffington White Horse.
The reason behind the creation of the Litlington White Horse remains unclear. Some suggest it was originally constructed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s upcoming coronation. Others speculate it was a publicity stunt to amuse the town. Regardless of the reasons behind its origins, it stands as impressively today as it did when it was first crafted thanks to ongoing maintenance from volunteers of the National Trust.
The Long Man of Wilmington
This mysterious guardian of the South Downs has baffled archaeologists and historians for hundreds of years. Fertility symbol? Ancient Warrior? Early 18th century folly? We may never know.
In 1925, this iconic monument was given to The Sussex Archaeological Society by the Duke of Devonshire. We have cared for the scheduled monument ever since, ensuring it is free for the public to access.
The Long Man is Europe’s largest portrayal of the human form, dating back to at least 1710 when the surveyor John Rowley illustrated the figure. In 1766, the artist William Burrell made a drawing during his visit to Wilmington Priory, which lies under the steep slopes of Windover Hill.
Rowley’s drawing suggests that the original figure was a shadow or indentation in the grass rather than a solid line. The face had a distinctive helmet shape, giving credence to the idea him being a war-god.
Until the 19th century when it was marked out in yellow bricks, the Long Man was only visible in certain light conditions. It is claimed that during this restoration the feet were incorrectly positioned. But, despite local legend, there is no evidence, historical or archaeological, to suggest that prudish Victorians robbed the Giant of his manhood!
During World War II, the figure was painted green to prevent enemy aviators using it as a landmark. Restoration in 1969 replaced the bricks with concrete blocks that are now regularly painted to keep the Long Man visible from many miles away.
Many theories of his origins abound. Some are convinced that he is prehistoric, others believe that he is the work of an artistic monk from the nearby Priory between the 11th and 15th centuries. Roman coins bearing a similar figure suggest that he existed in the 4th century AD and there are parallels with a helmeted figure found on Anglo-Saxon ornaments. Until new evidence is unearthed, we shall have to content ourselves with the words of Reverand A A Evans who said, “The Giant keeps his secret and from his hillside flings out a perpetual challenge.”
Devil's Dyke
Eleanor's story for the episode, "Cuthman of Steyning and The Devil" is all about the building of Devil's Dyke. This is us on top of it, getting buffeted by the wind!
And here's a rather grainy photo of the Funicular Railway that used to run during the Victorian era!
Visit the National Trust's Devil's Dyke website here.
In Eleanor's story, the Devil faces off against Cuthman, whose statue stands in Steyning to this day, overlooking St Andrew's Church which was built on the site of Cuthman's original:
Inside St Andrew's Church there's a lovely stained glass of Cuthman.
There he is, with his wheelbarrow - and behind him in the window you can see...
Chanctonbury Ring
Chanctonbury Ring is a small Iron Age hillfort that was use in various periods of history and is still a notable Sussex landmark today, the subject of many paintings, postcards and photographs.
There are many pieces of lore connected with the Ring, the most famous being of a common type where the object is walked or run around. In the case of the Ring, if you walk (or run) seven times (sometimes running backwards or anti-clockwise) around it on a dark or moonless night (one account says Midsummer Eve at 7pm, another May Day Eve, another at midnight, during the time it takes a clock to strike midnight) without stopping, the Devil will appear and offer you a bowl of milk, soup or porridge (reports vary).
Some say that if you accept, he will take your soul, or grant you your dearest wish.
Some Folklorists claim this is folk memory of dancing around the Ring, though as walking around something seems to be a Celtic tradition, it's seems improbable that at the Ring, it has survived the Saxons, Normans and the Reformation to the present day.
There is also a theory that the Roman temple in the Ring was dedicated to Mithras and the initiation ritual involved fasting, so after the fast, the priests could have brought food out to the followers and as Christianity was spreading, they could have changed the priests bringing food out of the Ring to the Devil bringing food out, since all Pagan religions were seen as Devil worship and the Church would have wanted to discourage people from visiting the site. A nice theory but difficult to prove.
The Devil is also credited with constructing the Ring, it being one of the clumps of earth thrown from his spade when he was constructing Devil's Dyke. Other spadefuls are attributed to Mount Caburn, Cissbury, Rackham Hill and the Isle of Wight.
Lastly, as promised, The Gelding of The Devil:
Also available here on Spotify.
Comments