Celebrating our collections dating from 780AD to the present day
By Jenny Bettger, Archives Assistant (Research) Walking along Broyle Road in Chichester you will find a large stone with a faded inscription. Known as ‘The Smugglers Stone’, it records the execution of six members of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang in 1749. From their base in Kent, this gang controlled much of the smuggling trade along…
Continue reading ➞ Desperate Villains – The Hawkhurst Gang in West Sussex
By Tim Hudson (guest blogger) What types of historic documents do architectural historians use? Continuing with our guest written series, the once Editor of the Sussex Victoria County History and co author of the updated Pevsner guide to West Sussex, Tim Hudson, will be exploring the types of records used when researching built heritage. Each…
Continue reading ➞ Historic records and architectural histories: drawings and models
In the final instalment of our American-themed blogs to celebrate Independence Day, we are looking at the many and varied connections between famous faces in America’s history and the county of Sussex. Founded in the 17th and 18th centuries, thirteen British colonies on the east coast of North America declared independence in 1776 and formed the United States of…
Chosen by Keith Lawson, volunteer I have volunteered at West Sussex Record Office for a number of years now. A couple of years ago, I was asked to catalogue a collection of 116 valuation books compiled by Wyatt and Son, who were Agricultural Valuers and Auctioneers. Established in 1826, Wyatt and Son moved to Baffins Hall, Chichester,…
Continue reading ➞ Wyatt and Son valuation book no 41, 1914-1917 (AM 692/112)
Chosen by James Peill, Curator at Goodwood House This thin sheet of heavily-folded paper is probably the single most important document in the Goodwood archive. It is the earliest known written rules of cricket in existence. They were drawn up for matches between the 2nd Duke of Richmond’s XII (instead of the ususal XI) and Mr…
Continue reading ➞ The Earliest Known Written Rules of Cricket, 1727 (Goodwood Mss 1884)
West Sussex Record Office 