Celebrating our collections dating from 780AD to the present day
By Alice Millard, Research Assistant Cecil Pashley's pilot's licence. Specifically, a CA Form 88 issued by the Air Ministry. He was licenced to fly an AVRO 504K aircraft carrying passengers or goods for hire or reward. 1 June 1920 - 23 September 1921. WSRO Ref AM 625/4/1. The history of early aviation in Britain is…
Sitting at the mouth of the river Adur in West Sussex, Shoreham is today a well known and established harbour but when the below article was written in 1872, the port had a long way to go to be the ‘Liverpool of the South’. The Brighton Gazette in 1872 Shipping records indicate that the port,…
Continue reading ➞ West Sussex Unwrapped II: Month 7 – Shoreham Harbour, The Liverpool of the South
Map of Sussex, and it's extensive coastline, by James Wyld, c1860, PM 124 The coast of West Sussex is beautiful, but also deadly. The sea, with its unpredictable swells and lack of shelter from squally storms, has claimed many lives and countless vessels. Although the United Kingdom is an island with a deep connection with…
The Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed on 1 April 1918 and was the world’s first independent air force. It was the result of the merger of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service which was deemed to be necessary due to the growing importance of aviation in the war. The Women’s…
‘Earlier today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard there was a hurricane on the way. Well, if you’re watching, don’t worry, there isn’t’ Many will remember the immortal words of weatherman Michael Fish, whose casual dismissal of the approaching storm left the UK public completely unprepared for the weather front that…
Continue reading ➞ Wild Was the Wind in West Sussex: The Great Storm of 1987
The mystery of the Mary Celeste continues at West Sussex Record Office Although we receive all manner of enquiries here at the Record Office, some cause us to investigate a little further, or highlight records within our collections that deserve a closer look. One such enquiry was made last week, regarding a Certificate of Discharge…
West Sussex Record Office 