Do You Know? An A-Z of Sussex-iness

A The Golden Pippin is a very old variety of APPLE with an intense fruity flavour also used for cooking and cider. Its origins date back to Sussex and 1629.

B In 1932 BILLY BUTLIN saw an opportunity in Bognor Regis to create a similar amusement park to one he already had in Skegness. He bought land on the corner of Lennox Street and the Esplanade, which had previously been the Olympian Gardens, built his amusement park and called it "Butlin's Recreation Shelter". Earlier, in 1928, he’d secured an exclusive license to sell Dodgem cars in Europe and these were one of the first attractions in the shelter along with one-armed bandits. The following year Butlin opened a zoo on the seafront with a snake pit as its star attraction where Togo the snake king would regularly give shows. For some time the park in Bognor was run by Butlin's mother Bertha Butlin, though she later left to run his park on Hayling Island.

C The well-known story of King CANUTE, attempting to turn back the waves, is said to have taken place at Bosham in West Sussex, where he is thought to have had a palace.

D In 1930 the composer Eric Coates was inspired to write the music for “By the Sleepy Lagoon” (the theme music for BBC radio’s “DESERT ISLAND DISCS”) whilst admiring the view of Bognor Regis beach across the water from the east beach at Selsey.

E In 1974 Brighton hosted the 19th EUROVISON SONG CONTEST. The winning song, performed by the Swedish band ABBA, was “Waterloo”.

F FISHBOURNE Palace near Chichester is the largest single Roman site yet to be unearthed in Britain. It is thought to have been constructed by the Romans for a local ruler called Cogidubnus. It is the largest Roman palace to have been discovered north of the Alps.

G The land on which GATWICK Airport stands was first developed as an aerodrome in the late 1920s. The Air Ministry approved commercial flights from the site in 1933, and the first terminal, "The Beehive", was built in 1935. Scheduled air services from the new terminal began the following year. During the Second World War, the airport was taken over by the military and was known as RAF Gatwick. After the war, the airport returned to its civilian capacity. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gatwick was the second-busiest airport by total passenger traffic in the UK, after Heathrow Airport,and was the tenth-busiest airport in Europe

H HARVEY’S Brewery is the oldest independent brewery in Sussex. Founder John Harvey acquired the current Bridge Wharf site in 1838 for the price of £3,100. It consisted of a coal wharf, timber yard and private dwellings. He added coal merchant to his commercial activities and erected a brewhouse in 1839. Still run as a family business, the brewery has been in the guardianship of seven generations of John Harvey's descendants since its establishment in 1790, with five family members from the seventh and eighth generations currently working there.

I The INTERNATIONAL Birdman is a pair of eccentric events held on the West Sussex coast. The competition began in 1971 and involves human 'birdmen' throwing themselves off the end of a pier, attempting to get as far out to sea as possible before striking the water. First held in Selsey it moved to Bognor Regis in 1978. It became so popular that since 2010 Bognor Regis and Worthing have both held Birdman competitions, forming the International Birdman Series. Most competitors are jumping to raise money for charity and entries have included a flying Dr Who tardis, a skate-boarding cow and even a chicken and mushroom pie.

K KNUCKER is a dialect word for a sort of water dragon, living in knuckerholes in various places in Sussex. The Knucker is said to have wings and “a giant, slithering sea serpent’s body, and cold, bold sea serpent’s eyes and a deadly, hissing sea serpent’s mouth”. According to legend the most famous Knucker lived at Lyminster. Apparently it caused a lot of trouble, consuming local livestock and even villagers, and so it was decided to slay the monster. A number of different legends recount how this was done.

L LARDY JOHNS are a traditional Sussex product that doesn’t seem to exist any longer. The following recipe is included in a collection of traditional recipes by Margaret Samuelson, published in 1937 comes from a book called “Sussex Recipe Book with a few Excursions into Kent”: “Quarter pound flour, 2oz lard, 3/4 teaspoonful baking powder, 2 teaspoons sugar and a sprinkling of currants. Rub all together in your hands, and add enough water to make a stiff paste. Cut the paste into squares and bake for about 10 minutes.”

M This summer marks 50 years since the legendary reggae performer Bob MARLEY performed his first ever UK gig in July 1972, supporting Johnny Nash at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on- Sea. The concert was presented in conjunction with Bexhill Lions, raising funds for Glyne Gap School.

N In 1896 Alfriston Clergy House, an early 15th century Wealden hall-house in East Sussex,,became the first building to be saved forever for the nation by the NATIONAL TRUST. Originally rented out to tenants, and occupying an idyllic setting with views across the River Cuckmere, the house and gardens were opened as a visitor attraction in 1977.

O “Of a score of good things found outside heaven The land of Sussex was granted seven The choicest of those I often feel Is the OILY, glutinous Pulborough eel.” So begins the anonymous rhyme extolling the culinary virtues of Sussex, citing the Pulborough eel above trout and even lobster. The location of Pulborough offers distinct advantages for freshwater fishing, with the rivers Arun and Rother meeting just to the south west of the town. The Arun is famed for its fast flow, keeping the waters there clean and healthy for fish.

P In 1912 Charles Dawson claimed that he had found the skull of a hominid (early human) in a gravel pit in Piltdown, East Sussex. The skull was dated at 500,000 years old and was claimed to be the oldest human remains found in Britain. It was not until 1953 that “PILTDOWN MAN” was discovered to be a fake, combining parts of the skull of an orang-utan with a modern human!

Q On 31 May 1979, after eight years of construction, QUEEN ELIZABETH II opened Brighton Marina. Covering over 127 acres, the complex is the largest marina in Europe. It was originally the idea of a garage proprietor, Henry Cohen, in 1963. After a public inquiry, a town poll and two town meetings, Taylor Woodrow began work on it in March 1971. Today the marina boasts amongst other attractions a 2,200 seat multiplex cinema, a supermarket and a pub, as well as 1,500 boat moorings and a small fishing fleet.

R After the Norman conquest, William I divided Sussex into five divisions known as “RAPES” (which in turn were based on existing Saxon divisions) and allocated each one to five of his most trusted barons. Each Rape ran from the coast to the county’s northern boundary. They were centred on Arundel (which included Pulborough), Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings. The Rape of Arundel was later divided into two centred on Arundel and Chichester.

S In 1786 Charles SHIPPAM opened a grocery shop in Chichester. Over the following decades the Shippam family steadily increased the manufacturing side of their business, producing pastes, sandwich spreads and soups, as well as canned and jarred meats. They were one of the earliest preservers of meat and fish products. They became a household word in the 1950s, when almost everyone came home to “Shippam’s for Tea”. The family sold the business in 1974.

T Izaak Walton’s book “The “Compleat Angler”, first published in 1653, devotes a whole chapter to “observations of the nature and breeding of the TROUT and how to fish for him. He observes that “Sussex doth boast of several fish” including “Amerly Trout”, which went on to feature as one of the “Seven Good Things of Sussex” as Amberley Trout.

U UCKFIELD was first recorded as 'Uckefeld' in 1220, an Anglo-Saxon place name meaning and (“feld”) belonging to a man named Ucca. V Located between haywards heath and Balcombe, the Ouse Valley (or Balcombe)

V VIADUCT was built in 1838 to carry the London to Brighton railway line over the River Ouse in Sussex. Known for its ornate design the structure has been described as “probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain”. It is now an Instagram hotspot for visitors.
W Once one of the busiest ports in the country,

W WINCHELSEA was not originally built atop Iham Hill where it now stands. It was created by Edward I in 1288 as a replacement for Old Winchelsea, which was completely destroyed and its site washed away by a great storm in 1287.

X Y Opened in 1910, the Duke of YORK'S Picture House claims to be the oldest purpose-built cinema in continuous use in the UK. Occupying a central location in Brighton, just off London Road, it is a local landmark, easily identifiable by the kicking legs!

Z Widely regarded as the best small ZOO in the country Drusillas Park in Alfriston, East Sussex, is home to over 100 exotic animals including sloths, meerkats, monkeys, penguins, red pandas and giant anteaters.