Scheduled monuments in West Sussex explained

There are 912 scheduled monuments in the county of West Sussex, England.[1] These protected sites date in some cases from the Neolithic period, and include medieval moated sites, ruined abbeys, castles, and Iron Age hillforts.[2] In the United Kingdom, the scheduling of monuments was first initiated to ensure the preservation of "nationally important" archaeological sites and historic buildings. Protection is given to scheduled monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.[3]

Notable scheduled monuments in West Sussex

This is a partial list of scheduled monuments in West Sussex.

ImageNameLocationDateNotes
Chanctonbury RingEarly Iron AgePrehistoric hill fort on Chanctonbury Hill.[4]
Chichester Guildhall50.8392°N -0.7766°W1270–1280The structure was originally built as a chancel by the Grey Friars of Chichester. William Blake was tried and found innocent of sedition in the guildhall in 1804.
Cissbury RingMiddle Iron AgeThe largest hillfort in Sussex and the second largest in England.[5]
Devil's Humps, Stoughton50.8931°N -0.8364°WBronze AgeFour Bronze Age barrows on the South Downs. Also known as the Kings' Graves, due to a legend that Viking Kings are buried here.[6]
Knepp Castle50.9758°N -0.3448°W12th centuryOriginally a fortified retreat, today only a single tower remains. its primary use originally was as a hunting lodge.[7]
Racton Monument50.8795°N -0.8976°W1766–1775A folly, also known locally as the Racton Ruin. Some consider the site to be haunted.[8]
The Trundle50.8925°N -0.7539°WIron AgeThe monument includes a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, a large Iron Age hillfort, a 14th-century chapel, a post-medieval post mill destroyed by lightning in 1773 and the remains of a military encampment during World War II.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Scheduled monuments in West Sussex . Historic England. 14 February 2024.
  2. Web site: Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the Historic County of Dorset. Ancient Monuments UK . 14 February 2024.
  3. Web site: Scheduled Monuments . Historic England . 14 February 2024.
  4. Web site: Chanctonbury Ring hillfort and Romano-Celtic temples . Historic England . 24 February 2024.
  5. Web site: Cissbury Ring hillfort, prehistoric flint mine and associated remains . Historic England . 24 February 2024.
  6. Web site: The Devil's Humps and the Devil's Jumps . The Sussex Exclusive . 24 February 2024.
  7. Web site: Knepp Castle Ruin . Knepp . 24 February 2024.
  8. Web site: Racton Monument – A Ghostly Folly? . West Sussex Info . 24 February 2024.
  9. Web site: The Trundle hillfort, causewayed enclosure and associated remains at St Roche's Hill . Historic England . 24 February 2024.