West Sussex

Map of the West Sussex Area

Map of West Sussex

County Council

West Sussex

The history of West Sussex is one of migrations and conquests. The county of West Sussex finds its origins with the Kingdom of Sussex and the historic county of Sussex. Founded in the 5th century, the Kingdom of Sussex became an earldom of Wessex and the county of Sussex. West Sussex is home to Arundel Castle and Bramber Castle, Chichester Cathedral, and stately properties of Goodword House, Petworth House and Uppark. The county also boasts stunning natural scenery, including the chalk hills of the South Downs and the rural landscapes of The Weald. It is also the site of Boxgrove Quary, where discoveries have included the oldest evidence of human activity in the UK. Other prehistoric sites in West Sussex include Bronze Age burial mounts, Iron Age hill forts on the South Downs, and Devil's Jumps in Treyford.

Nestled between East Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey in the South East of England, the ceremonial and county is home to 808,900 people (2011 Census). The county occupies an area of 1,991 square kilometres or 769 square miles along the southern coast of England. It has a population density of 406 people per square kilometre or 1,050 per square mile. The county consists of the districts and boroughs of Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Worthing. West Sussex's only city is Chichester, which is also the county town. Crawley is the county's largest town with 106,600 residents, while other major towns include Bognor Regis and Horsham.

Service sectors are the main employers in West Sussex, with hotels and restaurants employing approximately 25.1 percent of residents. Banking, finance, insurance and other business sectors employ 21.0 percent of the population, while public administration, education and health employs 24.7 percent. Manufacturing is a major economic driver in Adur and Horsham, while the public sector is the main employer in Chichester, Worthing and Arun. With its proximity to Gatwick Airport, Crawley is a hub for the transport and communications sector. Thanks to the presence of the airport, Crawley is the base for transportation companies including Virgin Atlantic Airways, British Airways, TUI Travel PLC, Thales Group and Air Miles. West Sussex is also home to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, The Body Shop, Ricardo plc, and Bowers & Wilkins.

Transport

Banks and Building Societies

  • Branch finder for all Sussex high street banks listing the address, telephone number, facilities and opening times for each. Also offers savings and investment information, tips and comparisons.
  • http://www.theinvestingsite.com/banks/sussex

Media and Newspapers

Tourism - Official Site

Museum

University