SUSSEX. 145 



Sastings, whose Scandinavian name suflBciently indicates its origin, is, next to 

 Brighton, the principal watering-place on the south coast of England, and far 

 surpasses it in the picturesqueness of its surroundings. The old town is built at 

 the mouth of a valley shut in between cliffs, one of which (the west) is surmounted 

 by the remains of a castle. The modem watering-place coalesces with the western 

 suburb of St. Leonards ; but clusters of buildings have also sprung up on the 

 surrounding hills, and these enjoy a climate radically distinct from that which 

 prevails along the coast. Though formerly the most powerful of the Cinque Ports, 

 furnishing no less than twenty-one vessels towards the fleet out of a total of fifty- 

 seven, Hastings is now unimportant as a place of maritime commerce ; but it still 

 carries on its fisheries. Winche/sea and Rye, which from the time of King John 

 enjoyed the same privileges as the Cinque Ports, are two interesting little towns in 

 the marsh lands which stretch from Eastern Sussex into Kent. The former of these 

 places lies 3 miles to the north-west of the ancient site of the town, which was 

 submerged in 1287. Rye, like AVinchelsea, has since been deserted by the sea, but 

 still carries on some coasting trade through its outlying harbour, about a mile and 

 a half to the east of the town. During the Middle Ages this town was much 

 frequented, and on the revocation of the Edict of Mantes numerous Huguenots 

 settled in it, and many of their descendants still live there. A huge church, an old 

 tower, and a gate are the principal buildings likely to interest the antiquary. 



Horsham, on the Upper Arun and to the west of St. Leonards Forest, the chief 

 town in the TVeald of Sussex, is remarkable on account of its wide streets planted 

 with shady trees. All other towns in this district are of local importance only. 

 Midhurst, on the Eastern Rother, is a dull market town ; Peticorth, to the east of 

 it, attracts visitors on account of the art treasures stored in a neighbouring mansion 

 called Petworth House ; Cuchfiehl was of some importance as a stage on the high-road 

 which connects London with Brighton ; whilst Uckjiekl is deserving of notice for 

 the charming woodlands which surround it. 



A small portion of the county, to the north of the Forest Hills, lies within the 

 basin of the Thames. Here East Grinstead is the most important town. It is a 

 rising place, near the head of the Medway, in the midst of charming scenery, and 

 is rapidly becoming a subui'ban residence of City merchants. 



Dover and Folkestone both lie on the Channel slope, but will be described in 

 connection with the county of Kent. 



