In 1290 we have the first extant return of knights of the shire. Drastic reformation was effected by the Redistribution Act of 1832, when Bramber, East Grinstead, Seaford, Steyning and Winchelsea were disfranchised after returning two members each, the first being classed among the worst of the "rotten" boroughs. Before 1832 two members each had been returned also by Arun del, Chichester, Hastings, Horsham, Lewes, Midhurst, New Shore ham (with the rape of Bramber) and Rye. Arundel, Horsham, Midhurst and Rye were each deprived of a member in 1832, Chichester and Lewes in 1867, and Hastings in 1885. Arundel was disfranchised in 1868, and Chichester, Horsham, Midhurst, New Shoreham and Rye in 1885. In the 18th century the duke of Newcastle was all-powerful in the county, where the Pelham family had been settled from the time of Edward I., the earl of Chichester being the present representative of the family.
Sussex is rich in ancient castles. Lewes and Bramber are in ruins, but Arundel is still the seat of the dukes of Norfolk. More famous than these are the massive remains (part Norman, mainly 13th century), of Pevensey, within the walls of Roman Anderida. Other ruins are those of the finely situated Hastings Castle; the Norman remains at Knepp near West Grinstead; the remarkably perfect moated fortress of Bo diam (14th century) ; and Hurstmonceaux Castle (15th-century brick).
Monastic remains are few. The ruins of Bayham Abbey near Tunbridge Wells, and of Battle Abbey, may be noticed. There are numerous churches of great interest and beauty. Of these may be mentioned the cathedral of Chichester, the churches of Shoreham and Rye, and the mother church of Worthing at Broad water. Construction of pre-Norman date is seen in the churches of Bosham, Sompting and, most notably, Worth. There is very rich Norman work of various dates in the church of St. Nicholas, Steyning. Several perfect specimens of small Early English churches are found, as at West Tarring, and at Climping, near Littlehampton. Perhaps the most interesting church in the county is the magnificent Decorated fragment at Winchelsea; another noteworthy church of this period is at Etchingham, near the eastern border. The church of St. Denis, Midhurst, is mainly Perpendicular; the large church at Fletching contains the tomb of Gibbon the historian. At Cowf old, south-east of Horsham, is a great Carthusian monastery, founded in 1877.
A large number of Saxon words are retained and pronounced in the old style; thus gate becomes great. The letter a is very broad in all words, as if followed by u, and in fact con verts words of one syllable into words of two, as fans (face), taiist (taste), etc. Again, a before double d becomes ar, as order and larder for adder and ladder; of is like a long i, as spile (spoil), intment (ointment) ; an e is substituted for a in such words as rag, flag, etc. The French refugees in the 16th and 17th centuries in
troduced many words which are still in use.
The climate is mild and equable. The average annual rainfall varies from 22.5 in. (Pevensey levels) to over 4o in. (west end of the Downs). The temperature varies from 60-63° F, July, to
F, January. The soil is fertile and a large proportion is under cultivation. Sussex is still one of the best wooded counties in England; oaks are typical of the Weald and the beech of the lighter chalk lands. The Weald, the Downs and the salt marshes provide different types of pas ture. Weald farms often possess marsh pastures, and transhumance takes place between the two. Many cattle are raised, especially in east Sussex, and are sent from the Weald to fatten on the marshes in April and May. Sheep (Southdown and Kent) are very important, and lambs raised on the eastern marshes are often sent to the Weald to winter. The south slopes of the Downs and the coastal plain at their feet, west of Shoreham, form an early region for lambs, with good arable on which both sheep and lambs can be fattened, the latter for early markets. Sheep-rearing has given rise to important fairs :—St. John's and Findon (early July) ; the Bat and Ball fair at Chiddingly (end of July) ; Lindfield, near Hay ward's Heath (early August) ; Findon, 2nd fair (early Septem ber) ; Lewes, the most important fair of the year (Sept.
. Large sales are also held, notably at Chichester, in August. Dairying is becoming increasingly important. Shorthorns and Jerseys (for butter) are the chief breeds. Fruit and hops are important crops on the heavy lands of East Sussex; root-crops (including sugar beet, the output of which has much increased) and grain (wheat and oats) are grown in both, but especially in West Sussex. Milk, poultry, early fruit and flowers are increasingly supplied to London and other markets.
The industries, though now mostly limited to minor ones connected with agriculture (brewing, tanning, etc.), were formerly very varied. The furnaces for the Wealden iron industry, which dates back probably to pre-Roman. times, were chiefly in Sussex. Clay gave rise to pottery and brick-making. Glass-making (with fine Hastings sand) flourished at Chidding fold (Surrey), and at Westborough Green, Loxwood and Petworth in Sussex. Weaving and fulling were also carried on, Chichester being noted for its cloth. The shores abound in shellfish, and both fresh-water and sea fishing are very important ; the herring-fish eries and the salt-pans on the coast are noted in Domesday.