Sussex Day is the 16th of June each year. It’s our county day and a day on which to celebrate our rich culture and heritage. The 16th is also St Richard’s Day. St Richard of Chichester is the patron saint of Sussex. There is a Sussex flag which depicts six gold martlets on a blue field representing the six Rapes of Sussex.
A martlet is a mythical heraldic bird which is thought to represent the swift, swallow or house martin and this symbolism is thought to date back to 1611 if not long before. There is a possibility the martlets came about because a swallow in French (and remember our Norman roots) is an hirondelle, which sounds similar to Arundel. Another theory is that they were on the family crest of Sir John de Radynden, a Knight of the Shire and somehow from that, the birds came to represent the county. Indeed, spot the shield at Bodiam Castle with six martlets representing the Radynden family.
Although Sussex has had a shield with six golden martlets since the 17th century, West Sussex was only officially granted a blue and gold coat of arms in 1889 and East Sussex granted a red and crowned equivalent in 1937.
Sussex Day originated in Worthing in 2006 and was the idea of a local resident, Ian Steedman (who sadly passed away in February 2023). Since 2013, in the run-up to the 16th June, the Sussex flag is flown in the six ancient Rapes of Sussex (a Rape was a territorial and administrative region of Sussex from before the Norman conquest). The Sussex Rapes were Chichester, Arundel, Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings. Other villages and towns where you’ll spot the flag at this time of year include Peacehaven, Newhaven, Seaford, Shoreham and Worthing. And in some towns, the Sussex Charter is also read out and Sussex by the Sea (the unofficial anthem of the county written by William Ward-Higgs in 1907) is sung.
So, if you’d like to celebrate Sussex Day in style, here is our list of the most Sussexy things to do:
Visit Chichester Cathedral
St Richard was the bishop of Chichester and you’ll find a statue of him (made by Sussex sculptor Philip Jackson – based at Cocking near Midhurst) outside the cathedral. This year on Sussex Day, the cathedral is hosting an open air production of Hamlet with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men.
Picnic at the Sussex Rapes
Head to Arundel, Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey or Hastings castles. Or if you have time, visit all of them! If you want to be really Sussexy take a picnic that includes a Sussex Churdle, Sussex Pond Pudding or Banoffi Pie.
Make your way to Worthing
Worthing is the birthplace of Sussex Day, and to mark the day, enjoy a very Sussexy trip to the pier or beach and some of the local art! And make sure you visit Slake Spirits at the Chalk House where you can “immerse yourself in the rich folklore of Sussex for the evening”.
Get dancing in Lewes
The Sussex Day of Dance is taking place on the 14th June from 11 am to 5 pm in Lewes and is a new meeting of different Morris sides to recognise Sussex Day. The event is organized by Long Man Morris, starting at 11 am and ending around 5 pm. The event will include several dance sites before a massed dance-out at the Harvey’s Brewery – another iconic Sussex institution.
Head up the Downs
Why not walk up to Black Down, and enjoy a bit of Tennyson and his words: “You came, and looked and loved the view, Long-known and loved by me, Green Sussex fading into blue, With one grey glimpse of sea.” If you’re at Chanctonbury Ring, visit Wiston winery for some Sussex wine. At Devil’s Dyke, try hang gliding and if you’re at Wilmington, head to the local brewery for some Sussex beer. And of course, at Beachy Head you need to snap some Instagram photos of the iconic lighthouse.
Play stoolball or Toad in the Hole
We have some wonderful traditional Sussex games which include stoolball and Toad in the Hole. Toad in the Hole is a pub game that involves a toad table at which players throw brass coins (toads). They play it at The Hop Sun Taproom in Haywards Heath and at various venues in Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings. If you want to be really Sussex, make sure you speak in the proper Sussex dialect as you play!
Drink Sussex
The newest edition to our Sussex heritage has to be our burgeoning drinks industry in the shape of our Sussex wine estates and spirit makers. So you could celebrate all things Sussex with a Sussex wine tour. Alternatively, Rathfinny wine estate between Alfriston (brilliantly Sussex) and Seaford is close to the Downs (and the famous White Horse carved into the Downs) and to Harvey House which makes Sussex gin. At the other end of the county, Tinwood Vineyard is close to Boxgrove Priory and Halnacker Windmill – two very Sussex landmarks. Or try Parham House in West Sussex – another iconic Sussex house and on the 15th of June, where they will be hosting a number of stalls to celebrate all things Sussex.
Go in search of a Sussex mythical beast
We have a few mythical creatures! There is a knucker at Lyminster, a dragon near Horsham, the Long Man at Wilmington and a couple of giants (at Mount Caburn and Bevis of Hampton), fairies on the South Downs and the Devil who seems to pop up all over the place, including at Mayfield, and at the Devil’s Humps and Jumps!
Watch a game of cricket
Cricket in Sussex dates back to 1611, when parishioners in Sidlesham were fined for playing it on Easter Sunday, and the game was well established in the county by the late 17th century. Sussex County Cricket Club (Sussex CCC) is the oldest professional sports club in the world, founded in 1839 and The Sussex Martlets – a club established in 1905 and little changed since – plays wandering cricket in the best traditional style. All of which makes Sussex and cricket pretty much synonymous.
Join a Sussex Day celebration
Various villages, towns and businesses are hosting Sussex Day celebrations:
- In Crowborough, they have a Town Crier attending the event to read the Sussex Charter and a range of activities including Punch and Judy shows on Chapel Green from 3.30 pm on the 16th June.
- In Newhaven, they are hosting Sussex Day at The Sidings on the 21st June from 1 pm with live music and entertainment, stalls, and food and drink.
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