EDITORIAL NOTE

THE PRESENT volume, the ninth to be published of the Victoria History of the County of Sussex, deals with the north-western part of the rape of Bramber. The revival of the Sussex V.C.H. is described in the Editorial Note to Volume VI, Part 1, published in 1980. The arrangement outlined there by which the West Sussex County Council and the University of London collaborate to produce the History of the county has remained unaltered, and the present volume is the second to be produced by that partnership. Again the University wishes to record its gratitude to the West Sussex County Council for its generosity.

In 1980 it was thought that a single volume would deal with all the parishes in the northern part of Bramber rape. It has since been found better to divide those parishes between two volumes, and a volume to be called Volume VI, Part 3, which deals with the north-eastern part of the rape and is already in the press, will complete the work on Bramber.

Many people have given help with the compilation of the histories printed below, and they are all offered sincere thanks. For access to the many libraries, record offices, and collections, both public and private, whose resources have been exploited special acknowledgement is made to his Grace the Duke of Norfolk, C.B., C.B.E., M.C., and his archivist (Miss A. P. Taylor), to the Librarian of Magdalen College, Oxford, and the assistant archivist (Mrs. B. Parry-Jones), to the West Sussex County Archivist (Mrs. P. Gill) and her staff, to the East Sussex County Records Officer (Mr. C. R. Davey) and his predecessor (Mr. A. A. Dibben) and their staff, to the former Curator of Horsham Museum (Mr. E. Perry) and the former Librarian of the Horsham Museum Society (Mr. A. H. Windrum), and to the West Sussex County Librarian (Mr. R. Huse) and his staff; Mrs. Gill has also given much help and encouragement in other ways. Those who provided material for illustrations are named on page x, and those whose assistance related to individual parishes are named in the appropriate footnotes; the County Archaeologist (Mr. F. G. Aldsworth), Mr. T. J. McCann, and members of the Wealden Buildings Study Group gave invaluable help on topics which recur throughout the volume. Mr. J. M. H. Bevan has given voluntary help with a variety of research and editorial tasks during the compilation of this volume and is offered special thanks. Thanks are also offered to all those who allowed access to buildings in their ownership or occupation.