East Sussex

East Sussex county (1991 pop. 670,600), 693 sq mi (1,795 sq km), extreme SE England. It comprises seven administrative districts: Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Hove, Lewes, Rother, and Wealden. The county, the seat of which is Lewes , borders the English Channel. The South Downs form a chalky ridge on the coast, marshes line the southeast, and in the north are the Weald ridges, which are forested and comprised of clay and sand. Produce is grown, and cattle are raised. There is some light industry, but the area is mainly oriented toward tourism and resort towns that service London. William I the conqueror fought the battle of Hastings there. The remains of 12th- and 13th-century castles, churches, and abbeys are found throughout the region. In 1961 the Univ. of Sussex was opened near Brighton .

East Sussex County of se England. The county town is Lewes, other major towns include Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne. Its s border is the English Channel. The chalky South Downs run parallel to the coast. In the n, the Weald plains are drained by the River Ouse. Most of the region was included in the kingdom of Wessex. In 1066, William the Conqueror met the forces of Harold II in the Battle of Hastings. The local economy is dominated by agriculture, services and tourism. Area: 1795sq km (693sq mi) Pop. (1997 est.) 496,200.

Sussex, East. By a long-standing tradition, the large county of Sussex had its eastern and western parts, looking to Lewes and to Chichester. The county courts, quarter sessions, and usually the assizes were held alternately, and in 1832 the Reform Act recognized the situation by giving two representatives to each division. In 1888 separate county councils were established for East and West Sussex, and this arrangement was continued by the Local Government Act of 1972. In the 1990s East Sussex retained its county status, with Brighton and Hove made a unitary authority.

J. A. Cannon