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East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.
In East Sussex there were three self-administered county boroughs: Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. In 1974 East Sussex was made a ceremonial county too, and the three county boroughs became districts within the county. At the same time the western boundary was altered, so that the Mid Sussex region (including Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath) was transferred to the county of West Sussex. In 1997, the Brighton & Hove district of East Sussex became a self-administered unitary authority and was granted city status in 2000. It remains part of the ceremonial county of East Sussex.
HistoryEast Sussex is part of the ancient kingdom of the South Saxons, who established themselves there in the 5th Century AD, after the departure of the Romans, although the area had been populated for many thousands of years before then. Archaeological remains are plentiful, especially in the upland areas. The area's position on the coast has also meant that there were many invaders, including the Romans and later the Normans. Earlier industries have included fishing, iron-making, and the wool trade, all of which declined, so that, in more modern times, Sussex has become popular with tourists, so that the main towns are seaside resorts.
Economy
GeographyGeologyFrom a geological point of view East Sussex is part of southern anticline of the Weald: the South Downs, a range of moderate chalk hills which run across the southern part of the county from west to east and mirrored in Kent by the North Downs. To the north lie parallel valleys and ridges, the highest of which is the Weald itself (the Hastings beds and Wealden Clay). The sandstones and clays come the sea at Hastings; the Downs at Beachy Head.
Relief and drainageThe relief of the county reflects the geology. The coastFrom west to east along the coast between Brighton and Eastbourne are the gradually rising chalk uplands, with breaks at Newhaven where the River Ouse enters the sea; and likewise at Cuckmere Haven. The cliffs beyond here are named the Seven Sisters, Sussex, and are the remnants of dry valleys cut into the chalk; they end at Beachy Head, 162m (530ft) above sea level. To the east of Beachy Head lie the marshlands of the Pevensey Levels, formerly flooded by the sea but now enclosed within deposited beach. At Bexhill the land begins to rise again where the sands and clays of the Weald meet the sea; these culminate in the sandstone cliffs east of Hastings. Further east are the Pett Levels, more marshland; this followed by the estuary of the River Rother. On the far side of the river is Camber Sands. InlandThe southern part of the county is dominated by the South Downs; its highest point is Firle Beacon, 217m (712 ft) above sea level. The northern part is dominated by the High Weald. Between the Downs and Weald is a narrow stretch of lower lying land, before the southern slopes of the Weald, through which the rivers mentioned above flow. The highest point in the county is Ditchling Beacon, at 248m/814ft. It is also a Marilyn. SettlementsTownsApart from Lewes, the county's administrative centre, the principal towns in East Sussex are concentrated along the coastal strip. From west to east they are: Larger towns and villages include: Villages
CommunicationsRoadsThe main roads through the county are those part of the radial pattern from London, including the A21 to Hastings; and the A22 to Eastbourne. There are two coastal routes: the older A259, and the A27 trunk road which begins north of Eastbourne and takes traffic away from the towns. RailwaysThe railways serve the main towns in a similar fashion to the roads. Until the closures of many branch railways in the 20th century, East Sussex was well-served by rail. The services today include the East Coastway Line; the London-Hastings line; and the Uckfield branch. The Kent and East Sussex Railway heritage railway operates from Tenterden in Kent to Bodiam. The Bluebell Railway steam heritage railway operates from Sheffield Park to Kingscote with a planned extension to East Grinstead. Local governmentEast Sussex is divided into five local government districts, as follows: The three latter districts are further subdivided into civil parishes: see List of civil parishes in East Sussex for details. Places of interest
See alsoCounties of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 Bedfordshire • Berkshire • City of Bristol • Buckinghamshire • Cambridgeshire • Cheshire • Cornwall • Cumbria • Derbyshire • Devon • Dorset • Durham • East Riding of Yorkshire • East Sussex • Essex • Gloucestershire • Greater London • Greater Manchester • Hampshire • Herefordshire • Hertfordshire • Isle of Wight • Kent • Lancashire • Leicestershire • Lincolnshire • City of London • Merseyside • Norfolk • Northamptonshire • Northumberland • North Yorkshire • Nottinghamshire • Oxfordshire • Rutland • Shropshire • Somerset • South Yorkshire • Staffordshire • Suffolk • Surrey • Tyne and Wear • Warwickshire • West Midlands • West Sussex • West Yorkshire • Wiltshire • Worcestershire
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