After the Norman conquest an increasing percentage of ordinary dwelling houses were built from stone, and a number have survived in Sussex, though mutilated or in ruins. By the thirteenth century the medieval pattern of settlement of village and town was complete, but within this general pattern considerable development and readjustment were to take place in the later medieval period.

 

13th century flint cottage as at Hangleton village. (Reconstructed)

 

The early part of the century found Sussex at the height of its prosperity. Hastings, which had been a foundation member of the Confederation of the Five - or `Cinque` - ports, had become its headquarter in the twelfth century, Whilst the Confederation itself had been enlarged by the addition of `The Two Ancient Towns` of Old Winchelsea and Rye.

 

The leadership had shifted from the Kentish to the Sussex ports. Outside the Confederation, ports such as Shoreham, Arundel and Chichester were also thriving centres. With the settlement of the Weald, flourishing market towns became established such as Horsham, East Grinstead and Midhurst which had become so important to be required to send representatives to Parliament in the latter half of the thirteenth century.

 

Old Winchelsea had been built on a lowlying island, in what was then the wide estuary of the East Sussex Rother. It rose rapidly to importance, and early in the thirteenth century had supplanted Hastings as the most influential member of the League, when disaster overtook it. In 1250 the town lost 300 houses, and in 1252 which again laid waste to many houses and drowned many of the inhabitants. Finally, in 1287 an even more violent storm swept the town out of existence.

Borough Seal, Shoreham-by-Sea

 

The most important industry of Sussex was its Shipbuilding, and the shipwrights were able to draw on the vast supply of Oak from the Weald. This was generally recognised as being the finest timber in Europe. The Iron industry was revived and a glass-making industry began in the later twelfth and early thirteenth century around the Surrey border. Great building activity occured during the twelfth to mid fourteenth centuries including the rebuilding and extending of many churches and the enlargement of the principal Norman castles.

 

The decay of the Sussex ports through silting up were hastened by the scourge of the `Black Death`, especially in the countryside. Generally speaking, the effect of the `Black Death` in Sussex was the break-up of the village community as it had existed from early Saxon times.

 

William I

(The Conqueror)

 

King William, like Canute, was careful to try to preserve the old Anglo-Saxon way of life within the new and efficient feudal order which he introduced.  He was in some ways, more English than the English, and he strove to cover up the break in the dynastic continuity by every possible means.

So that he might know the scope and nature of his new kingdom, and assess taxation fairly, he caused to be made that famous survey called the Domesday Book. He also left his mark in history as the re-organiser of the church.

 

Cinque Ports

When necessary, the Cinque Ports had to provide a certain number of ships ready for action, and in return they received many privilages. The Barons of the Cinque Ports had the privilege of attending the Coronation and carrying a canopy over the Sovereign. The canopy is no longer carried, but the Barons retain their right to attend the ceremony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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