16/06/2026
Happy Sussex Day from Rustington Museum!
Today, 16 June, we celebrate everything that makes Sussex special. 🏰🌊🐎🌳🍎
Sussex Day is held on the feast day of St. Richard of Chichester (Richard de Wych). During the 13th century, Rustington was part of the vast landed holdings of the See of Chichester. This means Bishop Richard de Wych held manorial rights and spiritual oversight over the village and parish church 800 years ago.📜
The historic Sussex Flag features six gold martlets on a blue field, symbolizing the six traditional administrative sub-divisions of the county known as "Rapes". This distinctive heraldic design was first officially recorded as representing Sussex in 1611, with its origins tracing back to the 14th-century coat of arms of Sir John de Radynden.
🗺 John Speed’s 1611 map, 'Britain as it was divided in the tyme of the Engliſhe Saxons', famously cemented the heraldic coat of arms for Sussex, which features six gold martlets (swallows without feet) on a blue field. 🛡️🐤
If you are out celebrating across the county, you might also hear readings of the official Sussex Charter, a declaration of local pride which famously concludes:
“...as guardians of Sussex, we all know Sussex is Sussex … and Sussex wunt be druv! In God we trust. God Save the King!” 👑📣
How are you celebrating Sussex Day? Why not celebrate your Sussex roots by discovering more about our medieval past? Pop into the Rustington Museum to explore our local heritage displays.
Rustington Museum is open 9-5 pm Mon-Sat. We are closed 1-1.30 for lunch.
