Sussex Archaeological Society

To paraphrase Cold Comfort Farm, Sussex is not quite like other counties. Although there’s been settlements across the region since pre-history, it’s always enjoyed a reputation for being culturally distant from other parts of the country. There are several old maps which present its coastline at the top, facing away from London and challenging the traditional orientation. The sea was considered more important than the capital. Or maybe they were simply drafted upside down…

“Every county has a strong history, but sometimes people forget about the maritime history here,” Emma O’Connor tells me. “A lot has gone on in the sea.” As the Museums Officer for Sussex Archaeological Society, she’s responsible for the care of collections across five of the county’s most historically important properties, along with a mission to present its esoteric and singular history as fully as she can.

The Society, probably better known to the public as Sussex Past, is currently celebrating its 175th birthday. Over this time, archaeology has gone from being the purview of amateurish trophy-hunters to a respected field