by Victoria.
This week, on the 16th June, Sussex Day occurs. The day
has been designated as Sussex Day since 2007 and is a day to celebrate the rich
heritage and culture of the county of Sussex; a history and people which the
Redoubt and it’s counterparts were built to protect.
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| St Richard's statue outside the Cathedral |
The date chosen is St Richard’s Day and marks the anniversary of the removal of St Richard of Chichester’s body in 1276 from its original burial place in the nave of Chichester Cathedral to an elaborate shrine elsewhere in the Cathedral.
St Richard was a pius man who with firm backing of the Pope, (but not of
his King, Henry III) became Bishop of Chichester in 1245 and remained so until
his death in 1253. After his tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage, Richard
was canonized in 1262 and was later made Sussex’s patron saint.
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| Today's shrine of St Richard, inside Chichester Cathedral. The original was destroyed on the orders of King Henry VIII, with this new one being created in 2011. |
On Sussex Day today the Sussex Flag is flown across Sussex and events are held celebrating different elements of what the county has to offer; for example its history, literature, music and food. A ‘Sussex Charter’ has also been created and is read in some places on the day; |
"For all the people of the ancient kingdom of Sussex!
Let it be known: the 16 June of each and every year shall be known as
Sussex Day.
Sussex day shall be celebrated according to the rites and traditions of
Sussex.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for the
maintenance of those boundaries that join to those of our neighbours.
Let it be known all the people of Sussex shall be responsible for all
the environs within those boundaries.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex shall recognise the inshore waters
that lie inside a line drawn from Beachy Head, and extending
to Selsey Bill as being, the Bay of Sussex.
Let it be known, the people of Sussex will undertake responsibility for
the general well being of our neighbours.
Let it be known the people of Sussex shall be guardians of our wildlife.
Let it be known the people of Sussex will, through custom support all
local business.
Finally, let it be known, as guardians of Sussex, we all know Sussex is
Sussex … and Sussex won’t be druv!
In God we trust.
God Save the Queen!"
The Sussex flag, a blue background with six gold martlets known as St
Richard's Flag, was officially registered in May 2011 as the unifying flag of
East and West Sussex. Its origins come from an emblem in the 1611 atlas ‘The
Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine’ where it was used to depict the
kingdom of the South Saxons, from whom the name Sussex derives. The martlet is
a swallow like bird without feet which has been used in English heraldry for
centuries; the exact reasons behind their use on the flag is uncertain, but
there are six in number to represent the six ancient rapes or subdivisions of
the county of Sussex.
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| The Sussex flag with it's blue background and gold martlets |
Here at Heritage Eastbourne we will be hosting an event at the Redoubt
Fortress in collaboration with Sussex Police, who do a wonderful job of
protecting our local heritage. There will be a free display of the history of
policing from 1840 and artifacts including uniforms, batons and historic
documents and our very own Jason will also be giving a short talk on the
curious delicacies of Sussex cooking and eating, something which has been
important to Sussex Day since its beginning.
The displays will be running from 10-3pm, with the talk at 2pm, so come
down and see us for more of an idea of what Sussex Day is all about, or to tell
us what Sussex means to you!
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A glimpse at what Jason will be talking about on the 16th;
one of Sussex's food delicacies - Sussex Pond Pudding.
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