Sussex coast

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The Sussex Coast is the southern coast of Sussex in England. The coast faces into the English Channel, and is largely built-up with a variety of resort towns and ports. It has two main sections, between Selsey Bill and Beachy Head, and then from Beachy Head to Dungeness (just over the border in Kent). The conurbation of Brighton, Hove, Worthing and Littlehampton has a population of over 450,000, making it the 10th largest in the country. Other major settlements on the coastline are Chichester, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne and Hastings.

[edit] The coastline

The border of West Sussex with Hampshire passes through Chichester Harbour, at the head of one of the arms of which is Chichester. East Head forms the eastern mouth to the natural harbour. From here the coast can be delineated as follows:

Chichester Harbour to Bognor Regis: this section leads southward around the clay headland of Selsey Bill. The bay to the west of the headland is Bracklesham Bay on which is the resort of East Wittering, with Bracklesham. The town of Selsey is at the southernmost point of the headland. To the east is the marshy area known as the Hundred of Manhood, in which lies the large inlet of Pagham Harbour, a natural history reserve.
Bognor Regis to Brighton: this section, as a result of the tourist industry's efforts since the eighteenth century, has become an almost unbroken string of towns and villages originally built to cater for the seaside visitor. Many, while still catering for the tourist, are now also commuter-based, especially where the transport systems (particularly the railways) make that possible. The main settlements, from west to east, are:
- Bognor Regis, including Middleton-on-Sea
- Littlehampton, including Rustington and East Preston
- Worthing, including Goring-by-Sea and Lancing
- Shoreham-by-Sea: also one of the ports on the Sussex coast
- Brighton, including Southwick, Portslade-by-Sea, Hove and Rottingdean The conurbation between Littlehampton and Brighton has a population of 461,181 according to the ONS. (2001 census). This an increase of 5% on the 1991 figure of 437,592.
Brighton to Eastbourne: here the coast reaches a second headland, that of Beachy Head, with the chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters leading to its southernmost point. The River Ouse breaks through South Downs midway along this stretch; here is the second port, that of Newhaven, and the small town of Seaford
Eastbourne to Bexhill: a second area of one-time marshland fronts the coast here: Pevensey Levels. Pevensey Bay, a small holiday settlement, is at the western end, built on the sea wall.
Bexhill to Pett: the coastline on this section is of gradually increasing cliffs, composed of clay and sandstone, where the Weald reaches the sea. The three resorts of Bexhill, St Leonards, and Hastings are here. Hastings was an important port in historical times; now it is a fishing port
Pett to Rye: a third area of once marshland, protected by sea walls. At Winchelsea Beach there are caravan sites.
Rye to the Sussex/Kent border: the estuary of the River Rother enters Rye Bay here; the holiday area of Camber Sands is also a site of scientific interest, being the largest area of dunes in East Sussex. Rye itself is a small port and leisure centre.