Amberley
Amberley maps (2 available)
Map of West Sussex
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of West Sussex
Personalised maps
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Amberley books (26 available)
- 4 photos on Amberley appear in 3 Frith books - View photos of Amberley
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Amberley and West Sussex
Amberley memories
Read and share memories of Amberley and West Sussex inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in West Sussex below.
West Sussex memories
My Grandfather
This is my Grandfather Joseph Smith and my two Great Aunts, Kathleen and Josephine. He was about 12 in this picture. They lived yards from where this was taken in the lodge at Arundel Park gates. My great Grandfather, William, was a groom to the then Duke of Norfolk (Henry) and Great Granmother, Kate, was a domestic. I have spent many happy times in Arundel and continue to visit.
A memory of Arundel contributed by Nicholas Seward
Storrington in general
I was born and raised in Storrington. I left when I was 18, in 1990, but come back every week to visit my mother. My sister and mother still live in Storrington and my brother is the joint co-manager of the Swans, Eamonn Searle.
My best memories of Storrington are singing in the church choir of St. Mary's when the late great Rev. Norman was there. Also, the small sweet shop in Church Street which became a fabric shop! What you could buy for 10p was amazing.
Plus, who could forget Roy's discos in the Chinese of a Friday and Saturday night!! Now they are what I call memories!!!!
A memory of Storrington contributed by kelly slark
Boring History!
I attended Storrington Primary School in Spierbridge Road, and we all looked forward to our last year at the school, because during the summer seniors were taken to Church Street as part of a local history lesson. Of course, we all thought it would be a great excuse to lark about and pop into the sweet shop which used to be on the corner of Church Street going into the High Street. How disappointed we were when we realised we would have to work! After the shock realisation we were actually having a history lesson it became quite fun, learning about the monastery and the old buildings - but I daren't tell my mates that!!!!
A memory of Storrington contributed by ashlea shaw
Home
I was born in Canada, but grew up in Pulborough as did my mother and uncle, Maureen and Frank Darby.
When I knew we were returning to Canada, a place I didn't remember, it broke my heart, and I vowed never to forget the people and sights of Pulborough.
My Grandparents are buried in the cemetery at St Mary's, and I have a brass rubbing from the church. The baptismal jug was donated by the family.
I was home last October for my Uncle's funeral in Beds, but two of my sisters and I had to visit the village and visit people. Sorry it wasn't longer, but the love for Pulborough I have never diminishes.
A memory of Pulborough contributed by Sheelagh MacDonald
Extracts From Amberley & West Sussex books
The Castle Gatehouse 1898
The tour moves west to a remarkable building. It
looks north over the wide, flat, formerly marshy
valley of the River Arun and the Amberley Wild
Brooks, and west to the narrowing valley as the river
cuts through the South Downs. The castle started
out as a manor house for the bishops of Chichester,
but in 1377 Bishop Rede was given a licence to
crenellate (that is, make a castle) to protect the
Arun gap from possible French attack. Here we see
the south gatehouse before its Edwardian
restoration, which started in 1908, when the
battlements were reinstated.
An extract from from"Sussex A Century Ago Photographic Memories".
Those of you familiar with Amberley will see that this picture pre-dates the restoration of the battlements on the 14th-century gatehouse. The castle was originally a manor house belonging to the Bishops of Chichester; a licence to crenellate was granted in 1377. The castle was dismantled by the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War.
An extract from from"English Castles".
The Castle Courtyard 1896
Within the medieval walls of the castle (or fortified
manor house cum bishop’s palace) are the living
apartments of the bishop: these are complex and
varied ranges, with medieval parts jostling with later
alterations and additions. In this view across the
courtyard the 17th-century cross windows are
prominent. The castle is now a country house hotel,
and very well restored.
Francis Frith’s Sussex A Century Ago
An extract from from"Sussex A Century Ago Photographic Memories".
This castle, probably
dating from the 13th
century, stands on the
high ridge overlooking
the Woodchester Valley,
just north of Nailsworth
and on the western edge
of Minchinhampton
Common. It is now
privately owned.
An extract from from"Gloucestershire Photographic Memories".
Amberley church lies between the castle and the village at the western end of a ridge of high ground, which is about one mile north of Houghton Bridge. The church was built at about the same time as the castle by the Bishop of Chichester, Ralph I (1091-1123) - he also built Chichester Cathedral.
An extract from from"Sussex Revisited Photographic Memories".