page_title: History of Sussex
section_title: Jurisdiction
hierarchical_section_title: History of Sussex / Jurisdiction
caption_attribution_description: Chichester Castle stood in the city of Chichester, West Sussex (grid reference SU863051). The remains of the motte are still visible today in Priory Park.The raised mound that was once home to a keep is all that remains of a defensive motte and bailey built by the Normans in the 11th century. Built within the city walls it was demolished in the early 13th century and the land given over the Greyfriars to erect a friary, the only surviving bit being the former guildhall that lies beyond the mound. After the dissolution the land was given over to the Duke of Richmond whose descendants finally passed it over to the city who in turn made it a public park.
context_page_description: Sussex, from the Old English 'Sūþsēaxe', is a historic county in South East England.
  Evidence from a fossil of Boxgrove Man shows that Sussex has been inhabited for at least 500,000 years. It is thought to be the oldest human fossil ever discovered in Britain. Near Pulborough, tools have been found that date from around 35,000 years ago and that are thought to be from either the last Neanderthals in northern Europe or pioneer populations of modern humans. On the South Downs lie Neolithic flint mines that date to around 4000BC, some of the earliest in Europe. The county is also rich in remains from the Bronze Age and Iron Age. Prior to Roman invasions it was occupied by a Belgic tribe called the Atrebates. Togibubnus ruled over much of Sussex when the Roman conquest of Britain began and formed most of the Roman canton of the Regni.
  The retreat of Roman forces in the 5th century facilitated the landing of migrants from what is now Germany and created the kingdom of the South Saxons under King Ælle, who is recorded as having held overlordship over other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the first bretwalda, or ‘Britain ruler’.
context_section_description: The system of hundreds had been introduced during the time of the Saxons. In the 7th century Sussex has been estimated to have contained 7,000 families or hides. The creation of the rapes by the Normans introduced boundaries that divided some of the hundreds (and also some of the manors) causing a certain amount of fragmentation. The Arundel Rape covered nearly all of what is now West Sussex until about 1250 when it was split into two rapes, the Arundel Rape and the Chichester Rape. Ultimately Sussex was divided into six rapes; Chichester, Arundel, Bramber, Lewes, Pevensey and Hastings.
  At the time of the Domesday Survey, Sussex contained fifty nine hundreds. This eventually increased to sixty-three hundreds and remained unchanged till the 19th century, with thirty eight retaining their original names. The reason why the remainder had their names changed was probably due to the meeting-place of the hundred court being altered. These courts were in private hands in Sussex; either of the Church, or of great barons and local lords.
  Independent from the hundreds were the boroughs.
  The county court had been held at Lewes and Shoreham until 1086, when it was moved to Chichester. A petition to parliament of 1336 from the 'community of Sussex' asked to have a place assigned for the holding of the county court. After several changes the act of 1504, during the reign of Henry VII, arranged for it to be held alternately at Lewes and Chichester.
  In 1107–1109 there was construction of a county gaol, in Chichester Castle, however the castle was demolished in around 1217 and another gaol built on the same site. That gaol is known to have been used until 1269, when the site of the prison was given to the Greyfriars to build a priory. In 1242 the counties of Surrey and Sussex were formerly united, and a sharing of prison accommodation resulted almost immediately. Sussex men were imprisoned in Guildford gaol. There were requests for the provision of a county gaol in both Chichester and Lewes at various times to no avail. However the national gaol system became overloaded during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, and the earl of Arundel was obliged to imprison people in his castles at Arundel and Lewes. Thus Sussex managed to get a county gaol again at Lewes in 1487 and there it remained until it was moved to Horsham in 1541 for a period.
  In the middle of the 16th century, the assizes were usually held at Horsham or East Grinstead. In the middle of the 17th century, a gaol was built in Horsham, then in 1775 a new gaol was built to replace it. In 1788 an additional gaol was built at Petworth, known as the Petworth House of Correction. There were further Houses of Correction built at Lewes and Battle.
  It is believed that the last case of someone being executed by being pressed to death (peine forte et dure), in the country, was carried out in 1735 at Horsham. At the assizes a man who pretended to be dumb and lame, was indicted for murder and robbery. When he was brought to the bar, he would not speak or plead. Witnesses told the court, that they had heard him speak so he was taken back to Horsham gaol. As he would not plead they laid 100 pounds (45 kg) weight on him, then as he still would not plead, they added 100 pounds (45 kg) more, and a further 100 pounds (45 kg) making a total of 300 pounds (140 kg) weight, still he would not speak; so 50 pounds (23 kg) more was added, when he was nearly dead, the executioner, who weighed about 16 stone (100 kg) or 17 stone (110 kg), laid down upon the board which was over him, and killed him in an instant.
  In 1824 there were 109 prisoners in Horsham Gaol, 233 in Petworth House of Correction, 591 in Lewes House of Correction and 91 in Battle House of Correction. The last public hanging in Sussex was at Horsham in 1844, a year before the gaol finally closed.
  The sheriff's function was to be responsible for the civil justice within the county. Surrey and Sussex shared one sheriff until 1567 when the function was split. Then in 1571 the two counties again shared one sheriff, finally each county was given their
caption: Site of Chichester Castle and Greyfriars Priory. Location of the old Chichester gaol.
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