March 2020
AGM at Billingshurst Community & Conference Centre
As a result of the government's latest guidelines, it has been decided to cancel the WSAS AGM on Saturday 28th March 2020. The next AGM will be held on 27th March 2021.
Find out more »April 2020
Stirring Times – West Sussex 1800 – 1850
Due to the UK lockdown, this event has been cancelled. If you have already booked to attend this talk, you will be contacted and issued with a refund.
Find out more »May 2020
Safety at Sea: The History of Beachy Head Lighthouse & The History of Selsey Lifeboat Station
Due to the UK lockdown, this event has been cancelled. If you have already booked to attend this talk, you will be contacted and issued with a refund.
Find out more »February 2021
Online Presentation: An Illustrated Walk Around Old Steyning Town
This online presentation will be presented by Dr Janet Pennington via Zoom. Taking part is free and appearing on video is optional. You can log in from 1:50pm and Janet will begin her talk at 2pm. If you already have Zoom and are comfortable with using it, all you’ll need is the meeting ID and passcode below: Meeting ID: 844 7646 2507 Passcode: 260705 If you’re new to Zoom, you can find instructions on how to join our meeting by clicking here: how…
Find out more »March 2021
Annual General Meeting 2021
This year our 47th Annual General Meeting will be taking place via Zoom at 2pm on Saturday 27th March 2021. The meeting will start at 2pm with a talk by Elizabeth Wiliamson "In the Footsteps of Nairn and Pevsner: The Buildings of Sussex: West". Elizabeth was editor of the West Sussex volume (2019) and an Executive Editor of the Victoria County History. To receive the meeting details and accompanying documents, please email us: contact@wsas.co.uk
Find out more »September 2021
WSAS Annual Conference: West Sussex Country Houses
The conference will explore the rise, changes and adaptations of some of the country houses in West Sussex. 10:00am Arrival and coffee 10:25am - Philip Robinson Chairman of WSAS Welcome and Introduction 10:30am - Dr. Caroline Adams “Being desirous to live orderly and quietly within my lymytte” – Hospitality and Power at Elizabethan Cowdray. 11:20am - Dr. Janet Pennington “A family not needing hyperboles” – The Sherleys of Wiston House. 12:20pm - Dr. Sue Berry The Transformation of Country Houses…
Find out more »October 2021
From Refugees to Royalty
The story of the Messel family and Nymans - A talk by John Hilary On 10 March 1763, the Elector of Hanover issued a Jewish Ordinance expelling all Jews from the county of Bentheim, close to today’s border with the Netherlands, one of those refugees was the great great grandfather of Ludwig Messel The Elector of Hanover was George III. On 6 May 1960 a direct descendant of George III married a direct descendant of Ludwig Messel. A remarkable story…
Find out more »November 2021
Will Longstaff: Jacaroo, Soldier and Artist
A WSAS Talk: by Dr. John Godfrey Will Longstaff, a celebrated Australian war artist of the First World War lived in retirement in the Arun Valley and died in 1953 at 71 South Terrace, Littlehampton. In addition to The Menin Gate at Midnight, the work for which he is best known, Longstaff painted many views of Arundel and the Arun Valley, some of which will be on display during the talk. This event is now fully booked.
Find out more »May 2022
Graylingwell Hospital Walk
A walk in the grounds reviewing the history and comparing new with old through photographic records and extracts from the archives. Led by Greg and Katherine Slay, experts on the history of the hospital. Meet at The Pavilion, Connolly Way Graylingwell Park Chichester PO19 6DA Book parking through justpark.com or call 01453 488 020. Use Parking Location ID: 524810 Cost: members £3, non-members £5
Find out more »June 2022
Hammerwood Park
An exclusive tour of the house and grounds for WSAS members and their guests. One of the first examples of Greek Revival architecture in the UK. Built in 1792 by the architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe for John Sperling as a hunting lodge. Converted to flats in the 1940s. Purchased by Led Zeppelin. Rescued from dereliction by the Pinnegar family in 1982, Hammerwood remains one of Britain’s best kept secrets an architectural gem and a family home. Cost: members £12,…
Find out more »