West Sussex Place Names

Ever wondered why our towns and villages are named as they are? Who named them and why? Was there really a look-out point at Warningcamp? Did the Anchor Bleu public house once boast a French landlord? What is a gribble as seen in the Gribble Inn? Which town declared itself independent in 1965? Within these pages author Anthony Poulton-Smith examines the origins of the place names with which we are otherwise so familiar. Towns, villages, districts, hills, streams, woods, farms, fields, streets and even pubs are examined and explained. Some of the definitions give a glimpse of life in the earlier days of the settlement, and for the author there is nothing more satisfying than finding a name which gives such a snapshot. The definitions are supported by anecdotal evidence, bring to life the individuals and events which have influenced the places and the way these names have developed. This is not simply a dictionary but a history and will prove invaluable not only for those who live and work in the county but also visitors and tourists, historians and former inhabitants, indeed anyone with an interest in West Sussex.