Old Ordnance Survey Maps of West Sussex
This page summarises the local government organisation of West Sussex since 1889.
West Sussex County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
West Sussex had two Municipal Boroughs dating from 1836 (or before): Arundel and Chichester. Worthing became a Municipal Borough in 1890.
From 1894 there were also 4 Urban Districts: Bognor, Horsham, Littlehampton, New Shoreham (renamed Shoreham-by-Sea in 1910). New urban districts were created for Southwick (1899) and Crawley (1956). Urban Districts had similar powers to boroughs but lacked the
powers to appoint mayors or aldermen.
In 1929 Bognor became Bognor Regis.
There were also 8 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns. These were: East Preston*, Horsham, Midhurst, Petworth, Steyning West*, Thakenham*, Westbourne*, Westhampnett* Rural Districts.
Most Rural Districts were initially based on the Poor Law Unions, with meetings held at the workhouse.
In 1933 there was a reorganisation and the Rural Districts marked * were abolished. They were merged into adjacent districts, including 3 new Rural Districts: Chanctonbury, Chichester, and Worthing RDCs.
In 1974 major reorganisation saw the urban and rural districts abolished and a 2-tier structure established, with the County Council and 7 Districts:
Adur, Arun, Chichester, Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex, and Worthing. Mid Sussex was largely formed of Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, which were
transferred from East Sussex.
In 1974 West Sussex and East Sussex became separate ceremonial counties.
The county town is Chichester, which has city status.
For a list of our West Sussex maps go to the West Sussex page, or for East Sussex to the
East Sussex page. For a full list of English maps, return to the England page
You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop.
Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
Alan Godfrey Maps, Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 7PW. Tel 01207 583388
The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 28 November 2016