Anna Manthorpe, Archivist, writes: The scrapbook titled Collections of Sussex contains 343 prints (five of which are coloured), 21 sketches (including two watercolours), and 28 maps and plans. These cover the whole of Sussex. The purchase was considered by West Sussex Record Office, but since the majority relates to East Sussex it was felt that this office was the best home for it. Such a compendium is a useful source for topographical history, and we were very pleased to receive the support of the Friends of the National Libraries.
The scrapbook was completed to a high standard in two volumes bound in vellum, with marbled endpapers. It incorporates paper watermarked 1813, but since the contents are broadly arranged alphabetically and cover the period up around 1850, it seems likely that they were compiled at a later date. Most of the material dates from the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The places covered include Arundel Castle, Ashburnham Place, Bodiam Castle, Beachy Head, Brighton, Chichester, Herstmonceux Castle, Hastings, Lewes, Pevensey Castle, Rye and Winchelsea, although this list is not exhaustive. There is a watercolour of Arundel Castle by either James Lambert the elder (1725-1788) or his nephew James Lambert (1741-1799) who operated in Lewes in the late 18th century, and whose work is represented in our holdings.
It is a useful summary of images of local views in the days before photography. There are a number of sketches, probably by the compiler. But unfortunately, we have been unable to discover any clues to indicate their identity.
