Bramber is perhaps most famous for the remains of its 11th century Norman Castle, one wall of which stands high above the pretty village. The nightime floodlights make it even more dramatic.
It was built by William de Braose - one of William the Conqueror's favourite barons - soon after the conquest of 1066.
It was one of five great castles built to defend William's new land. The others were at Arundel, Lewes, Hastings and Pevensey; the reason so little remains of Bramber Castle is to some extent due to the English Civil War when it was fiercly fought over by the Roundheads and Cavaliers.
The Castle Hotel in Bramber is a favourite lunchtime stop for walkers on the Annual South Downs Way Walk in June.
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