Go to The South Downs National Park Main website

The South Downs was on the original list of National Parks to be created but it did not become a National Park until over 60 years later!

Newhaven, The Castle – John Piper Ink and oil with collage. The port of Newhaven is situated at the mouth of the River Ouse and is an important industrial location importing and exporting goods via ship as well as providing a base for a fleet of around 30 smaller sized fishing vessels. | Purchased by Towner 2011 with the assistance of the Art Fund, a Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, The Friends of the Towner, a donation in memory of Helen R Hallier, and additional public donations as part of the John Piper Appeal, September 2011 – © towner

Interior at Cocking Forge, West Sussex, 1929 – William Rainey Interior at Cocking Forge, West Sussex, 1929 – William Rainey. Watercolour. Forging is one of the oldest known metal-working processes and was traditionally performed by a smith using a hammer and anvil. | Gifted to Towner 1935 – William Rainey 1929.

Country Garden and Cottages – Robert Tavener Linocut, ink on paper. The cottages in this Taverner print were constructed using materials sourced from the local area. | © Towner

Interior at Furlongs, 1939 – Eric Ravilious Interior at Furlongs, 1939 – Eric Ravilious. A watercolour painting, Furlongs was originally a flint-faced shepherd’s cottage which sits below Beddingham Hill on the Firle Estate below the main South Downs ridge. The landscape is one of Open Downland and is an iconic landscape that has inspired artists, writers and musicians for generations. | ©Towner Gallery – Eric Ravilious 1939

Judd’s Farm, William Nicholson, 1912 © Towner Gallery 2014

Map 2.2 The solid (bedrock) geology of the South downs National Park Maps prepared by: GeoSpec, University of Brighton; February 2012. Source: British Geological Survey, 2008 Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright © Licence No. 100050083.

Map 2.3 Main soil types found within the South Downs National Park Maps prepared by: GeoSpec, University of Brighton; February 2012. Source: National Soil Resources Institute, Cranfield University, 2001 Ordnance Survey Crown Copyright © Licence No. 100050083.

Buildings in the Landscape of the South Downs

August 20th, 2015

This presentation provides an introduction to the historic buildings of the South Downs National Park and is particularly useful to schools participating in this year’s annual schools art exhibition, Our Place, setting the context of building materials, chronology and type.