SUSSEX is blessed with many country towns and they are all very different.

Two come straight to mind... Petworth and Rye.

Petworth is about 20 miles north west of Worthing and is the home of the antique dealers.

Now it is better known for the wonderful Petworth House. It looks very French and inside the house they are many paintings and sculptures. You cannot help but marvel at all the treasures. It is a wonderful experience!

A short walk would take you to parish church of St Mary's. It is a lovely church.

A walk around Petworth is so interesting and it is a great town for a good Sussex cream tea.

Moving over to Rye, 62 miles east of Worthing.

A walk around Church Square will set you up for a great day. Just look at the houses, they are so full of character.

Then walk down Watchbell Street and then back up Mermaid Street to see the famous Mermaid Inn. They do a lovely lunch.

A visit to St Mary's church is a must. The French stole the church bells. The following year, the men from Rye went to France and got them back.

You can then walk down the haunted Turkey Cock Lane. A friar fell in love with a local girl. The friar was found out and they were both walled up. For years locals could hear the couple in the wall.

In 1743 there was a murder in the church yard. A local butcher had been accused of selling under-weight meat. He was also the landlord of a local pub.

He was tried and found guilty murder. He was sentenced to death and hanged.

The local blacksmith then put his body in a cage and put it outside the town, where it remained for 50 years. The local witches collected his bones for their potions.

To this day, his skull can still be seen in the cage outside the town hall.

I think that you will that both these towns are full of interest.

Ian Steedman

Worthing