Rich tapestry of Sussex folklore

The golden age of superstition has undoubtedly long since past, but it clearly still persists across a county which was once steeped in it.

One of the classic studies of the subject has now been resissued, with a new, updated edition of Jacqueline Simpson's 1973 survey, Folklore Of Sussex (14.99, The History Press, ISBN-13: 978-0752451008).

From giants and bogeymen to fairies and witches, Jacqueline offers a detailed exploration of Sussex's rich heritage of traditional local stories, customs and beliefs.

Traditions relating to ghosts, graves and gibbets and the strange powers of witches are there at the ghoulish end of a spectrum which pulls in life and death in all their aspects.

Sussex's coastal setting has shaped much of it, as Jacqueline explains.

"There is an obvious connection between coastal erosion and legends of lost churches, while particularly deep places in rivers, bogs, moats and harbours have attracted stories of sunken bells.