Dear Valerie,

I was wondering, after viewing you website, if you could shed any light on the picture I have of Cissbury ring taken about 5 years ago whilst on a pleasure flight from Shoreham airport.

It shows what seems to be an area of concentric circles in the grass on the south side of the hill.

I went up there and found the area a few years ago. It was almost invisible from
the ground and did not seem to be a recent creation. At the centre of the
circles was an arrangement of chalk stones.

Just the other day I was up on Cissbury but found that the circles were much less obvious than a few years ago and had been covered to some extent by the bushes and shrubland.

I live in Findon Valley and take an interest in the history of the downs, I
would greatly appreciate any insight you may have into this picture.

Many thanks.

James Connor

 

30th September 2004

Hi Valerie,

Cissbury Circles

What an interesting photo of the concentric circles on Cissbury Ring.

The only observation I can make is that if the pattern was created by grass cutting hoaxers, as all these crop circles surely are, then they should disappear forever after a short period of time.

If on the other hand they are parch marks, that long lost earthworks can produce, then they will surely appear again when conditions are favourable.

Lets hope they do !
Rick.
 

Rick Shaw, Brighton, East Sussex.

1st October 2004

Valerie

I wonder if the Cissbury circles are anything to to with gorse and bramble clearance by the National Trust. Their Warden would know how it was done some years ago.

Just a thought.

Mike.

Here are the spectacular ramparts from the south..... that's South Wood on the left..... in yonder distance on the right is Brighton with the cliffs of the Seven Sisters beyond.Here are the spectacular ramparts from the south..... that's South Wood on the left.  November 2005.

Aerial photograph by Grahame Algar of nearby Lancing in the summer of 2005 from his remotely piloted electric powered aircraft.

20th February 2006

Valerie

Cissbury

I have spent a very interesting afternoon exploring your web-page, I was the first NT warden appointed to look after Cissbury (amongst a range of other NT sites in West Sussex) in 1979.

Your pages are a delight to read and also very informative.

I was responsible for mowing the grass maze on Cissbury, Martin Frost a Worthing artist and I designed and executed it.   It was not intended as a hoax but as a bit of fun for children of all ages who visit the site.

Glynn Jones, National Trust Property Manager, Slindon, West Sussex.