Cissbury
Early-attested site in the Parish of Findon
Historical Forms
- Sissabury 1610 Speed
- Cissbury 1724 B
- Cissibury 1732 Morden
Etymology
Cissbury is first so named in the form Sieberie hille in the Survey of the Sussex coast at the time of the Armada. It is Sissabury in 1610 (Speed), Cissbury in 1724 (B), Cissibury in 1732 (Morden) and Sizebury in 1774 (Gough's Camden).Earlier mention of it is however almost certainly to be found in 'the old byry ' of a Sele Charter (160) of 1477. It was doubtless first known simply as the old 'earthwork' (v. burh ).Sixteenth-century antiquaries could not refrain from associating so famous an earthwork with the name of Cissa , one of the reputed founders of the South Saxon kingdom, hence its later and fuller name.