About Rustington

Today Rustington is a very busy place. It has a superb main shopping centre with a great variety of shops, restaurants, professional offices etc. with the added bonus of extensive free car parking for shoppers.
Lawned areas, flower planters and paved walkways provide a pleasant environment for both residents and visitors. Three other smaller shopping precincts with a variety of shops and food outlets etc. also serve the eastern, western and northern parts of Rustington.

Rustington is twinned with Los Altos in the USA and Künzell in Germany .

The name of Rustington does not appear in the Domesday Book of 1086 as such, although it was known to have been in existence, it was at that time known jointly with Poling and West Preston as NONNEMINSTRE.

Much of Rustington's charm is due to a happy blending of the old and the new, from the thatched cottages to the modern blocks of flats, houses and bungalows set behind tree-lined grass verges, many of which are planted with spring bulbs and flowering shrubs.
Rustington can be cited as an outstanding example of how such an old village can grow into a large residential and shopping locality whilst still remaining a community with character. Rustington acquired its name allegedly during the SAXON occupation of the area, when the County of Sussex itself derived the name from the South Saxons . However, Rustington has had constant occupation from before the time of the Bronze Age people. This is proved beyond doubt from the constant source of archaeological finds excavated within the village.

Rustington Church

The Association was formed over 30 years ago to provide another voice for the Village in matters having a major effect on the local environment - Housing and Commercial Development; Traffic; Policing; Health and 'Green issues, etc. 

Membership covers everyone in a family.  There are currently in excess of 2,100 member households making up an individual membership of around 4,000. 

A bi-monthly Newsletter 'TOPICS' is distributed to each member household and regular Open Meetings are held during the year with speakers covering informative and entertaining subjects.  

A comprehensive Annual Year Book is also published and widely distributed.  Annual Membership subscription is £3 per household per annum. Life Membership is available for a one-off payment of £10. For further information contact Auriel Wakeling on (01903) 779025.

The Voluntary Care Group, which was disbanded during 2005 has been replaced by 'Village Friends', a social group that meets at the Methodist Church Hall on Fridays between 2.00 and 4.00 pm for crafts and hobbies, music, speakers and, as a friendly meeting place.  For more information contact Carol Taunton on (01903) 782876.

Rustington Residense Association

The Association was formed in 1983 to promote an interest by the public in the Parish of Rustington.  Its aims are to acquire and preserve artefacts and archives connected with the past and present history of the community; to provide accommodation for the display of such items; to arrange exhibitions of interest to the community; and to encourage the wider interpretation of the "Heritage Concept". Meetings are held on the last Thursday afternoon of each month (except August and December), at 2.30 pm in the John de Bohun Room at The Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, when talks are given on relevant subjects. Talks are also given to local groups and organisations, with guided walks around the village being organised on a regular basis.

The Association runs a Museum, located adjacent to the Council Offices in Woodlands Avenue , from May to September on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm, and on Saturdays from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. There will be two Exhibitions at the Museum this year.  The first is entitled " Reading , Riting and Rithmetic" and will run from 5 May to 30 June.  A second Exhibition will be held during August and September, the actual details and title have yet to be announced.  This year, to commemorate the Centenary of Scouting, and particularly in connection with the 1 st Rustington Scout Group, the Association will be staging a special Exhibition throughout July, at the Public Library in Claigmar Road , Rustington. Admission to the Museum is free.