ARMS: Azure six Martlets three two and one and a Chief indented Or.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Sprig of Oak proper fructed with two Acorns Or within a Saxon Crown also Or.

Granted 1974?

The medieval heralds assigned arms consisting of six gold martlets on blue to the ancient Kingdom of the South Saxons. The martlet is a mythical bird, an heraldic generalization for various kinds of birds, but in this case probably represents the swallow. It is shown at rest, with its wings closed and without feet. This last characteristic led to stories about the martlet or swallow spending its entire life in flight, unable to land on the ground!
One theory is that martlets were used because of the influence of the Lords of Arundel in county affairs; in French swallow is hirondelle, having been suggestive of the name of Arundel, the Honour which formed a large part of Sussex. Another possibility is that a number of early Sussex families used martlets on their arms and that a sheriff of Sussex from one of these families simply transferred them from his personal coat of arms to his official seal for county business. Blue and red shields with six golden martlets were already shown representing Sussex in 1611.
Similar arms, but with a straight edge, had been granted to the former County Council in 1889. However in 1974 West Sussex was enlarged by the addition of parts of East Sussex and Surrey. As a result the enlarged County Council sought a new coat of arms.
The Saxon crown is taken from the arms of East Sussex CC, and an allusion to the ancient Kingdom of the South Saxons. The oak leaves and acorns are taken from the arms of Surrey CC and were added to represent the newly-acquired areas. The original straight edge to the gold chief was made into a jagged, tooth-like edge with five indents. These represented the five districts, or parts of districts, which were formerly part of East Sussex and Surrey - Burgess Hill, Cuckfield, East Grinstead, Dorking and Horley. Later Dorking and Horley transferred back to Surrey leaving only Gatwick Airport from Surrey in West Sussex.

ARMS: Argent two Bars wavy Azure overall in pale a Key ward uppermost and to the dexter Or on a Chief embattled Vert five Martlets Gold.
CREST: On a Wreath Or and Azure within a Saxon Crown Or a round Tower proper; Mantled Azure and Vert doubled Or.

Granted ?

The white background with two wavy blue bars represents the sea and Sussex coastline, and the gold key symbolises authority. The embattled green chief resembles the battlements of a tower or castle, and as such are allusive not only of Arundel Castle, a prominent feature in the neighbourhood, but of local government in general. The martlets recall those in these arms of the County and being known in French as 'hirondelle', they allude by a play on words, to Arundel, the historic town on the River Arun, from which the District Council takes its name. They are five in number, to represent the five former amalgamated areas.
The Saxon crown recalls the history of the area and county prior to the Conquest. The round tower is again, a symbol of local government, a tower, like one of those of Arundel Castle, has been depicted arising from within the Saxon Crown, thereby forming with the latter a simple but very distinctive device which links past and present.

ARMS: Azure on a Pile Or a Saxon Crown gules a Chief invected of the second thereon three Martlets of the first.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours between two Gull's Wings Azure a Saxon Crown Gules.

Motto 'TO EXCEL'.
Granted 10th April 1935, to the Bognor Regis Urban District Council.

The blue field and the gold pile represent the sea and the sands, and the inverted chief the sea wall. The martlets refer to the old kingdom and present county of Sussex, and the crowns commemorate both the ancient kingdom and the sojourn at Bognor of King George V during his recovery from a grave illness in 1929, when the place earned the suffix 'Regis'.
The gull's wings are a further reference to the sea. Before arms were officially obtained, the UDC used a device in­cluding the arms of Sir Richard Hotham, who in the eighteenth century attempted to popularize Bognor by the name ' Hothampton'. The motto previously used by the UDC was 'ACTION'.

ARMS: Per fesse Azure and Gules masoned Argent in chief a two-handled Vase Or.
CREST: On a Wreath Argent and Gules upon a Hillock Vert charged with the Wheel of a Potter's Wheel a Martlet Or.

Motto 'CONSILIO ET PRUDENTIA' - By wisdom and prudence.
Granted 14th August 1953, to the Burgess Hill Urban District Council.

The wall and vase represent the clay products of bricks and pottery, from which traditional industries the origin of the town can be traced.
Above is a grassy hillock indicative of the local scenery and commemorating the fact that Burgess Hill was formerly known as St. John's Common. The potter's wheel on the hillock again refers to the old pottery industry. The martlet represents the arms of six gold martlets which were those of the old kingdom of the South Saxons, and later used by both of the Sussex County Councils.

ARMS: Argent Guttée-de-Sang on a Chief Gules a Lion passant guardant Or.

Granted 14th August 1570, to the former Borough. The chief is shown indented in an earlier Visiation record.

No further information.

ARMS: Vert a Pallet Argent surmounted of a Sun rising issuant from the base Or on a Chief of the last an Ash Tree couped proper enfiled by an Ancient Crown Gules between a Hammer Sable and a Sword in its scabbard also Gules garnished also Argent.
CREST: Issuant from a Circlet Or charged with three Roses Gules barbed and seeded proper a Plume of five Ostrich Feathers Azure the quills Gold; Mantled Vert doubled Or.

Motto 'PRATIS PRAESTO VIRENTIBUS' - Amid green meadows I proudly stand.
Granted 9th September 1955, to the East Grinstead Urban District Council.

The green background refers to the first syllable of 'Grinstead' and therefore the derivation of the name meaning 'Green Place'. The white line represents the meridan of Green­wich running through the town and the rising sun 'East'. The hammer is to recall the local iron industry, the sword the Assizes (lost to the town in 1799) and the ash tree Ashdown Forest, with a crown because it was royal property.
In 1572 Thomas Cure, Member of Parliament for the former Borough, presented a seal: five blue ostrich feathers with gold tips, his initials and those of the Duchy of Lancaster, of which the town was part. The Borough was disenfranchised in 1832 and the device used by the Urban District Council before the arms the current arms were granted. The feathers are here repeated, with three red roses of the house of Lan­caster. In the past the red rose of Lancaster surmounted by a ducal coronet has also been attributed to the town.

ARMS: Per chevron engrailed Azure and Argent in chief a Martlet volant between two Cross-crosslets fitchée of the second and in base on water barry wavy proper a Lymphad Sable.

Motto 'PROGRESS'.
Granted 29th July 1935, to the Littlehampton Urban District Council.

The martlet refers to Sussex and the crosslets are from the arms of the Duke of Norfolk. The ship represents the Port of Littlehampton.

ARMS: Quarterly per fess indented Or and Gules on a Pale raguly Argent over all between four Roundels counterchanged a Round-headed Rampion Flower slipped and leaved proper.
CREST: On a Wreath Or and Gules upon a Grassy Mount proper an Eagle displayed Or the underside of each wing charged with a Cross of Malta Gules a Millrind suspended round the neck Sable.

Motto 'SALUS POPULI SUPREMA EST' - The good of the people comes first.
Granted 27th April 1978.

The Mid Sussex District was formed by the amalgamation of the Burgess Hill Urban District, the Cuckfield Urban District, the East Grinstead Urban District and most of the Cuckfield Rural District.

The background division into four emphasises the coming together of the four former local authorities, the roundels which have been counterchanged, red and gold, give artistic effect. The colours of the four divisions an echo of the Crest. The Pale and the division across the shield are made up of varied lines in order that they may be taken as an allusion to the task of binding the area together and combining in close union and association the various groups and interests which have been brought together to form the new Mid Sussex District. The round-headed rampion, commonly called "the Pride of Sussex" has been used as the main charge on the shield. This has been placed on a Pale, which having been placed in the middle of the shield give the notion of "mid" and so of Mid Sussex District Council. The other areas on either side of the Pale also emphasise this idea of being "mid".
The golden Roman Eagle is a reference to the deep penetration of the area by the Romans. About the neck of the bird is suspended a black Mill Iron as a reference to the historic iron industry of the area, while the wings have been charged with red eight pointed Crosses in reference to the Knights Templar who, historic­ally, once held great Estates in the area. The Eagle stands upon green turf in allusion to the area.

ARMS: Barry wavy of six Azure and Argent three Fishes naiant in pale proper on a Chief wavy Or a Cornucopia also proper.
CREST: On a Wreath of the Colours a Female figure proper habited Argent and Azure grasping in both hands a Snake also proper.

Motto 'EX TERRA COPIAM E MARI SALUTEM' - From the land fulness and from the sea health.
Granted 30th October 1919, transferred by the Local Authorities (Armorial Bearings) Order 1974, the endorsement on the Letters Patent being dated 25th November 1974.

The emblems on the shield are explained by the motto.
The figure forming the crest is probably Hygieia, although it is not described as such in the grant.