20 May University College of Sussex comes into legal existence

• Negotiations for a university had actually begun in 1911, but were stalled by the onset of World War One
• 150 acres of the Stanmer Estate are acquired on a 999-year lease from Brighton Corporation and the purchase of 50 acres from the Chichester Estates Co form the site of the prospective university
• JS Fulton is appointed Principal
• Temporary site for the College includes Stanmer House and two large houses in Brighton for teaching purposes
• In 1959 Messrs Basil Spence & Partners are appointed as architects for the site. College House (Falmer House) and the Physics Building are to be completed by opening in 1962, with others following a year later
• Government policy to make more student places available meant that it was envisaged that Sussex would have 3,000 students by 1970. Plans are brought forward and the construction of four more buildings for chemistry, engineering, arts and the Library are planned to open in 1963