It is among the oldest of British chicken breeds:[2]: 289  birds described as "Old Sussex or Kent Fowl" were shown at the first poultry show at London Zoo in 1845.

[2]: 289  The development of the light variety was probably influenced by Oriental breeds such as the Brahma and Cochin, and also by the silver-grey Dorking.

[2]: 289 In the early part of the twentieth century, until the advent of commercial hybrid strains at about the time of the Second World War, the Sussex and the Rhode Island Red were the two principal meat breeds in the United Kingdom.

[7] Utility strains of the Sussex developed, with better productive capabilities but smaller and less well marked than was expected for exhibition purposes.

[2]: 294 Eight colour varieties are recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain: brown, buff, coronation, light, red, silver, speckled and white.

It was created for the coronation of Edward VIII – an event which never took place – and had disappeared by about the time of the Second World War.

In the early part of the twentieth century, it was one of the principal breeds kept for this purpose, until it was displaced by modern industrial hybrid lines.