An Introduction to Eastbourne

Eastbourne is a large town and borough of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. The area has seen human activity since the Stone Age and it remained one of small settlements until the 19th century when its four hamlets gradually merged to form a town. Assisted by the arrival of the railway, Eastbourne became a prime Victorian seaside resort and still is today.

Eastbourne is situated at the eastern end of the South Downs alongside the famous Beachy Head cliff. The sheltered position of the main town behind the cliff contributes to Eastbourne's title of sunniest place in Great Britain.

Eastbourne is essentially a seaside resort and derives its main income from tourism. Its facilities include four theatres, numerous parks, a bandstand and museums. The focus of the tourism trade is the four miles (6 km) of shingle beach, lined with a seafront of hotels and guest houses.

Activities of interest in Eastbourne

Eastbourne is best known for its magnificent beaches. The Victorian pier, built in the 1870s, has restaurants and cafes along its length as well as an entertainment centre. Eastbourne's Old Town area, which lies on the north-westerly outskirts of the town centre, is home to a group of antique shops and historic buildings. Here you will find the 16th century Lamb Inn, reputedly one of the oldest hostelries in Britain.

There are also museums and art galleries, the most visited of these being the Military Museum, which is part of the Redoubt Fortress and houses some important collections. The 'How We Lived Then' Museum of Shops is also a charming attraction.

Just outside of Eastbourne, Pevensey Castle and the Mint House are worth visiting, while the Towner Gallery contains works by a number of world-famous artists, including Henry Moore and Picasso.

Getting to Eastbourne

By Car: Eastbourne is connected to London by the A22 road, traffic for Brighton and Hove and Hastings uses the nearby A27 road.

By Train: The main railway station is situated in the town centre and is served by the East Coastway Line. Regular services are to London Victoria, Gatwick Airport, Hastings and Ashford International (Eurostar) as well as a commuter service to Brighton. Trains leave from London Victoria to Eastbourne with a journey time of approximately 90 minutes.

By Coach: National Express coaches depart for Eastbourne from London Victoria coach station three times a day. www.nationalexpress.com

By Bus: Stagecoach runs local bus routes across Eastbourne with links to Tunbridge Wells and along the coast to Hastings and into Kent. Tel: 0871 200 22 33. 

By Air: Gatwick international airport is approximately an hour from Eastbourne by road or rail. The M23/A27 route connects Gatwick to Eastbourne. Heathrow international airport is on the M25 which connects with the A22 at junction 6. Or you can take the underground (Piccadilly line) to London Victoria and catch a train to Eastbourne.

The area around Eastbourne is known to have been settled throughout history. Flint mines and other Stone Age artefacts have been found in the surrounding countryside, and there are Roman sites within the modern boundaries of the town.

In 1717, a Roman bath and section of pavement were discovered between the present pier and the redoubt fortress in the hamlet then known as Sea Houses, while in 1841, the remains of a Roman villa were found near the entrance to the pier and lie buried near the present Queens Hotel.

An Anglo-Saxon charter, circa 963 AD, describes a landing stage and stream at Bourne. Following the Norman Conquest, the Hundred of what is now Eastbourne, was held by Robert, Count of Mortain, William the Conqueror's half brother. The Domesday Book lists 28 ploughlands, a church, a watermill, fisheries and salt pans.

During World War II children were evacuated to Eastbourne on the assumption that they would be safe from German bombs. Soon they had to be evacuated again because after the fall of France in June 1940, it was anticipated that the town would lie in an invasion zone. Part of Operation Sealion, the German invasion plan, envisaged landings at Eastbourne. Many people sought safety away from the coast and shut up their houses. Restrictions on visitors forced the closure of most hotels, and private boarding schools moved away. Many of these empty buildings were later taken over by the services. The Royal Navy set up an underwater weapons school, and the Royal Air Force operated radar stations at Beachy Head and on the marshes near Pevensey. Thousands of Canadian soldiers were billeted in and around Eastbourne from July 1941 to the run-up to D-Day.

The town suffered badly during the war, with many Victorian and Edwardian buildings damaged or destroyed by air raids. Indeed, by the end of the conflict it was designated by the Home Office to have been ‘the most raided town in the South East region’. The situation was especially bad between May 1942 and June 1943 with hit–and–run raids from fighter–bombers based in northern France.

University of Brighton:

The University of Brighton is a community of 21,000 students and 2,600 staff based on five campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record.

Famous Alumni:

Chris Barrie - actor, Norman Cook AKA Fat Boy Slim – DJ, musician and producer, Paddy Considine – actor, Jo Whiley- radio DJ and TV presenter, Mick Quinn - bass player for Supergrass, Polly Dunbar - childrens author & illustrator, Rachel Whiteread – artist and Turner prize winner, Cliff Wright - illustrator of Harry Potter books, Julien MacDonald - fashion designer, Kate Allenby - British Olympic pentathlon athlete Bronze medal-winner, Sydney 2000, Dr Gary Brickley- British Paralympic cycling Team coach, Jonathan Ceri Griffiths- professional Judo athlete, Commonwealth Bronze medalist, 2000.