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.