AN ICONIC COASTAL TOWN, EASTBOURNE IS FAMOUS FOR ITS ATTRACTIVE GEORGIAN AND VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE AND STRIKING CHALK CLIFFS
Despite its seafront location, Eastbourne’s earliest origins were as a downland village rather than a seaside town and the Old Town stands some distance from the sea at the source of the Bourne, the stream from which Eastbourne gets its name.
Eastbourne has been settled since at least Roman times but the town’s growth truly flourished in the 19th century under William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Burlington and 7th Duke of Devonshire. Regarded as the ‘father of Eastbourne’, he developed the town with parks, baths and squares, resulting in an architectural mix that is typically Victorian with a Mediterranean flavour.
Important landmarks today include the Redoubt Fortress, a fine example of an early 19th century Georgian fort, now home to a museum; the Grade II listed, 300m-long pier, which was opened by the Duke of Devonshire in 1870 and includes gift shops, a glass-blowing centre, a tea room and a music venue; and the semi-circular bandstand, which was built in 1935 and provides live music and performances throughout the summer. Other popular events include the annual Airbourne festival each August, the Beach Life festival in early July, the Nature Valley international tennis tournament, now in its 44th year, and the new Eastbourne Pride festival.
This story is from the August 2018 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2018 edition of Sussex Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TAKE YOUR TIME
Dean Edwards’ new cookbook features delectable recipes that you can slow cook or stick in the oven. Here’s a selection of the best
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
ON THE FRONT FOOT
The rugby legend took the reins at Sussex County Cricket Club in 2017, rekindling his love for a sport that first won his heart on the village cricket fields of North Yorkshire
NAKED AMBITION
In the 1980s, Christine and Jennifer Binnie partied with Boy George and Marilyn and bared all as performance art collective The Neo-Naturists. Now they are working together to gain the recognition they feel they deserve
ROCKET MAN
Astronaut Tim Peake has come a long way since growing up in Westbourne and attending Chichester High School for Boys: 248 miles above Earth, to be precise. But, he says, life on the International Space Station has a lot in common with family caravanning holidays
Revolution man
Lewes’ most famous resident Thomas Paine may be the greatest propagandist who ever lived. But how did a humble customs and excise officer ignite the touchpaper for revolution in not one but two countries?
THE DIARY
17 exciting things to do this month in East and West Sussex
All in a day's work
Meet Tim Dummer, who has helped keep Midhurst’s Cowdray Estate shipshape for an impressive five decades
My favourite Sussex
Bruce Fogle is an author and a vet with a practice in London who has lived in West Sussex with his wife, the actress Julia Foster, since 1989. He recently became president of RSPCA Mount Noddy near Chichester
10 OF THE BEST Meat-free restaurants in Brighton and Hove
Brighton is often rated one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the UK. What these restaurants prove is that plant-based food doesn’t have to be puritanical – at all of these places you’ll find big flavours and a desire to push the envelope
