Did You Know?

Eastbourne is best known as a fashionable Edwardian seaside resort. However, the history of this southern English town stretches back much further. It is known that from 500 BC, there was a Celtic settlement in Eastbourne and on the South Downs above the town. It's also thought that a Roman lord lived here, thanks to evidence of a particularly impressive villa.

Eastbourne's name is derived from 'Burne', the stream that ran through what is known as Motcombe Gardens. 'Burne' later became 'Bourne'. The town's name was prefixed by 'East' during the 13th century, to avoid confusion with nearby West Bourne

At the time of the Norman invasion, Eastbourne was nothing more than a simple farming village. It is known that in 1324 King Edward II paid a visit and Eastbourne began to prosper. By the mid 16th century, it was in the ownership of three wealthy Sussex families - the Burtons, Gildredges and Selwyns. Most of the town's residents lived around present-day South Street, in the Meads and in an area known as Sea Houses.

 Eastbourne's earliest claim as a seaside resort came about following a summer holiday visit by four of King George III's children in 1780, Princes Edward and Octavius, and Princesses Elizabeth and Sophia

The pinnacle to the east of the light house is named devil's chimney. The Victorian occultist and mountaineer Aleister Crowley either cursed or predicted that if the chimney ever fell, Eastbourne would perish.

A group of 28 girls from Eastbourne hold the world record for most people crammed in a modern Mini. The girls managed to rearrange themselves into the small car in 18 minutes, with 4 of them in the boot of the car!.

Perhaps you’ve seen Eastbourne before on TV because it has featured on many well-known films and television programmes. You may have seen Eastbourne in these famous films: Harry Potter, James Bond the Living Daylights, Pearl Harbour, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Brighton Rock, and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Eastbourne is home to the Europe’s largest man-made marina, Sovereign Harbour, which has a variety of restaurants, shops and attractions.

Eastbourne was the most bombed seaside town in England during WWII. Bombers used to drop any bombs that they had left over Eastbourne before they returned to Germany. They used Beachy Head as their landmark. Nearly 4,000 bombs fell on the town.