Essential Hotels > England > East Sussex > Eastbourne

Eastbourne sits on the edge of the South Downs National Park on the south coast of East Sussex. Like much of the southeast, extensive archaeological remains have been uncovered detailing thousands of years of habitation, including Roman and going as far back as the Stone Age. However, it was historically always a small settlement. After the Norman Conquest at Hastings, Eastbourne was held by a Norman lord, and merited a mention in the Domesday Book. It expanded to market town status by the middle ages, and there are still some examples of medieval architecture within the town. Due to its location on the shoreline the area was considered vulnerable to foreign attack, so despite there being but a cluster of small villages comprising what was then Eastbourne, the late 18th century saw considerable military fortifications built here, which notably includes the Redoubt Fortress, which is now a museum.

It wasn’t until the 1800s that Eastbourne really rose to prominence as a Victorian resort town thanks in part to William Cavendish, the 7th Duke of Devonshire. The Duke gained a significant area of Eastbourne as an inheritance, and consequently set about transforming this sleepy settlement into a vibrant and elegant resort; a more sophisticated alternative to Brighton, if you will. He commissioned many of the parks, avenues and public squares that were the fashion during the 19th century and that still define parts of the town.

The reputation of this bespoke resort town, and the advent of the railways, significantly boosted the population of Eastbourne far beyond that of its humble village beginnings. The town is still primarily a leisure destination. It retains a traditional seafront filled with Victorian hotels alongside the newer Sovereign Harbour development. Its harbour is still operational and it has a well-loved pebble beach. Unfortunately Eastbourne was bombed during World War II, losing some of its Georgian and Victorian grandeur. The subsequent post-war redevelopment also took place at the cost of some of the town’s heritage. Even so, Eastbourne is still a traditional seaside destination at heart.