Eastbourne
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Eastbourne from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Eastbourne's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Martello tower no 66, 320m north east of Langney Point
Eastbourne
Martello tower no. 66, built between 1805-1810, survives with its original components, including a rare gun barrel, offering insights into its strategic defensive use.
Shinewater Bronze Age settlement
Eastbourne
Late Bronze Age settlement including truncated wooden platform and abutting wooden trackway.
Compton Place
Eastbourne
Compton Place features gardens designed by Charles Bridgeman and Lancelot Brown, with proposals by Humphry Repton.
Eastbourne Redoubt
Eastbourne
The Eastbourne Redoubt, built between 1804 and 1812, was part of a coastal defense network with martello towers. It played roles in both World Wars and remains architecturally significant.
Bedfordwell Pumping Station, Eastbourne
Eastbourne
1881-83 engine house and attached boiler house built for Eastbourne Waterworks Co. Ltd. in Classical style; architect Henry Currey.
Main Block and Chapel of All Saints Hospital
Eastbourne
Built by All Saints' Sisters of the Poor between 1867-1874, this hospital and chapel feature gothic architecture with Victorian interiors and stained glass from Germany.
Eastbourne Pier
Eastbourne
Seaside pier. It opened on 13th June 1870 and was designed by Eugenius Birch, the contractors Messrs Head, Wrighton and Co of Stockton on Tees.
Unknown Wreck Site
Located some 14km south-east of Beachy Head.
A wooden wreck site associated with cannon, galley bricks, concreted objects and large dressed stone blocks.
Tally Ho public house
Eastbourne
The Tally Ho Public House, built in 1927 for the Brighton-based Kemp Town Brewery by John Leopold Denman, their in-house architect.
Neolithic causewayed enclosure on Combe Hill
South Downs
The Neolithic causewayed enclosure on Combe Hill is nationally important for its rarity, diversity, and age, illustrating significant historical site use patterns through the ages.
The Wish Tower: martello tower no 73
Eastbourne
Martello tower no 73, also known as the Wish Tower, survives well with many original features. It is part of Eastbourne's coastal defense from the early 19th century.
Langney Priory
Eastbourne
Langney Priory, originally a Cluniac chapel and dormitory built in 1121, features medieval architecture with Saxon elements and has historical significance related to the smuggling trade.
25-33, Cavendish Place
Eastbourne
Cavendish Place, Nos 25 to 33, features distinct architectural details and is similar to adjacent properties.
Field system on Bullock Down
South Downs
The Iron Age and Romano-British field system near Bullock Down Farm includes settlements and a trackway, providing significant insights into agricultural practices and landscape...
Eastbourne Town Hall
Eastbourne
Eastbourne Town Hall, designed in 1880 by W Tadman-Faulkes, is a 19th-century Renaissance-style building featuring a notable 130-foot clock tower.
Church of Holy Trinity
Eastbourne
The Church of Holy Trinity in Eastbourne is a Grade II-listed building with harmonious design by A.R.G. Fenning, incorporating earlier work by Decimus Burton and Benjamin Ferrey.
No. 11 The Goffs
Eastbourne
A 1910 Arts and Crafts style house by Eastbourne architect Peter D. Stonham.
Devonshire Park Theatre
Eastbourne
Devonshire Park Theatre, built in 1884 by Henry Currey, remodeled interior by Frank Matcham in 1903, features Italianate style and notable details like a domed foyer and proscenium arch.
Pillory Barn
Eastbourne
Pillory Barn, built in 1813, is a historical timber store with distinctive brick and tile features located on Bradford Street.
Ocklynge cemetery chapel
Eastbourne
Pair of cemetery chapels, 1857 by Benjamin Ferrey, designed as one building, Anglican chapel to the south, smaller nonconformist chapel to the north. In Early English manner.
Old Parsonage Barn
Eastbourne
Old Parsonage Barn is a 16th-century timber-framed, refronted building with a red tiled roof, showcasing historic architecture amid modern renovations.
Shepherd's Hut to the North East of New Barn, Birling Far…
South Downs
The Shepherd's Hut near New Barn, East Dean, is a 19th-century structure listed for its representation of a vanished way of life.
The Lamb Inn Ye Lambe Hotel
Eastbourne
Ye Lambe Hotel, a 16th-century timber-framed building, features a medieval undercroft from the Early English Period, accessed by an original wooden door.
Bronze Statue of Soldier of Royal Sussex Regiment, in Ful…
Eastbourne
Bronze statue by W Goscombe John honors the Second Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment. It features a soldier in full dress with sword and a cannon behind.
Church of St Saviour
Eastbourne
1865-6, steeple 1870-2, by G.E Street. 1892 baptistry. 1903 south chapel. 1954 church room.
Caffyns Garage
Eastbourne
Motor car garage and showroom, with assembly rooms and offices above, 1911 by H Woolnough of Eastbourne.
South Street Free Church
Eastbourne
Church, 1903, by Henry Ward of Hastings. Minor later alterations.
Leaf Hall
Eastbourne
A working men's institute of 1863-1864, designed by the Architect Robert Knott Blessley in Continental Gothic style for the philanthropist William Leaf.
Eastbourne War Memorial
Eastbourne
First World War memorial with sculpture by Henry Charles Fehr, with additions for the Second World War and for subsequent conflicts.
St Saviour's, Eastbourne War Memorial
Eastbourne
First World War memorial, 1920, designed by Colin Hay Murray.
Eastbourne Signal Box
Eastbourne
Signal box. Saxby and Farmer Type 5 design, built in 1882 for the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Some later alterations.
Winter Garden
Eastbourne
Winter Garden (Floral and Pavilion Hall) of 1875 to 1876, by Henry Currey architect to the Devonshire Estate, with alterations and additions of around 1910 by J W Woolnough and further...
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Search for more listed places in EastbourneEastbourne through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Eastbourne changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Eastbourne
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Eastbourne
Grand Parade, Eastbourne, 1920
Eastbourne
The Wish Tower (Martello Tower No. 73), Eastbourne, 1949
Eastbourne
Marine Parade, Eastbourne, 1920
Eastbourne
Grand Parade and the town, Eastbourne, 1949
Beachy Head
Beachy Head and Beachy Head Lighthouse, Beachy Head, 1931
Beachy Head
Beachy Head Lighthouse and cliffs, Beachy Head, 1949
Beachy Head
The Belle Tout Lighthouse, Beachy Head, 1939
Beachy Head
The Belle Tout Lighthouse and surroundings, Beachy Head, 1939
Eastbourne
Holywell Mount and St Bede's School Playing Field, Eastbourne, 1946
Eastbourne
Holywell Mount, Eastbourne, 1947
Eastbourne in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Eastbourne's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Holywell, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1920 - 1926
GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE TAKING TEA ON THE LAWNS
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Holywell, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1933 - 1938
ELEVATED VIEW
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Holywell, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1920 - 1929
GENERAL ELEVATED VIEW
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Holywell, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1900 - 1940
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING NEW TEA CHALET
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
South Cliff, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1920 - 1940
GENERAL VIEW SHOWING THE LAWNS FROM WISH TOWER LOOKING TOWARDS BEACHY HEAD
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
South Cliff, Eastbourne, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1900 - 1907
GENERAL VIEW OF THE LAWNS WITH CROWDS OF PEOPLE
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1900 - 1920
VIEW ON THE BEACH SHOWING THE CENTRAL BANDSTAND
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1900 - 1930
VIEW SHOWING CARPET GARDENS, GRAND PARADE
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 01 Jan 1898 - 22 Aug 1903
GENERAL VIEW
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1905 - 1910
GENERAL VIEW WITH CROWDS
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1917 - 1922
VIEW SHOWING THE CARPET GARDENS
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Date created: 1900 - 1940
VIEW SHOWING THE CARPET GARDENS
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Eastbourne. Skip this section and go to education
Fishing for Heritage
Mentions Eastbourne
Maritime archaeologists worked with fishermen to investigate underwater heritage off the Sussex coast, including a crashed US military aircraft.
England's Suburbs 1820-2020
Mentions Eastbourne
Historic England’s major national research project on the heritage of suburbs reaches its conclusion.
I Do Like to See Beside the Seaside
Mentions Eastbourne
Exploring 150 years of seaside photography in the Historic England Archive.
Innovative Marking Technology Will Help Protect Nation’s Protected Shipwrecks From Heritage Crime
Mentions Eastbourne
Nearly eight years in the making, this new technology marks a significant development in the protection of vulnerable underwater archaeological sites.
Scientists and Archaeologists Confirm Identity of 17th-century Dutch Warship off the Coast of England Carrying Slabs of Fine Italian Marble
Mentions Eastbourne
An unknown Protected Wreck off the coast of Sussex in remarkable condition is believed to be 17th-century Dutch warship Klein Hollandia built in 1656.
Historic England Launches Interactive Story Map for Schools to Celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee
Mentions Church of St Mary, Eastbourne
A resource to educate children about their local history, highlighting important sites that the Queen has visited throughout her 70-year reign.
Eastbourne's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Interior of the Council Chamber with furnishings.
Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
Interior view of the furnished assembly room at Eastbourne Town Hall.
Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
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Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
General view from an elevated position of the main facade of the Town Hall. Eastbourne Town Hall was built 1880-1886 to designs by W Tadman Foulkes.
Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
A dormitory bedroom at The Links boarding school for girls.
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
A bedroom at The Links boarding school for girls.
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
Students at work in the art studio at The Links boarding school for girls.
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
The tennis courts and garden at The Links boarding school for girls.
The Links Boarding School For Girls, Meads Road, Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Eastbourne, East Sussex
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
People stroll along Western Parade, with the central bandstand and pier beyond.
Eastbourne, East Sussex
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