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Where are we?
Seaford is in East Sussex, on the coast just to the East of Newhaven, midway between Brighton and Eastbourne and South of Lewes, the County town.
It is, however, much larger than Lewes and has grown continuously since the 1970s, mainly because of the availability of land within the town on the sites of former residential schools and nursing homes, of which there were about 30 in the 1920s. Most of these have now closed and have been built upon, resulting in pressure on the downland surrounding the town.
The name Seaford dates from at least the fifth century and refers to a ford at the mouth of the River Ouse which entered the sea behind a shingle bank near Seaford Head. As such, Seaford was a port and The Steyne may represent an old quayside. By the 13th century, Seaford was a Cinque Port under Hastings and had a prosperous trade with the continent. As a Cinque Port, Seaford had to provide ships and men for the defence of the realm and the right to send two members to Parliament.
The town motto, E VENTIS VIRES "strength from the winds" has perhaps proved to be rather ironic as the winds and waves finally drove the shingle bank landwards and, by the 16th century, rendered the opening of the River Ouse un-navigable. Eventually, storm and man cut a new opening in the west forming a New Haven, where the river outlet is today.
Seaford ceased to be a port and settled into anonymity and decay but still sending two members to Parliament, a classic "Rotten Borough", and indulging in fishing, smuggling, salvaging and a little wrecking.
By the beginning of the 19th century, though Seaford had gained its Martello Tower as a defence (never tested) against a Napoleonic invasion, it had lost its Parliamentary franchise and thus considerable local employment.
At the turn of the century, the fashion for sea-bathing began to be exploited with the construction of hotels, boarding houses and restaurants making use of the railway. It never succeeeded as a resort but convalescent homes, army camps and private boarding schools were set up and provided a measure of prosperity through the interwar period. In recent times, most of the schools and convalescent homes have closed due to escalating costs but provided the land for commuter and retirement housing and residential homes for the aged. In addition, Seaford has developed a significant service sector, a small industrial estate, and determined efforts are being made to enhance the tourist potential of the town and its surroundings.
Seaford is in East Sussex, on the coast just to the East of Newhaven, midway between Brighton and Eastbourne and South of Lewes, the County town.
It is, however, much larger than Lewes and has grown continuously since the 1970s, mainly because of the availability of land within the town on the sites of former residential schools and nursing homes, of which there were about 30 in the 1920s. Most of these have now closed and have been built upon, resulting in pressure on the downland surrounding the town.
The name Seaford dates from at least the fifth century and refers to a ford at the mouth of the River Ouse which entered the sea behind a shingle bank near Seaford Head. As such, Seaford was a port and The Steyne may represent an old quayside. By the 13th century, Seaford was a Cinque Port under Hastings and had a prosperous trade with the continent. As a Cinque Port, Seaford had to provide ships and men for the defence of the realm and the right to send two members to Parliament.
The town motto, E VENTIS VIRES "strength from the winds" has perhaps proved to be rather ironic as the winds and waves finally drove the shingle bank landwards and, by the 16th century, rendered the opening of the River Ouse un-navigable. Eventually, storm and man cut a new opening in the west forming a New Haven, where the river outlet is today.
Seaford ceased to be a port and settled into anonymity and decay but still sending two members to Parliament, a classic "Rotten Borough", and indulging in fishing, smuggling, salvaging and a little wrecking.
By the beginning of the 19th century, though Seaford had gained its Martello Tower as a defence (never tested) against a Napoleonic invasion, it had lost its Parliamentary franchise and thus considerable local employment.
At the turn of the century, the fashion for sea-bathing began to be exploited with the construction of hotels, boarding houses and restaurants making use of the railway. It never succeeeded as a resort but convalescent homes, army camps and private boarding schools were set up and provided a measure of prosperity through the interwar period. In recent times, most of the schools and convalescent homes have closed due to escalating costs but provided the land for commuter and retirement housing and residential homes for the aged. In addition, Seaford has developed a significant service sector, a small industrial estate, and determined efforts are being made to enhance the tourist potential of the town and its surroundings.