Since the Romans left, Seaford has faced destructive raids from across the Channel and coastal erosion and yet the town maintains a vibrant, youthful feel. It must be all that fresh sea air...
SEAFORD BAY
Covering almost four miles between Seaford Head and Newhaven Harbour, the sweeping Seaford Bay is a beautiful sight on a clear day. The pebble beach attracts visitors and locals alike but, as you can see here, there is always room to find plenty of personal space.
Seaford’s High Street is not, as expected, the main trading area of town. That honour goes to Broad Street, pictured here, leading down off the busy A259 road between Newhaven and Eastbourne.
The Martello Beach huts are only available to rent if you are a resident of Seaford. They are let on three-year leases but are so popular that the waiting list to get one became so oversubscribed the Town Council had to close it down. The council’s website suggests checking in for further updates.
The beautiful Crouch Gardens, known to locals as ‘The Crouch’ is just five minutes away from the bustle of Broad Street in one direction and the beach in another. There’s a bowling club here, a youth club, a community garden and, of course, Seaford Town FC.
The East Blatchington pond on Sutton Hill is tended and cared for by a group of volunteers who meet up most Saturday mornings. They seem like a very welcoming group who would be pleased to see you come down and lend a hand yourself.
One of the most instantly-recognisable views of Britain is this one on the other side of Seaford Head - the famous Coastguard Cottages and cliffs of the Seven Sisters beyond. It has been depicted on stamps and featured in TV shows and films. The cottages remain one of our county’s most isolated communities - there is no pub or shop here - despite being just a ten-minute drive from the town centre. The residents of the cottages themselves remain constantly vigilant about the risk of erosion and the loss of these iconic buildings. You can read more about them at www.cuckmerehavensos.org.
In 1803, the government was worried about an invasion by Napoleon and, as a result, 103 Martello towers were built between Suffolk and Sussex between then and 1810. This one, Martello Tower number 74, now houses Seaford Museum. Generally, the opening hours are from 11am to 4pm at weekends and 2pm and 4pm on Wednesdays. These hours can change, so do check before visiting.
What is now known as The Crypt is the oldest secular building in town, a vaulted cellar possibly dating from the 18th century. The house it stood under was so badly damaged by bombing during the war it was demolished. The Crypt was rediscovered during excavations in 1993, when the District Council built an art gallery around it. It is a scheduled monument of national importance.
The town’s railway station is a lifeline. It’s the terminus of the branch line of the East Coastway Line. The station opened on June 1st 1864 and was originally designed to be one stop on a proposed but never completed line through to Eastbourne. The lines now travels to Brighton via Lewes.
On Blacksmith’s Cottage on Crouch Lane, at the roof’s apex, you can see a carving of an anvil and two horseshoes hung with the open end pointing down. This allows the good luck and protective ‘powers’ of the horseshoes to shower down on all who pass below. Apparently.
LOCAL VIEW
