Bexhill-on-Sea

Last updated

Bexhill-on-Sea
  • Bexhill
Bexhill town limit sign, Bexhill Road.jpg
High Street, Old Town, Bexhill.jpg
Combe Valley Countryside Park, Bexhill.jpg
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill (aerial) 02.jpg
Clockwise from top: Town welcome sign; Combe Valley Countryside Park; De La Warr Pavilion and Central Parade; High Street, Old Town.
Bexhill town flag.svg
Bexhill coat of arms.svg
Official flag [1] and coat of arms [2] of Bexhill-on-Sea.
East Sussex UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Bexhill-on-Sea
Location within East Sussex
Area32.31 km2 (12.47 sq mi)  [3]
Population41,173 (2007) [3]
43,478 (2015) [4]
43,754 (2021) [5]
  Density 1,274/sq mi (492/km2)
OS grid reference TQ737092
  London 52.7 miles (84.8 km) NNW
Civil parish
  • Bexhill-on-Sea
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BEXHILL-ON-SEA
Postcode district TN39-40
Dialling code 01424
Police Sussex
Fire East Sussex
Ambulance South East Coast
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
East Sussex
50°51′N0°28′E / 50.85°N 0.47°E / 50.85; 0.47

Bexhill-on-Sea (often shortened to Bexhill [6] ) is a seaside town and civil parish in the Rother District in the county of East Sussex in South East England. It is located along the Sussex Coast and between the towns of Hastings and Eastbourne.

Contents

History

The first reference to Bexhill, or Bexelei as it was originally called, [7] was in a charter granted by King Offa of Mercia in 772 AD. It is recorded that Offa had "defeated the men of Hastings" in 771 AD.

At this time, the term Hastings would have referred to this whole area rather than the town itself as it does today. In the charter, Offa established a church and religious community in Bexhill.

During the Norman Conquest of 1066, it appears that Bexhill was largely destroyed. The Domesday survey of 1086 records that the manor was worth £20 before the conquest, was "waste" in 1066 and was worth £18 10s in 1086. King William I used the lands he had conquered to reward his knights and gave Bexhill manor to Robert, Count of Eu, with most of the Hastings area. Robert's grandson, John, Count of Eu, gave back the manor to the bishops of Chichester in 1148 and it is probable that the first manor house was built by the bishops at this time. The later manor house, the ruins of which can still be seen at the Manor Gardens in Bexhill Old Town, was built about 1250, probably on the instructions of St. Richard, Bishop of Chichester. St Richard's Catholic College, the local Catholic school, was duly for said bishop. The Manor House was the easternmost residence owned by the bishops and would have been used as a place to stay while travelling around or through the eastern part of their diocese. There were often disputes between the Bishops of Chichester and the Abbots of Battle Abbey, usually about land ownership in this area. In 1276 a large portion of Bexhill was made into a park for hunting and in 1447 Bishop Adam de Moleyns was given permission to fortify the Manor House.

In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I took possession of Bexhill Manor and three years later she gave it to Sir Thomas Sackville, Earl of Dorset. The Earls, later Dukes, of Dorset owned Bexhill until the mid-19th century. Their main residences were Buckhurst Place in Sussex and Knole House in Kent.

In 1804, soldiers of the King's German Legion were stationed in barracks at Bexhill. These troops were Hanoverians who had escaped when their country was overrun by Napoleon's French Army. As King George III was also the Elector of Hanover, he welcomed them and they fought as part of the British Army. At about this time, defensive Martello towers were built along the south east coast, some near Bexhill, in order to repel any French invasion. In 1814 the soldiers of the King's German Legion left Bexhill, eventually playing an important part in the Battle of Waterloo the following year. The German troops had been here to protect Bexhill from the French. However, many of the local people were actively trading with the enemy by way of smuggling. The best known of the local smugglers were in the Little Common Gang and the most famous incident was the infamous Battle of Sidley Green in 1828.

In 1813, Elizabeth Sackville married the 5th Earl De La Warr, and when the male line of the Dukes of Dorset died out in 1865 she and her husband inherited Bexhill.

Manor Gardens, Old Town Manor Gardens, Old Town, Bexhill-on-Sea.jpg
Manor Gardens, Old Town
Manor Barn, as seen from garden, Old Town Lawns, Manor Gardens, Bexhill.jpg
Manor Barn, as seen from garden, Old Town

It was the 7th Earl De La Warr who decided to transform the small rural village of Bexhill into an exclusive seaside resort. He contracted the builder, John Webb, to construct the first sea wall and to lay out De La Warr Parade. Webb, in part payment for his work, was given all the land extending from Sea Road to the Polegrove, south of the railway line. Opened in 1890, the luxurious Sackville Hotel was built for the 7th Earl De La Warr and originally included a house for the use of his family. In 1891 Viscount Cantelupe, his eldest surviving son, married Muriel Brassey, the daughter of Sir Thomas and the late Annie, Lady Brassey of Normanhurst Court near Bexhill. The Manor House was fully refurbished so that Lord and Lady Cantelupe could live in style as Lord and Lady of the Manor. Finally, the 7th Earl De La Warr transferred control of his Bexhill estate to Viscount Cantelupe when the 7th Earl De La Warr died in 1896.

Viscount Cantelupe became the 8th Earl De La Warr. At this time he organised the building on the sea front of the Kursaal, a pavilion for refined entertainment and relaxation. He also had a bicycle track made, with a cycle chalet, at the eastern end of De La Warr Parade. These amenities were provided to promote the new resort. Meanwhile, many independent schools were being attracted to the expanding town due to its health-giving reputation. The railway came through Bexhill in 1846, the first railway station being a small country halt situated roughly where Sainsbury's car park is today. This was some distance from the village on the hill. A new station, north of Devonshire Square, was opened in 1891 to serve the growing resort. In 1902 the current railway station was opened and a Bexhill West Station was built for the newly built Crowhurst Branch Line.

1902 was the year that Bexhill became an Incorporated Borough. This was the first Royal Charter granted by Edward VII. Bexhill was the last town in Sussex to be incorporated and it was the first time a Royal Charter was delivered by motorcar. To celebrate the town's newfound status and to promote the resort, the 8th Earl De La Warr organised the country's first ever motorcar races along De La Warr Parade in May 1902. The town was scandalised at this time by the divorce of Earl De La Warr.

Muriel had brought the action on the grounds of adultery and abandonment. She was granted a divorce and given custody of their three children. Muriel, with her children, Myra, Avice and Herbrand, went back to live with Earl Brassey at Normanhurst Court. The 8th Earl De La Warr remarried but was again divorced for adultery. He also suffered recurrent and well-publicised financial difficulties. At the start of the First World War in 1914 the Earl bought a Royal Naval commission. He died of fever at Messina in 1915.

Herbrand Edward Dundonald Brassey Sackville became the 9th Earl De La Warr. He is best known for championing the construction of the De La Warr Pavilion, which was built and opened in 1935. The 9th Earl also became Bexhill's first socialist mayor. He died in 1976.

The Second World War caused the evacuation of the schools and substantial bomb-damage to the town. Many schools returned to Bexhill after the war but there was a steady decline in the number of independent schools in the town. The break-up of the British Empire and in particular the Independence of India in 1947 hastened the process. Most of the schools were boarding and catered largely for the children of the armed forces overseas and of the colonial administration. Although the number of schools decreased, many of the parents and former pupils had fond memories of the town and later retired to Bexhill.

Governance

Bexhill Town Hall Town Hall, London Road, Bexhill (2).jpg
Bexhill Town Hall

Due to local governance reform in 1974, Bexhill became part of Rother District Council, thereby losing its Town Council. In its place, Bexhill became a Charter Trustees town, represented by the Bexhill councillors of Rother District Council. [8] A quarterly forum is held to provide a voice to the community at a local level. [9]

Bexhill Town Hall is the seat of Rother District Council, for which elections are held every four years. In total, thirty-eight Councillors are elected for Rother, eighteen coming from Bexhill's nine wards. [10]

In 2017, local campaigners initiated a public consultation on the issue of regaining a town council for Bexhill. 9,227 people participated in the consultation, of whom 93.5% expressed a preference for a town council. The consultation was non-binding and, at a meeting in December 2017, Rother District Councillors voted against the formation of such a council by 18 to 13. The meeting was fully attended. [11] Those who voted against the consultation's outcome mostly expressed concerns about the added burden to local taxpayers that a town council would bring. [12] On 1 April 2021 a civil parish was formed. [13]

At the local elections in May 2013, the Conservatives had a nett loss of fifteen seats, leaving the Rother district council composed of fourteen Conservatives, thirteen Independents, seven Liberal Democrats, one Green, and three Labour councillors. [10] The changes have meant that the issue of a town council for Bexhill has been reopened. The Independents, supported by Labour and others, assented to a motion that would have a Bexhill Town Council up and running by 2021. [14]

Above Rother, the next level of government is the East Sussex County Council, with responsibility for Education, Libraries, Social Services, Highways, Civil Registration, Trading Standards, and Transport. Elections to the County Council are also held every four years. For these elections, Bexhill is divided into four divisions: North, East, South and West. [15]

The latest County Council election was held on 4 May 2017. Following the result of a by-election in 2019, Bexhill has two Independent and two Conservative county councillors. [16]

The Parliamentary Constituency of Bexhill and Battle, created in 1983, includes the nearby town of Battle. Its Member of Parliament was Charles Wardle until the 2001 election, when he left the Conservatives and was replaced by Gregory Barker. He was the Member until the 2015 General Election, when he was replaced by Huw Merriman, re-elected in 2019.

At the European level, Bexhill was part of the South-East England constituency, which had ten seats in the European Parliament. The 2019 election returned four Brexit Party MEPs, three Liberal Democrat, one Labour, one Conservative and one Green. [17] They ceased to hold office when the country left the EU.

As with most other areas along the South Coast, in the 2016 referendum the Rother district voted heavily to leave the EU. Leave won in Rother by a margin of 58.5% to 41.5%. [18]

Wards

WardLocationPopulation [19] WardLocationPopulation
Central Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Central.png 5,607Sackville Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Sackville.png 4,898
Collington Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Collington.png 4,180Kewhurst Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Kewhurst.png 4,735
St Stephens Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward StStephens.png 4,776OldTown & Worsham Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward OldTown&Worsham.png 4,178
Pebsham & St Michaels Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Pebsham&StMichaels.png 5,113Sidley Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward Sidley.png 6,118
St Marks Bexhill-on-Sea OpenStreetMap Ward StMarks.png 4,967

Landmarks

De La Warr Pavilion from promenade De La Warr Pavilion from promenade.JPG
De La Warr Pavilion from promenade
One of the two gazebos at The Colonnade Flag and gazebo, Bexhill.JPG
One of the two gazebos at The Colonnade

The most notable landmark in Bexhill-on-Sea is the De La Warr Pavilion. The De La Warr Pavilion is a Grade I listed building, located on the seafront at Bexhill-on-Sea. The seafront building was the result of an architectural competition initiated by Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr, after whom the building was named. The 9th Earl, a committed socialist and Mayor of Bexhill, persuaded Bexhill council to develop the site as a public building. The competition was announced in The Architects' Journal in February 1934, with a programme that specified an entertainment hall to seat at least 1500 people; a 200-seat restaurant; a reading room; and a lounge. Initially, the budget for the project was limited to £50,000, although this was later raised to £80,000. Run by the Royal Institute of British Architects, this competition attracted over 230 entrants, many of them practising in the Modernist style. Shapes tend towards streamlined, industrially-influenced designs. The architects selected for the project, Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, were leading figures in the Modern Movement.

The aesthetics employed in the International Style proved especially suited to the building, tending towards streamlined, industrially-influenced designs, often with expansive metal-framed windows, and eschewing traditional brick and stonework in favour of concrete and steel construction. Among the building's most innovative features was its use of a welded steel frame construction, pioneered by structural engineer Felix Samuely. Construction of the De La Warr Pavilion began in January 1935.

The building was opened on 12 December of the same year by the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). During World War II, the De La Warr Pavilion was used by the military. Bexhill and Sussex in general were vulnerable if the Germans decided to mount an invasion (Operation Sea Lion). Among those who served at the Pavilion during the War was Spike Milligan, later a noted comedian. The building suffered minor damage to its foundations when the Metropole hotel adjacent to the building's western side was destroyed by German bombers. After the War, management of the Pavilion was taken over by Bexhill Corporation (which later became Rother District Council). Changes were made to the building, many of which were inconsistent with the original design and aesthetic of the building. Lack of funds also resulted in an ongoing degradation of the building's fabric.

High Woods, Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea High Woods Nr Little Common East Sussex - geograph.org.uk - 111197.jpg
High Woods, Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea

In 1986, the De La Warr Pavilion was granted a Grade I listed building status, essentially protecting the building from further inappropriate alteration. 1989 saw the formation of the Pavilion Trust, a group dedicated to protecting and restoring the building.

Playwright David Hare notioned that the site be used as an art gallery as opposed to an expected privatised redevelopment. In 2002, after a long application process the De La Warr Pavilion was granted £6 Million by the Heritage Lottery Fund & the Arts Council, to restore the building and turn it into a contemporary arts centre. Work began in 2004 on the De La Warr Pavilion's regeneration and a transfer of the buildings ownership from Rother District Council to the De La Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust.

Wreck of the VOC Amsterdam, visible at low tide between Bexhill-on-Sea and St Leonards-on-Sea VOC Amsterdam wreck at low tide (aerial) 02.jpg
Wreck of the VOC Amsterdam , visible at low tide between Bexhill-on-Sea and St Leonards-on-Sea

In 2005, after an extensive programme of restoration and regeneration, the De La Warr Pavilion reopened as a contemporary arts centre, encompassing one of the largest galleries on the south coast of England. A small collection of archival materials related to the De La Warr Pavilion is collected in the Serge Chermayeff Papers held by the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University in New York City. The Art Deco and International Style building was designed by the architects Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff and constructed in 1935. Although sometimes claimed to be the first major Modernist public building in Britain, it was in fact preceded by some months by the Dutch-influenced Hornsey Town Hall.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest lies within the Bexhill district High Woods. It is of biological importance because it is the only known sessile oak Quercus petraea woodland in East Sussex. [20] Fossils are also commonly found in Bexhill. In 2009 the world's oldest spider web was found encased in amber in the town. It was 140 million years old. [21] In June 2011 it was reported that the world's smallest dinosaur had been discovered at Ashdown Brickworks near the town. A single vertebra was found. [22] Beeches Farm is a Grade II listed building.

The wreck of the VOC Amsterdam , an eighteenth century cargo ship that ran aground between Bexhill and St Leonards, can be seen at low tide.

Areas

Central ward
The main part of Bexhill. There are several roads with a variety of shops, a railway station, a library and the De La Warr Pavilion on the seafront.:
Old Town
The original town on the hill, chartered by King Offa in 772.
Sidley
Residential area to the north, with its own high street.
St Mark's Church, Little Common St Mark's Church, Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea - geograph.org.uk - 1093914.jpg
St Mark's Church, Little Common
Pebsham
A developing residential area to the east of town.
Glyne Gap
Easterly low-lying land separating Bexhill from Hastings, its most prominent feature is Ravenside Retail & Leisure Park.
Collington
A residential area near Cooden.
Little Common
A small village to the west, with various independent shops.
Cooden
In the south-west, plays host to a large hotel, golf and tennis clubs.
The Highlands
A small suburb at the towns highest elevation. Bordered by Turkey Road, Ninfield Road and Bexhill Cemetery.
Barnhorn
An area far west of Bexhill; its name survives in Barnhorne Manor and Barnhorn Road (a section of the A259). The name was recorded in AD 772 in an Anglo-Saxon charter as Berna horna. [23] A new residential development site called Barnhorn Green sets to grow this area significantly. [24]
Bexhill Farmers' Market, Devonshire Square Bexhill Farmers' Market, Devonshire Square, Bexhill.jpg
Bexhill Farmers' Market, Devonshire Square
Normans Bay
A rural fishing hamlet furthest west close to Pevensey Levels.

Economy

Reginald Sackville, seventh Earl De La Warr, decided to transform what was then a village on a hill around its church into an exclusive seaside resort, which he named Bexhill-on-Sea. He was instrumental in building a sea wall south of the village, and the road above it was then named De La Warr Parade. Large houses were built inland from there, and the new town began.

In 1890, the luxurious Sackville Hotel was built.

Victorian influences still alive today The Victorial Era, De La Warr Parade, Bexhill.jpg
Victorian influences still alive today

Bexhill was the location for the first motor race in the United Kingdom, in May 1902. [25] Signs at the town's outskirts have the text "Birthplace of British Motor Racing" appended below the town's name. The Bexhill 100 Festival of Motoring, held on Bexhill's seafront, celebrated this important milestone in motoring history from 1990 until 2002. This final festival commemorated the Centenary of the original "Races". During the life of the festival, in 1999, the organisers launched the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club, so although the Festival no longer exists, the club still exists, and their committee organises each year, the Bexhill 100 Motoring Club Classic Car Show held on August bank holiday Monday in the Polegrove, Bexhill.

The De La Warr Pavilion, brainchild of the ninth Earl De La Warr, opened in 1935 as one of the earliest examples of Modern architecture in a major British public building. It closed for major restoration work in December 2003 and reopened in October 2005.

During the Second World War, Bexhill was named as a point to attack as part of Operation Sea Lion by Nazi Germany. [26]

The town, like many other English seaside resorts, is now much more a settled community. Although there is a small entertainment area on the seafront, it now has a large retired population, like much of the south coast. Efforts are being made to increase tourism in Bexhill, including annual events such as the 'Festival of the Sea' and, formerly, 'Roaring Twenties Day', each held during the summer. [27]

The last remaining cinema was sold to the Wetherspoon pub chain on 1 December 2014. [28]

Transport

Bexhill railway station Railway Station, Bexhill-on-Sea - geograph.org.uk - 694294.jpg
Bexhill railway station
Cooden Beach railway station, Bexhill Cooden Beach station.jpg
Cooden Beach railway station, Bexhill

Bexhill is on the A259 road which forms the coast road between Folkestone and Brighton. Plans of an A259 Bexhill and Hastings bypass have repeatedly been postponed over the past 40 years but the plans were cancelled due to environmental concerns. A new road was approved in 2012 and completed in 2016 at a cost of £100m [29]

The town is served by the coastal railway line between Ashford and Brighton and has three railway stations, including Cooden Beach, Collington, and Bexhill. Regular trains run to Ashford, Brighton and London Victoria.

Bexhill is served by 13 bus routes including school routes which serve the surrounding areas like Hastings, Battle, Conquest Hospital, Eastbourne and Pevensey Bay Asda (Free bus on Wednesdays). The area with the most bus services is between Sidley and Bexhill which has the route 2 (Asda free bus), 95, 97 & 98.

The railway built by the Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway (later part of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway) arrived on 27 June 1846, although the present station was not built until 1891, when the town had become popular as a resort. A second line, this time built by the South Eastern Railway and approaching the town from the north, was a branch line from Crowhurst via an intermediate station at Sidley to a terminus at Bexhill West. The line opened on 1 June 1902 and closed on 15 June 1964. [30] The branch was also closed temporarily between 1 January 1917 and 1 March 1919 as an economy measure during the First World War. [31]

Sport and leisure

Sports stand at Polegrove recreation ground Bexhill United v Storrington (8335967104).jpg
Sports stand at Polegrove recreation ground
Cricket pitch, Bexhill Down Cricket pitch, Bexhill Down Common, Bexhill.jpg
Cricket pitch, Bexhill Down

Bexhill has three Non-League football clubs Bexhill United F.C. who play at The Polegrove Little Common F.C. who play at The Oval in Eastbourne and Sidley United F.C. who play at Little Common Recreation Ground.

Bexhill also share a Rugby Union club with Hastings, known as Hasting and Bexhill Rugby Football Club. They play at ARK William Parker Academy. Bexhill-on-Sea also has a sports and social club - Bexhill Amateur Athletic Community Association. This club is located on Little Common Road, and also has a football club, Judo, Keepfit classes and a fully equipped gym

Bexhill-on-Sea Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1890. It closed at the time of WW2. [32]

Bexhill is home to the Little Common Ramblers Cricket Club playing at the Recreation Ground. The 'Ramblers' have 3 adult teams playing in the East Sussex Cricket League. In 2018, the Ramblers 1st XI was promoted to the Sussex County League for the first time in its history.

Bexhill Rowing Club boathouse Bexhill Rowing Club, Central Parade, Bexhill.jpg
Bexhill Rowing Club boathouse

Bexhill-on-Sea is also the home of Rother Swim Academy, offering swimming lessons to children. Founded in 1990 and family run.

Rotary Club of Bexhill Coin Collector Rotary Coin Collector.jpg
Rotary Club of Bexhill Coin Collector

Marina Court Garden officially opened on 6 July 2015 with the Bexhill Rotary Club Wheel Coin collector (Bexhill Observer). The open space on the Marina, next to the De la Warr Pavilion will provide an area to sit and relax. Rother District Council Chairman opened the Garden and President Raouf Oderuth of Bexhill Rotary Club unveiled the Coin Collector. The proceeds will fund local nominated Charities.

Culture

In 2013, the BBC conducted a survey into 'Englishness'. The results of this survey for the Rother area, in which Bexhill is found, revealed that 68% of people living in Rother were 'proud to be English' - 11% above the national average of 57%. [33]

Bexhill also holds the world record for the greatest number of mermaids in one area (325), a feat achieved in September 2017 at the annual 'Festival of the Sea'. [27] The town also held the record for the largest Charleston dance, which took place as part of the 'Bexhill Roaring 20s' festival, formerly held every summer, though it was overtaken by Shrewsbury in 2018. [34] [35]

Cultural references

Climate

As with the rest of the British Isles and Southern England, Bexhill experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. In terms of the local climate, Bexhill is on the eastern edge of what is, on average, the sunniest part of the UK, the stretch of coast from the Isle of Wight to the Hastings area.

Climate data for Hastings 1981–2010, extremes 1960–
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)15.0
(59.0)
14.0
(57.2)
19.0
(66.2)
24.4
(75.9)
26.1
(79.0)
32.3
(90.1)
33.2
(91.8)
31.5
(88.7)
27.2
(81.0)
22.2
(72.0)
17.2
(63.0)
14.5
(58.1)
33.2
(91.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)7.7
(45.9)
7.6
(45.7)
9.9
(49.8)
12.6
(54.7)
15.9
(60.6)
18.5
(65.3)
20.7
(69.3)
21.0
(69.8)
18.7
(65.7)
15.2
(59.4)
11.3
(52.3)
8.4
(47.1)
14.0
(57.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)3.1
(37.6)
2.7
(36.9)
4.2
(39.6)
5.9
(42.6)
9.1
(48.4)
11.7
(53.1)
14.0
(57.2)
14.2
(57.6)
12.3
(54.1)
9.6
(49.3)
6.1
(43.0)
3.8
(38.8)
8.1
(46.5)
Record low °C (°F)−9.8
(14.4)
−8.8
(16.2)
−6.1
(21.0)
−2.1
(28.2)
0.0
(32.0)
2.8
(37.0)
6.7
(44.1)
7.4
(45.3)
4.4
(39.9)
0.2
(32.4)
−5.6
(21.9)
−6.7
(19.9)
−9.8
(14.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches)75
(3.0)
52
(2.0)
53
(2.1)
48
(1.9)
48
(1.9)
50
(2.0)
49
(1.9)
52
(2.0)
60
(2.4)
96
(3.8)
87
(3.4)
61
(2.4)
731
(28.8)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 729012719623023224723516812885611,871
Source 1: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute [38]
Source 2: Met Office

Notable people

Freedom of the Town

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Town of Bexhill-on-Sea. [45]

Individuals

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastings</span> Town and borough in England

Hastings is a seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, 24 mi (39 km) east of Lewes and 53 mi (85 km) south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place 8 mi (13 km) to the north-west at Senlac Hill in 1066. It later became one of the medieval Cinque Ports. In the 19th century, it was a popular seaside resort, as the railway allowed tourists and visitors to reach the town. Today, Hastings is a fishing port with the UK's largest beach-based fishing fleet. It has an estimated population of 91,100 as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Sussex</span> County of England

East Sussex is a ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Kent to the north-east, West Sussex to the west, Surrey to the north-west, and the English Channel to the south. The largest settlement is the city of Brighton and Hove, and the county town is Lewes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rother District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

Rother is a local government district in East Sussex, England. Its council is based in Bexhill-on-Sea. The district is named after the River Rother which flows within its boundaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbrand Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr</span> British peer

Herbrand Edward Dundonald Brassey Sackville, 9th Earl De La Warr,, styled Lord Buckhurst until 1915, was a British politician. He was the first hereditary peer to join the Labour Party and became a government minister at the age of 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withyham</span> Village and parish in East Sussex, England

Withyham is a village and large civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The village is situated 7 miles south west of Royal Tunbridge Wells and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from Crowborough; the parish covers approximately 7,500 acres (30 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De La Warr Pavilion</span> Arts centre and gallery in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England

The De La Warr Pavilion is a grade I listed building, located on the seafront at Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, on the south coast of England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill and Battle (UK Parliament constituency)</span> UK Parliament constituency in England since 1983

Bexhill and Battle is a constituency in East Sussex represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Huw Merriman of the Conservative Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowhurst, East Sussex</span> Village in East Sussex, England

Crowhurst is an isolated village situated five miles (8 km) north-west of Hastings in East Sussex. It has a parish council and is located within the Rother District Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sidley, East Sussex</span> Human settlement in England

Sidley is a village on the outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex, England. Its governance falls within the jurisdiction of the Charter Trustees town of Bexhill. It is also a ward of Rother district council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill West railway station</span> Disused railway station in Rother, East Sussex

Bexhill West is a closed station in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. It was the terminus of the Bexhill West branch of the Hastings Line. It was opened by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and was operated by the Southern Region of British Railways on closing. The station building still survives as an antiques house. The trackbed and site of the now demolished platforms are now occupied by commercial industrial buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill West branch line</span>

The Bexhill West branch line was a short double-track branch line which was opened on 1 June 1902. It was built by the Crowhurst, Sidley & Bexhill Railway under the patronage of the South Eastern Railway. The Chief Engineer to the project was Lt Col Arthur John Barry. Diverging from the Hastings Line at Crowhurst, an intermediate station at Sidley was served before the terminus was reached at Bexhill West. The line was closed under the Beeching Axe on 15 June 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilbert Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr</span> English politician, landowner, soldier, and cricketer

Major Gilbert George Reginald Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr JP, DL, styled The Honourable Gilbert Sackville until 1890 and Viscount Cantelupe between 1890 and 1896, was a British landowner, politician and soldier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Rother District Council election</span>

The 2003 Rother District Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election after boundary changes reduced the number of seats by 7. The Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Rother District Council election</span> Local municipal election

The 2007 Rother District Council election took place on 3 May 2007 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Rother District Council election</span>

The 2011 Rother District Council election took place on 5 May 2011 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Rother District Council election</span>

The 2015 Rother District Council election took place on 7 May 2015 to elect members of Rother District Council in East Sussex, England. The whole council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Magdalene's Church, Bexhill-on-Sea</span> Church in East Sussex, United Kingdom

St Mary Magdalene's Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England. It was founded in 1893 and built in 1907 in the Gothic Revival style. Dedicated to Jesus' companion Mary Magdalene, it is situated on the corner of Sea Road and Magdalen Road opposite Station Road and Bexhill railway station in the centre of the town. It was designed by Arthur Young and is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexhill Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Bexhill, East Sussex, England

Bexhill Town Hall is a municipal building in the London Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, England. The town hall, which is the headquarters of Rother District Council, is a Grade II listed building.

References

  1. "Bexhill, Sussex". Flag Institute. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  2. "Heraldry of the World".
  3. 1 2 "East Sussex in Figures". East Sussex County Council. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  4. "Town population 2011". City Populations. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  5. "2021 Population". Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  6. Ordnance Survey maps show it as just "Bexhill"
  7. Cole, Thomas Holwell (1867). The Antiquities of Hastings and the Battlefield. Karl Burg. p. 46.
  8. "Ask the leader 2006, Question 331". Rother District Council. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
  9. "Bexhill Town Forum". Rother District Council. Archived from the original on 17 May 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
  10. 1 2 "Rother District Council election results: live updates". Bexhill Observer. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  11. "Democracy4Bexhill – Campaigning to bring greater democracy to Bexhill on Sea". Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  12. "Bexhill campaigners blast town council decision by Rother a 'farce'". www.bexhillobserver.net. Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  13. "The Rother District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) (Bexhill-on-Sea) Order 2021" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  14. "Bid to establish town council for Bexhill backed". www.bexhillobserver.net. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  15. "Declaration of Result of Poll" (PDF). East Sussex County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  16. "Declaration of Result of Poll" (PDF). East Sussex County Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  17. "Brexit Party dominates in EU elections". 27 May 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  18. "EU Referendum Results". BBC News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  19. "UNITED KINGDOM: South East England Local Authority Districts and Wards". City Population.
  20. "Natural England - SSSI". English Nature. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
  21. "Spider web confirmed as 'oldest'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
  22. Mitchell, Ben (15 June 2011). "New dinosaur found at brickworks in east Sussex". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  23. "Berna horna". www.Anglo-Saxons.net. Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  24. "Barnhorn Green development site". barnhorngreen.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  25. "Learn more about The Royal Automobile Club". royalautomobileclub.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  26. "Operation Sealion". Historylearningsite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
  27. 1 2 "British mermaids break world record". euronews. 4 September 2017. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  28. "Wetherspoon "delighted" to buy old Bexhill cinema". bexhillobserver.net. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  29. "Bexhill-to-Hastings link road's costs rise by £13m". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  30. H P White, Southern England (A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, Volume 2), David & Charles, 1961–1982, page 36.
  31. "The Railway Magazine", July 1958
  32. "Bexhill-on-Sea Golf Club" Archived 19 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine , "Golf’s Missing Links".
  33. "How proud is your area of being English?". 3 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  34. "Bexhill Roaring 20s 2017 - A Fitting Finale?". www.discoverbexhill.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  35. "Largest Charleston dance". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  36. "(05) Victoria House, Middlesex Road". 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  37. "BBC News - Keane to start world tour in Bexhill-on-Sea". Bbc.co.uk. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  38. "Hastings Climate". KNMI. Archived from the original on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  39. "London Repertoire Orchestra – Exploring orchestral repertoire since 1955". londonrepertoireorchestra.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  40. "Glover, James Mackey", in Who's Who (London: A. & C. Black, 1919), p. 964
  41. "About Bexhill Museum". The Society of Bexhill Museums. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  42. "Andrew Sachs obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  43. Angus Wilson;A Biography, Margaret Drabble, Secker & Warburg, 1995.
  44. "Jimmy Robertson". wst.tv/players. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  45. "Freedoms of Bexhill". Discover Bexhill. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2021.