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Heritage and History of Bexhill

The evidence of primitive boats at Egerton Park was the first recorded occupation of Bexhill.

King Offa the Second (the King of Mercia) was granted land to the Bishop Oswald to build a church, this was recorded in the Charter of 772.

Around 1066, King William the First gave the land of Bexhill (also known as Badman Town) and the other spoils of the Rape of Hastings to Robert, the Count of Eu.

The church owned Bexhill Manor until Queen Elizabeth took it over in 1590 and gave it to Thomas Sackville, also known as Baron Buckhurst and later became the first Earl of Dorset in 1603.

In 1813, the male line of the Sackvllles died out, so Elizabeth Sackville married the fifth Earl of De La Warr and they both inherited Bexhill.

The seventh Earl De La Warr, Reginald Sackville, transformed the humble village on the hill with its church to the exclusivity of a seaside resort, which he called Bexhill-on-Sea. He was responsible for the construction of the sea wall south of the village as well as the construction of the Sackville Hotel (in 1890).

In 1729, a waterspout was recorded to come inland from Bexhill where it formed a tornado, which travelled 12 miles inland.

Smuggling was a pastime enjoyed by the early nineteenth century Bexhill inhabitants; this included the Little Common Gang who got involved in the Battle of Sidley Green.

It is thought that the first motor race was held at Bexhill in 1902. This is now recorded by the annual alternative classic car show, held at The Polegrove, on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The ninth Earl De La Warr created the Pavilion, which was a classic example of a British public building that reflected the modern architecture of the time. It was opened in 1935 and then reopened after renovation in October 2005.

Bexhill was thought to be a point of attack, from the sea, as part of Operation Sealion by the Nazis.

Bexhill Trivia

  • Eddie Izzard (comedian) used to live in Bexhiil & Sidley as a child.
  • Desmond Llewelyn (actor who played Q in James Bond films) lived in the town until his death in 1999.
  • Fannie & John Craddock (television cooks) lived in Cooden Drive Bexhill.
  • John Logie Baird (television inventor) lived in a house by the station.
  • Spike Milligan (comedian) was with the army in Bexhill during the Second World War.

Bexhill Attractions

Bexhill Schools

Shopping

  • Ravenside Shopping Centre

Bexhill Public Transport

  • Bexhill to Hastings Link Road.
  • Buses - Bus Route Maps, Bus Timetables, Rider Bus Services (Rural service), Recent changes to the bus services, School transport, Passes and concessionary fares.
  • Concessionary fares for school children, students, older and disabled people.
  • Cycling
  • Ferries - From Newhaven, you can cross the English Channel to Dieppe in France with Transmanche who operate throughout the year. From 1 May 2007, a new service between Newhaven and Le Havre will be operated by LD Lines.
  • Green Travel - For East Sussex's Information on Green Travel
  • East Sussex's Local Transport Plan.
  • Parking - For parking information.
  • Roads - all news about roads, roadworks, footpaths, traffic surveys, adopted roads, weighbridges, abnormal loads and considerate contractors.
  • Trains - East Sussex is served by several train routes. There are regular services to Brighton, London and Gatwick Airport and along the coast.

Bexhill Employment Demographics

For more detailed information on employment demographics, have a look at East Sussex in Figures.

Main Industries

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex at current basic prices published (pp.240-253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
YearRegional Gross Value AddedAgricultureIndustryServices
19954,359841,0533,222
20004,953541,1553,744
20035,236691,2524,004

Did you know? - Transport and Environment 2006/07

  • Over 3,000 kilometres (97 per cent) of road network are maintained by the Council - vital for the economic prosperity of the county.
  • The Council maintain 38,000 street lights, 91 pedestrian crossings and 56 traffic signal controlled junctions.
  • 38 schools have been helped to develop their own school travel plans.
  • Over 500 kilograms of household waste per person each year are managed, and nearly 27 per cent is recycled and composted.
  • Over 11 million bus journeys are run each year in rural areas.
  • Over 275,000 people have been encouraged and enabled to use the 3,500 kilometres of Rights of Way in East Sussex.
  • The Council helps to look after the county's environment, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Heritage Coast and other sites of local, national and international environmental importance.
  • Applicants are satisfied with the way that waste and minerals planning applications are handled, with at least 50 per cent of major applications decided within 13 weeks.
  • Nearly £49 million (10.5 per cent of the overall the Council's budget) was invested last year to improve the transport infrastructure, environment and economy.
  • The Council has to pay £16 per year in electricity charges to light each one of our 38,000 street lights - that's over £500,000 a year. Over 22 million square metres of roads in the county are maintained and that it costs over £2 to 'tar and chip' each square metre of road.