Victorian Eastbourne
Eastbourne Pier - designed by Eugenius Birch at a cost of £15,000, the pier was opened to the public in 1872. Now the pier is on two levels as the shoreside was washed away in a storm in January 1877. What differences can you see compared to the pier today?
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Victorian post boxes - there are 2 Victorian post boxes in Eastbourne, one on High Street by Waitrose, the other in Trinity Place. We know they are Victorian as the initials VR, for Victoria Regina, are embossed on it.
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Hippodrome Theatre - Although built just before the Victorian era in 1833, the Theatre Royal and Opera House opened to the public in 1883. Its name was later changed to the Royal Hippodrome. It is still used as a theatre today where Noel Edmunds broadcast a live Noel's Christmas Presents on Christmas Day 2008. It is said to be haunted!
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Devonshire Theatre - The Devonshire Park Theatre is a Grade II listed Victorian which seats 936, located in Eastbourne. The theatre was designed by Henry Currey and was built in 1884.
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Winter Garden - The Winter Garden is a Grade II listed building, designed by architect Henry Currey and built in 1875. It consists of two main parts - the Floral Hall, originally used as a skating rink in winter and concert hall in summer, and the Gold Room. Concerts are still held here today.
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Devonshire Park - originally a cricket ground, Devonshire Park is now the home of Eastbourne Tennis. It opened its gates to the public on 1st July 1874. The following year the first tennis court was marked out.
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Eastbourne College founded - 1867
Established with the help of the Duke of Devonshire as an independent school 'for the sons of noblemen and gentlemen'. It now caters for the education of almost 600 boys and girls, about half of whom are borders. |
Eastbourne Town Hall was built in 1886. It was designed by W. Tadman Foulkes and built by local builder James Peerless on the site of Stocks Bank in Grove Road. The clock was installed later in 1892.
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This plaque is situated on a house in Borough Lane in Old Town. Charles Dickens often came to this house during the 1830's, visiting the artist Augustus Egg. There is also a plaque for Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice in Wonderland, in Lushington Road.
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The First Railway Station - 1849
A branch line from Polegate to Eastbourne joined the town to the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway system. The station was originally a wooden hut near the southern end of the present Avenue. The coming of the railway accelerated the growth of the town. Todays station is the 4th to be built on the site. |
Images used with permission from Eastbourne Local History Society http://www.eastbournehistory.org.uk/index.php
- What else can you find in Eastbourne that is Victorian?
- What can you find out about it?