The seaside town of Seaford is surrounded by beautiful Sussex countryside and is close to the picturesque villages of Alfriston, and Firle and the dramatic cliffs at Seaford Seven Sisters and Beachy Head.
More tranquil than the large resorts along the coast, it has an award-winning four-mile beach and promenade, museum, art gallery and cafes, pubs and restaurants.
From the cliffs at Seaford Head, there are magnificent views across Seaford Bay to Newhaven and to the Seven Sisters cliffs, the River Cuckmere Valley and Cuckmere Haven. To the north are rolling South Downs and Seaford Head Nature Reserve, which lies in a wider Site of Special Scientific Interest, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Heritage Coast. Seaford has had a turbulent past, having survived French invasions, the loss of its harbour and the erosion of its shoreline.
Originally settled in the Stone Age and later by the Romans who were pleased to find a natural harbour at the foot of the huge chalk cliffs at Seaford Head where the River Ouse flowed into the sea. They turned Seaford into a major port. The town thrived and was a centre of commerce for the Normans who exported wool and imported wine.
In 1579, a huge storm sealed the harbour with shingle and redirected the River Ouse to create a “new haven” four miles up the coast. As the town’s prosperity dwindled, Seaford became synonymous with smuggling.
The emergence of the railway in the 1860s enabled Seaford to capitalise on the Victorian fashion for sea bathing and, over the next 100 years, it became an established seaside resort.
For more history of the town, visit the museum in the Martello Tower on the Esplanade. The tower was built during the Napoleonic Wars and was the last of more than 70 such structures along the Kent and Sussex coasts, designed to repel a likely French invasion.
These days Seaford is favoured by home buyers of all ages who want a quieter life, but not too quiet.
Jeanette Tebrook, director of No. 38 Lettings And Management, said: “If I had £1 for every time someone asks me why I returned from living in Spain, I would be rich; Unspoilt beaches, fine dining, rich culture and of course that rare thing we don’t experience in the UK too often – the sun. What more could I ask for?
“So when I said farewell to sunnier skies and set sail for the rolling hills and countryside of East Sussex, what made me decide on the quaint town of Seaford? With an unspoilt beach stretching more than four miles, a promenade perfect for strolling and taking in the stunning coastal scenery and a town adorned with charming shops, Seaford has something for everyone.
Seaford is quieter yet has a thriving community spirit, and is close enough to Brighton for those who enjoy a more bustling lifestyle. This coupled with easy commuting into London and being surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty completes the formula to make Seaford a special place to live.”
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