East Dean, Eastbourne

East Dean
Sussex
Dene Side, East Dean
Location
Grid reference:	TV556976
Location:	50°45’27"N, -0°12’21"E
Data
Population:	1,675  (2011)
Post town:	Eastbourne
Postcode:	BN20
Dialling code:	01323
Local Government
Council:	Wealden
Parliamentary constituency:	Lewes
Website:	eastdeanvillage.org.uk

East Dean is a village in the east of Sussex, in the South Downs to the west of Eastbourne and a mile inland of the south coast. It stands immediately south of the larger village of Friston. A lane runs due south to the hamlet at Birling Gap, where there is a small beach, but otherwise the coast here is cliff-bound, culminating in Beachy Head, two miles west of Birling Gap.

The village sits in a dry valley on the South Downs, between Eastbourne three miles to the east and Seaford an equal distance to the west. The main A259 road goes through both village centres. The coast and much of the land between it and the A259 from the east edge of Seaford to the west edge of Eastbourne is owned by the National Trust, and this has prevented further development to the area.

Steps to Birling Gap beach

Parish church

The church in East Dean, dedicated to St Simon and St Jude, has a Saxon tower and an unusual Tapsel gate (preventing cattle from entering the churchyard).

Another church is in Friston, St Mary The Virgin, which has formed a united benefice since 1688 with East Dean.

A panoramic view of East Dean and Friston, viewed from the South Downs Way near Birling Gap

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about East Dean, Eastbourne)