East Blatchington

East Blatchington
Sussex
St Peter's Church
Location
Grid reference:	TV485995
Location:	50°46’34"N, -0°6’17"E
Data
Post town:	Seaford
Postcode:	BN25
Dialling code:	01323
Local Government
Council:	Lewes
Parliamentary constituency:	Lewes

East Blatchington is a coastal village in Sussex which has merged into the western part of Seaford, contiguous with Bishopstone. It is located near the abandoned village of Tide Mills.

St Peter's Parish Church dates back to about 1100 and the church registers date from 1563. The church has a memorial to pioneer balloonist Henry Tracey Coxwell.

History

The area was settled by the Romans, who probably used it as a port to transfer goods to mainland Europe. The area was taken over by the Saxons after the Romans had left it. The village originally ran from the church to the duck pond.

Like Seaford and Newhaven, its western neighbour, East Blatchington was a coastal defensive position during the Napoleonic War: it had a military barracks built in 1794, and demolished after the Great War. In its early years, the barracks was badly supplied, which resulted in 500 men mutinying and occupying Seaford. The townspeople gave them provisions and alcohol. The following day, the regular army, based at Newhaven overpowered them and arrested twenty mutineers. The leaders were executed and the others punished.

The barracks were lightly manned, until the First World War and became a staging post for soldiers fighting in France, who were shipped from Newhaven. After the war, the barracks were demolished.

East Blatchington

Blatchington Pond was restored in 1980 and remains largely the same to this present day.

Sport

• Golf: Seaford Golf Club, one of the oldest golf clubs in Sussex
• Tennis: Seaford Lawn Tennis Club, with seven courts

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about East Blatchington)