Discover Your Saxon Roots this Sussex Day

Eastbourne will be celebrating Sussex Day this year with free entry to key attractions, plus historical talks and tours which celebrate all things Sussex.

On Monday 16 June, from guided walks to behind the scenes tours, residents and visitors alike can discover their Sussex roots and learn to speak Saxon or enjoy great offers on a Sussex Cream Tea.                       

The annual county-wide celebration, which takes place on St Richard’s Day, marks the anniversary of the patron saint of Sussex every 16th June.  However it is from the ‘South Saxons’ that the county took its name, after they landed in AD477, later making Sussex a kingdom in its own right. 

To celebrate this the Eastbourne Ancestors exhibition will be revealing more dark secrets in a talk at 2pm at The Pavilion, with the chance to try on traditional Saxon costumes and try speaking the Saxon language. 

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Leisure & Sports Services, Cllr Carolyn Heaps said “There are so many things to celebrate and commemorate this year, from 40 years of the Aegon International tennis, to the 100 year anniversary of World War One, that this is the perfect year to discover our Sussex roots.”

Heritage fans can look forward to free entry at the Redoubt Fortress throughout the day, including a talk at 11am on the county’s very own Royal Sussex Regiment.  With famous war poet Edmund Blunden serving in the regiment, an exhibition opens on 14 June exploring his life and work, particularly during World War One.

Art lovers can enjoy a free 30 minute guided tour at Towner at 11.30am and explore the exhibitions including Sussex based artists such as Eric Ravilious and the Bloomsbury group at ‘Designing the Everyday’ which runs until 31 August.

After a busy day of tours, The Pavilion will be offering Sussex Cream Teas at the bargain offer of just £5 for two people.

Visitors can also discover more offers for Sussex Day at VisitEastbourne.com including free entry to the Ashdown Forest Llama Park and 50% off at Treasure Island’s adventure golf.

For more information on all events and offers visit VisitEastbourne.com or LoveSussex.com.