Discover Victorian Seaside Holiday Fun and Eastbourne's Bronze Age Mystery this Year all with Heritage Eastbourne!

Heritage Eastbourne has got a super season of captivating interactive exhibitions plus a great line-up of fun and engaging events in store for 2016! From Bronze Age discoveries to WWI and a free vintage Summer Holiday programme, you'll want to head to Eastbourne from 21 March when the Redoubt Fortress opens its gates for this fabulous season! What's more, the majority of exhibitions are completely free, so great family days out with Heritage Eastbourne are accessible to all this year!

Did you know that 21 years ago, the UK's biggest Bronze Age causeway was discovered in Shinewater Park in Eastbourne? Well it was, and now for the first time the stories and fascinating mysteries of the people who lived in Eastbourne and built this astonishing track-way over 3000 years ago, are being brought to the foreground in an exciting new and free exhibition at the Pavilion, on Eastbourne's seafront!

Opening on 21 March, Making Tracks: Eastbourne’s Bronze Age Mystery recreates part of the Bronze Age causeway, contains a display of never before seen artefacts from the British Museum, Bronze Age items such as axes and jewellery uncovered in Eastbourne and allows you, the visitor to piece together the prehistoric puzzle to discover the tales of international visitors and human inventiveness from an astonishing time period! 

There's even a free dedicated Bronze Age Day on 23 July which celebrates the exhibition giving you the opportunity to have a go at making Bronze Age food, shoes and even flint making, in a family fun day which you and your children will love!

Summer might seem a little far away right now, but the Redoubt already has a great summer exhibition and activities lined-up! In another free exhibition, discover Eastbourne’s journey from a Victorian seaside ‘tennis town’ to 1970’s mass market seaside resort in the Seaside Holiday exhibition from 23 July to 5 September! The nostalgic exhibition will showcase some great holiday memorabilia from 1940’s bathing costumes, to an exquisite Railway Porter’s uniform heralding the days of luxury steam travel and Lewis Carroll’s renowned bed desk, designed especially for his holidays in Eastbourne.

With postcards, photographs and memories on display, you can leave your own memories at the exhibition, whilst your kids will love taking part in themed activities on the parade ground. With traditional seaside fun with free sandpits and a summer play park, your children will be occupied for hours, letting you relax with a Colonel Coffee and Sergeants Scone or a Trench Toastie in the vintage Outpost Cafe!

Also opening on the 21 March, when the Napoleonic fortress re-opens for the season, you'll discover a brand new WW1 exhibition in the fortress's fascinating military museum! For Hearth, Home and Honour? Eastbourne Learns the Reality of War uncovers the story of 11 Sussex men, all either wounded or killed at the Battle of Boar’s Head and shows the human side of war and its effect upon both the soldiers and the local community. With real footage of soldiers marching through the town’s train station, diary extracts, poetic sounds of the battlefield and a display of Eastbourne’s very own Victoria Cross winner, Nelson Victor Carter. Visiting with children? Younger visitors can also interact with a soldier’s kit bag of interactive equipment to help them discover life as a soldier!

The 200 year old fortress is home to many more renowned exhibits, from rare WW1 trench art to a captured German staff car; step back in time in the interactive 1940’s garden, featuring real aerial and audio footage of a Sussex family watching the Battle of Britain overhead.

Plan ahead for the year and make some awesomely authentic Halloween plans, as the Redoubt hosts two weekends of spooky Twilight Ghost Tours in October in which you can explore the creepy corridors by night! 

Talking of night time, the Redoubt joins in with the national Museums at Night celebration from the 13-15 May with its very own film festival. Adults will love the spine tingling screening of The Mummy (1959), complete with an introduction to Egyptian curses from a renowned Egyptologist, plus the terrifying screening of Alien (1979), whilst a family friendly event will screen One of My Dinosaurs is Missing (1975) and will have some fossil making fun thrown in for good dino-measure!

If you like cake and learning, then you'll be happy to know that last year's successful Culture and Cake series is back and even bigger this year! During the fascinating and engaging talks, passionate historians cover subjects such as Learning to Live With Ghosts and Health, Wealth and Happiness by the Sea, at the monthly talks from April to October! 

The Redoubt opens every day from 21 March until 13 November. Entry to the Making Tracks and Seaside Holiday exhibitions, cafés, parade ground and gun platform is free. Museum entry includes the WW1 exhibition and costs £4.50 per adult, £2.50 per child or £12 per family. Every ticket includes a free return visit in 2016, or visit the free Bronze Age exhibition and complete the exhibition trail for free kids entry to the museum!  For further information visit www.EastbourneMuseums.co.uk or telephone 01323 410300.

Sussex Day Celebrations in Eastbourne

This 16 June (Tuesday) the whole county will mark Sussex Day to celebrate what a beautiful place Sussex is! With stunning landscapes, a wealth of fascinating history and culture in all corners of the town, Eastbourne offers so much to the county of Sussex, for visitors, international tourists and residents - we certainly have a lot to celebrate.

To mark the special day, Eastbourne’s cultural and heritage hubs, the Redoubt Fortressand the Pavilion, will welcome visitors for a day of free festivities and fun! 

The Napoleonic Redoubt Fortress has free entry all day on Sussex Day and you'll be able to handle objects from displays around the military museum, guided by the helpful museum volunteers. 

A fascinating Carry on Curator talk takes place at 2pm which is also free of charge for this special occasion. “Carry on Curator: Pour la canaille: Faut la mitraille” coincides with the run up to the 200 year anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. Come along and meet with museum curator, Damian Etherington for a thrilling interactive discussion about museum artefacts from the Napoleonic era. You'll also have the chance to handle Napoleonic era items and get a new perspective on them. From a Napoleonic General’s jacket and original Times newspapers reporting the Battle of Trafalgar and Waterloo, to a collection of original weapons and more, this is fantastic event not to be missed.

What's more, there will also be two free guided tours (11am and 2.30pm), of the Fortress grounds and the museum. The Napoleonic Fortress was built in the early 1800’s, and it has 24 rooms known as Casemates, at one time it was used to house up to 200 men during times of battle. You can learn lots more interesting facts like this on the guided tours on Sussex Day.

Once you've worked up an appetite from wondering around the fortress grounds making lots of discoveries, then head to the Outpost Cafe where you'll find a special Sussex Day offer of buy one get one free on all hot drinks. You can also tuck into a Sergeants Scone, a Bombardier's Brownie or a Trench Toastie, whilst enjoying the wonderfully vintage themed decor of the Outpost.

For a double whammy of intriguing Eastbourne history and heritage, head to the Pavilion just minutes from the Redoubt and be taken on a guided tour of the extremely interesting Summerdown Camp exhibition. 

During both the tours (11am and 2pm), visitors will learn some of the stories that have been discovered since the exhibition opened in March, as well as hearing more of the personal stories of men and women who recovered and worked at Summerdown convalescent camp in Eastbourne during World War One. 

Sussex Day will be a fantastic day of celebrations for both Eastbourne and the entire county, so please do join us in marking the occasion!

Museums at Night Festival Brings Jaws Film Screening to the Redoubt Fortress!

Duuuunnn, Duuunn.... Duuunnnnnnn Duuunnn.... Duuunnnnn Duuunnnnn.... Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Duuuuuunnnnnnn!! What is that? Its' the sound of Jaws making it's way to Eastbourne!

Not the actual shark of course, just the classic 1975 film directed by Stephen Speilberg! On Saturday 16 May at 7.30 pm, the Redoubt Fortress is taking part in ‘Museums at Night’, which is a national festival of after-hours culture and heritage. For a third year the Redoubt will host a film screening for ‘Museums at Night’, this year presenting the perfect seaside horror, Jaws.

If you aren't familiar with the film, Jaws tells the story of American tourist town Amity Island, where a series of shark attacks forces police chief, Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) and two comrades, Ichthyologist Matt Hopper (Richard Drewfuss) and ship Captain, Quint (Robert Shaw) to engage in an ambitious battle of man vs. shark, after the town's mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) refuses to close the beach. The film recounts their attempt to kill the deadly sea creature and save the residents and tourists from a fatal swim at Amity Island beach. 

‘Museums at Night’ is a celebration of heritage, arts and culture in the UK. The festival is set up to encourage visitors into museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country by hosting special events outside of normal opening hours. Events will be taking place throughout the country between 14 and 16 May 2015. At the Redoubt on 16 May, visitors can also discover a display of shark-related items. Local collector, Robert Knight will share his collection and knowledge of preserved sea-creatures, real shark jaws and Great White Shark teeth!

The Redoubt chose to screen Jaws to celebrate Eastbourne’s position as an iconic seaside tourist town. However, fear not - the bathing waters in Eastbourne are some of the cleanest and safest in Britain, earning this accolade from the Marine Conservation Society’s, Good Beach Guide numerous times. We can assure you that the sea is a lot safer to swim in than the sea surrounding fictional, Amity Island!

The film is rated 12 - so the film screening is open to all above this age! There's no need to bring your own popcorn either. The Redoubt’s vintage themed cafe, ‘The Outpost’ will be open for the evening serving cinema type confectionery, such as popcorn and ice-cream, as well as alcoholic beverages and soft drinks!

Doors will open at 7.30pm on 16 May for an 8.00pm start. Tickets are £6 and booking is essential. For more information and to book tickets for ‘Museums at Night Film Screening – Jaws at Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum’ visit www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk. 

A Brand New Season of Fascinating History and Heritage at Eastbourne's Museums!

Eastbourne has a wealth of interesting history just waiting for you to discover in its cultural hubs and museums! Both the Redoubt Fortress and the Pavilion re-opened earlier this month, offering visitors many fascinating new exhibitions to explore!

Read a preview of some of the exciting heritage and history to be found this year at Eastbourne's Redoubt Fortress and Pavilion.

Treasure can come in many forms, and the new 'Treasure' exhibition at the Redoubt uncovers the vast mount of objects and items which are cherished by different people. Children will love this fun sensory exhibition, with Roman coins found at Beachy Head, precious metals and the diary of a young girl on holiday in Eastbourne, kept for its sentimental value, painting pictures of years gone by. Head to the Redoubt to be wowed by this, and much more this season.

The Summerdown Camp exhibition at the Pavilion on Marine Parade, tells the never before told story of the many thousands of injured soldiers who recuperated and recovered at the UK's first and largest World War One convalescent camp in Eastbourne 100 years ago! Open daily from now until 15 November, the amazing  and uplifting stories told at this free exhibition will astound both history buffs and novices. Try on a 'Blue Boy's' uniform, decode the soldiers slang and discover the heartwarming stories told by wounded soldiers and the heroic women who worked at Summerdown Camp.

The last in a trio of 'Stargazing for Everyone' evenings will provide another magical evening for keen astronomers at the Redoubt Fortress at 8pm on 28 March! Be dazzled up-close by the night sky, with its beautiful stars, moon and planets whilst gazing through telescopes provided by the Eastbourne Astronomical Society. Don't miss this great family event, which is free to attend!

'Carry on Curator' brings a series of engaging and interactive talks, in which visitors can handle objects and artefacts that tell many different stories from Eastbourne's past. The first in the series "Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!" on 31 March looks back on the development of gas used in warfare. The Redoubt's curator, Damian Etherington will provide a 'show and tell' type talk, passing round many objects including an original German mask from the First World War. Don't miss out, book your place now!

And here's an egg-citing competition to enter this Easter! The Redoubt Fortress are giving away a Family Ticket, plus a Redoubt Guide Book so that one lucky family can explore the fascinating Napoleonic Redoubt and discover the history behind the stone walls for free this Easter Holiday! 

For more information about all the exciting discoveries to be made at the Redoubt and the Pavilion this year go to www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk!

Eastbourne Joins in National Celebration of English Tourism Week!

When tourist destinations across England celebrate all that this wonderful little country has to offer during English Tourism Week, here at Visit Eastbourne we'll be celebrating one of the sunniest places in the UK and some of the many reasons why Eastbourne is absolutely perfect for a seaside break!

English Tourism Week will be nationally recognised this month between 14 and 22 of March, and Visit Eastbourne will be giving free tours and tickets to some key heritage attractions, highlighting the wealth of culture that Eastbourne has to offer our tourists!

For a little bit of interactive fun, we've created an English Tourism Week quiz all about Eastbourne, which can be downloaded from VisitEastbourne.com or picked up from the Tourist Information Centre on Cornfield Road. See how much you know about Eastbourne and the fabulous tourist attractions on offer, learning more along the way. Once you've completed the quiz, take it back to the Tourist Information Centre, where you'll receive a prize in the form of chocolate for your efforts!

The Redoubt Fortress is a hub of fascinating history and culture, which tourists flock to every year to learn about the past life of Eastbourne and it opens it's gates for the 2015 season on March 16. On the 21 and 22 March, to recognise English Tourism Week, the Redoubt will be FREE for all to enter! There is loads to get excited about at the Redoubt this year, from a new 'Treasure' exhibition, to an interactive exhibit involving a 'Battle of Britain dogfight'.

Another central part of Eastbourne's Heritage Service, the Pavilion is opening its brand new exhibition all about Summerdown Convalescent Camp. As part of English Tourism Week, on Saturday 21 March at 11am and again at 2pm, you can go on a FREE guided curator tour, discovering all the fascinating facts about the first and largest World War One convalescent camp, which opened in Eastbourne 100 years ago!

Towner, the wonderful contemporary art gallery which is the heart of fine art in Eastbourne, is offering Art Store Tours for a reduced rate on Sunday 22 March for English Tourism Week. Instead of £6.00, book by telephone or in person to sign up for the tour for just £4.50 instead. The Art Store Tours at Towner are a more in-depth chance to discover the extensive art collections which grace the walls of the gallery!

Make the most of these great offers and take part in the exciting Eastbourne quiz, getting into the spirit of English Tourism Week, and helping us to celebrate what a fantastic town Eastbourne is!

To read more about English Tourism Week, got to VisitEastbourne.com

Re-discovering Eastbourne’s History

If you’ve ever wondered how Eastbourne looked centuries ago, what scandalous crimes have taken place over the years or how the Victorians holidayed in the resort, then Eastbourne Heritage Centre is definitely worth a visit.

Needing a bit of inspiration to help VisitEastbourne re-discover our roots, we decided to find out more with the help of Nicholas and Janet at the Heritage Centre who kindly gave us a guided tour.

This little gem of a museum sits opposite the Winter Garden with its stunning castle-like hexagonal turrets, and to my shame I have never visited. Once part of the Devonshire Baths complex – yes, even the Victorians had a leisure centre, this stunning building was the home of the baths manager.

Having homed a vast but unstructured array of historical artefacts, the centre has recently undergone a refurbishment with a complete redesign of its exhibition.

Being a graphic designer, Nicholas has done a great job of providing a stylish gallery style format for the information and the exhibition takes you on a chronological journey through Eastbourne’s beginnings as a series of small villages through to the arrival of the Victorian railway, which of course signalled the first seaside holidays in Eastbourne.

A selection of maps show Eastbourne’s planned expansion through this period of rapid growth and you can see the impact of the famous British architect Henry Currey and landowners such as William Cavendish - the Duke of Devonshire and John Davies-Gilbert whose family is still here today.

Following the exhibition upstairs, even the stairwell is put to good use with an array of ornate sand blasted iron work, showing off some of Eastbourne’s Italianate style villa architecture.

Upstairs a fabulous display of then and now photographs shows how Eastbourne has changed at various iconic locations around town, and the photo of the shoreline packed full with Victorian bathing huts made us chuckle. Next time you’re on a packed beach, give a thought for the Victorians who probably couldn’t even see the sea for all the bathing huts.

However the real surprise for me was the temporary exhibition ‘Crime, Punishment and Local Justice’. Being a huge fan of historical crime drama, this was a fascinating insight into detective work through the ages. Dr John Bodkin Adams is of course the most famous case, but I had no idea of the others or even that Eastbourne had regular riots!

Next stop – the basement theatre with two fascinating films from the 60’s and 70’s, showing Eastbourne as a holiday resort, which of course promoted fond laughter and discussion.

We ended the tour in the very reasonably priced shop, which includes a great array of gifts, postcards and books, and even included stuff for the kids.

Eastbourne Heritage Centre is currently open for winter hours only from 2 – 4pm Mondays and Thursdays tel 01323 411189 or visit the website.

Tracey