Organise a Talk

Once upon a time: The story of Eastbourne through 10 Discoveries

The story of early Eastbourne has been changed dramatically through a number of archaeological discoveries over the past few years. Discover tales of sacrifice, treasure, palaces and great human endeavour, all discovered just beneath the surface of the town we call Home.

Secrets from the Store

Learn about the ground beneath your feet, the stories of shipwrecks,  daring smugglers, Medieval life and those at the Home Front and on the Frontline. We’ll travel back through time as we discover the stories of Eastbourne through artefacts in our collection.

Behind the Seams

Journey through Eastbourne’s fashion history and unravel the stories behind the style. Explore how the clothes people wore and the fashion choices they made can give us clues about who they were and who they were not. You really are what you wear!

A Smuggler’s Paradise

Learn about the history and archaeology of Cuckmere Haven through tales of deceit, bravery and resilience. Uncover tales of crafty smugglers, determined Excisemen and what a town in India has to do with this river valley!

A Century of Secrets

Solve the mysteries of Eastbourne’s often forgotten century with tales of plague, piracy and pies. Explore the suspicious stories of the Wilson Family in the 17th century and find out how locals protected themselves from the plague.

The Story of Hana Mullerova

Explore the remarkable life of a Jewish Czech refugee who escaped Nazi persecution in 1939 and made her home in Eastbourne for the next 60 years. Her moving story was only preserved by a chance encounter late on in her life and proves how important it is to record our memories.

Wobbly Ditches and Splodgy Banks: Tracing our Neolithic Ancestors at Butts Brow

Discover the very latest revelations about the nationally important early Neolithic monument being investigated by Heritage Eastbourne on the Downs above Willingdon.

Collecting Memories

Explore stories of forgotten treasures and objects collected to remember. Using objects from our collections as inspiration, this talk will explore the origins of nostalgia, how it can be both harmful and helpful as well as the importance of having souvenirs, heirlooms and other objects to remind us of moments in our past.

Health, Wealth and Happiness

Come to Eastbourne for an enjoyable sporting holiday! With the expanding town, seafront and shops came tourists from far and wide to keep active and take part in Eastbourne’s flourishing sporting scene! Recuperate by the sea to recover from a bout of bad air and take tea in the park.

Hop on a train coming to Eastbourne for the first time, remember to bring your bike, they’re all the rage now. See the Victorian hotels rising up along the seafront, establishing Eastbourne as the Empress of Watering Places. Take a stroll on the prom, visit the newly built pier and choose from hundreds of schools to send your children to.

More than 40 000 people moved to Eastbourne in just 60 years. Watch out for some famous faces in the summer, Lewis Carroll, Sir Ernest Shackleton and H.G Wells all spent time here experiencing the delicacies and delights of this wildly successful town.

Come to Eastbourne for an enjoyable sporting holiday! With the expanding town, seafront and shops came tourists from far and wide to keep active and take part in Eastbourne’s flourishing sporting scene! Recuperate by the sea to recover from a bout of bad air and take tea in the park.

Hop on a train coming to Eastbourne for the first time, remember to bring your bike, they’re all the rage now. See the Victorian hotels rising up along the seafront, establishing Eastbourne as the Empress of Watering Places. Take a stroll on the prom, visit the newly built pier and choose from hundreds of schools to send your children to.

More than 40 000 people moved to Eastbourne in just 60 years. Watch out for some famous faces in the summer, Lewis Carroll, Sir Ernest Shackleton and H.G Wells all spent time here experiencing the delicacies and delights of this wildly successful town.

‘Freedom is in Peril; Defend it with all Your Might’

 Using artefacts from our stores, we’ll uncover the stories of Eastbourne’s World War Two civilians, the troops fighting in her defence and life after the bombs fell.

Planes, Trains and Airships

Explore Eastbourne’s ties to aviation which date back as far as 1909 when Eastbourne Aviation Company was established by Major Bernard Fowler. Over the years, Eastbourne has had flying visits from aviation legends including Amy Johnson who opened the Eastbourne Flying Club’s meeting in 1937.

We will shed light on the significant pioneers as well as the role of airships during the First World War when Royal Naval Airships from Polegate patrolled the coast of East Sussex. Audiences can learn all about the huge part that these airships played in the First World War and how they acted as one of the most effective counter measures against enemy submarines.

How's Tricks - A Tale of two Georges

Discover the stories of George Grimmond, Eastbourne's incredibly illusionist and magician as well as George Beaumont Loveday, the actress stealing manager of the Royal Hippodrome

The War to end all Wars

Flying ships, submarines, camps, hospitals and hardships- discover Eastbourne’s ‘stiff upper lip’ approach during the First World War and the not-so-subtle art of keep on keeping on!