Peacehaven, Telscombe Cliffs and Saltdean

Until 1914, all that stood between Newhaven and Rottingdean was open downland grazed by sheep. Then entrepreneur Charles Neville, who had built his fortune on gold and land in the New World, saw the site for his “garden city by the sea”. He bought a belt of land five miles long and one mile deep. Building plots were marked out and a competition launched to find a name for the new town.

Over 80,000 entries were received and the name “New Anzac on Sea” chosen to honour the Australian/New Zealand contribution to the 1914–18 war at Gallipoli. But after the tragic failure of the Gallipoli mission, the name of Peacehaven, the choice of over 200 entrants was chosen.

Neville laid out his town in a grid pattern. He set up his own brickworks, sawmill and joinery. The town also had its own electricity and water companies, a luxury hotel with Italian sunken garden and a private police force. Neville also had plans for a surface and underground rail link to Brighton.

Although Peacehaven has grown considerably in recent years it retains its special character. An obelisk denotes the fact that the town stands on the Greenwich Meridian. The meridian line used to denote zero degrees longitude and the universal standard for calculating time was plotted from London's Greenwich Observatory in 1894. It passes through Lewes before leaving the mainland at Peacehaven Cliffs. The name Meridian is a popular choice for buildings in Peacehaven with both the shopping centre and leisure centre using that name. These facilities provide the focal point for the community. The Meridian Centre houses shops, a community hall, library and health clinic. Meanwhile, the new £1.5m leisure centre offers a variety of sporting and health related activities.

Peacehaven, along with the towns to the west, Telscombe Cliffs and East Saltdean, is a popular places to live. All have excellent access to the downland behind them and bracing cliff top walks. From West Saltdean the undercliff walk extends 3 miles to Brighton Marina and the rockpools formed at the base of the cliffs are a favourite with local children.