Shinewater facts for kids

Shinewater Lake. This lake was built during the 1990s in tandem with he building of the new A22 route out of Eastbourne. An important discovery was a Bronze Age implement that had been preserved in the wet fen type countryside. The channel at the top links to the Willingdon and West Langney Sewer with the lake performing a floodwater storage function for the nearby suburb of Langney.

Shinewater is an area located in Eastbourne, a town in East Sussex, England. It is part of the Langney electoral ward. Shinewater is known for a significant discovery made in 1995: an ancient settlement from the Bronze Age was found while workers were clearing the Hydneye lake. This discovery helps us learn more about people who lived in this area thousands of years ago.

Discovering Ancient Shinewater: A Bronze Age Find

In 1995, something amazing was found in Shinewater. Workers were digging the Hydneye lake to help prevent floods in the area. During this work, they uncovered parts of a very old settlement from the Late Bronze Age. This period was a long time ago, roughly between 1000 and 700 BC.

What Was Found at the Bronze Age Site?

The first discovery in 1995 was a 50-meter long section of what looked like a platform. This platform might have been used for walking or as a base for buildings. The next year, in 1996, an even longer section was found, about 60 meters of what seemed to be an ancient trackway. This trackway could have been a path or road used by people back then.

Tools and Pottery from the Past

Archaeologists also found other interesting items at the Shinewater site. These included a bronze sickle, which is a tool used for cutting crops, and it still had its handle! They also found three hearths, which are places where fires were made, built on clay. Many pieces of pottery were discovered too. This pottery belonged to a style from the Late Bronze Age. A large number of stone tools and objects were also uncovered, giving us clues about how these ancient people lived and what they used every day.

Shinewater Park: A Green Space for Everyone

Shinewater is also home to Shinewater Park, a popular green space. East Sussex County Council helped to landscape the area when a new road, Golden Jubilee Way, was opened.

Managing Shinewater Park

Today, Shinewater Park is looked after by both Eastbourne Borough Council and East Sussex County Council. They work together to make sure the park is a nice place for people to visit and enjoy. The park even received a special award called a Commendation from The Civic Trust in 2004, showing how much it is valued by the community.