Sovereign Harbour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sovereign Harbour |
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 View across the North Harbour |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EASTBOURNE |
| Postcode district | BN23 |
| Dialling code | 01323 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Sovereign Harbour is a modern area built on the coast in Eastbourne, a popular seaside town in England. It opened in 1993 and used to be called The Crumbles. This special place is now home to five different harbours: North, South, West, Outer, and Inner.
It also has a big shopping area and many homes, some for people who live there all the time and some for holidays. Sovereign Harbour is the largest marina of its kind in Northern Europe. A marina is like a parking lot for boats!
The company that built the marina, Carillion, managed it until 2007. Then, a group called Premier Marinas bought it. They also run other marinas along the South Coast, like those in Brighton and Chichester.
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Exploring the Harbours
The Outer Harbour is where boats enter from the sea. It has two special sea locks that work 24 hours a day. These locks help boats move between the sea and the calmer harbour waters. The Outer Harbour needs to be regularly cleaned and deepened so boats can always get in.
The local RNLI lifeboat, which helps people in trouble at sea, has its own spot here. The entrance to the harbour is right next to Martello tower No. 66.
All the other harbours – Inner, South, West, and North – were created by digging out the land after 1991. The Inner Harbour was the first one used and is the main part of the marina. It has places for both visiting boats and boats that stay there all the time. You can also get to the other three harbours from here by crossing special lifting bridges. These other three harbours are mostly used by local boats and fishing vessels.
The North Harbour is the newest and biggest part. The West and South harbours are smaller and mainly used by people who live in the houses around them.
There's a large machine called a boat lift in the North Harbour. It helps lift boats out of the water for repairs or winter storage. The locks and lifting bridges are all controlled from the Harbour office. This office is open all day, every day of the year.
Boats usually contact the Harbourmaster on a special radio channel (VHF channel 17) before they arrive. This helps them get important information about tides and water depth. There's also a fuel station for boats and a building with toilets, showers, and laundry facilities for boat owners.
Most of the homes are found around the North and South harbours. The Waterfront, which has restaurants, bars, and shops, is located between them. Sovereign Harbour used to be a big building site, but now it's a finished place for fun and relaxation. The local yacht club, 'Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club', even has its own building.
Homes at the Harbour
The homes at Sovereign Harbour come in many different styles. Some are right by the water, and others are not. Many of the waterside homes have their own private place to park a boat, called a mooring. Some even have a private path directly to a small dock.
Building started around the South and West Harbours. Later, it spread to the North Harbour and the area between the Inner Harbour and the sea. Today, there are over 3,500 homes here! Most people who live in the Harbour pay a yearly fee to the 'Sovereign Harbour Trust'. This money helps keep the harbour, bridges, and locks in good shape. It also pays for cleaning the waterways, deepening the channels for boats, and maintaining the coastal defences that protect the area.
Shops and Services
On the western side of the Inner Harbour, you'll find the Waterfront. This area has restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses. Behind the Waterfront, there are large buildings used for storing boats in winter and for boat repair shops.
There's also a big commercial park nearby, sometimes called "The Crumbles." It has large stores like Asda, Next, Boots, and Matalan. These shops are built around a huge car park. Even though this shopping area isn't officially part of the harbour development, it's very handy for both visitors and residents. It's especially useful for boaters who don't have a car, as Eastbourne town centre is a few miles away.
Next to the commercial park, a new area called Innovation Park is being built. It will have different office buildings, including 'Pacific House'. The Harbour Medical Practice, a doctor's office, has been open here since 2011. Regular bus services connect the harbour to Eastbourne town centre and the seafront.
The Lifeboat Station
Sovereign Harbour is also home to the Eastbourne Lifeboat. This special boat, called The Diamond Jubilee 16-23, is a Tamar class all-weather lifeboat. It usually stays in the Outer Harbour. Sometimes, during very bad weather, you might see it moored in one of the locks. Even then, the harbour staff make sure the lifeboat can launch very quickly if it's needed for a rescue.
Harbour Wildlife
The harbour has also had some interesting animal visitors, including four grey seals. One seal visited in 2013 before moving on to Eastbourne and then Seaford. Another injured seal arrived in 2015.
