St Leonards-on-Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Leonards-on-Sea |
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 The seafront at St Leonards-on-Sea |
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 St Leonards-on-Sea
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| OS grid reference | TQ7909 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ST. LEONARDS-ON-SEA |
| Postcode district | TN37, TN38 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | East Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | |
St Leonards-on-Sea, often called St Leonards, is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, England. It is part of the larger area of Hastings. St Leonards is located to the west of central Hastings.
The town was first planned in the early 1800s. It was designed to be a fancy new town with elegant houses for wealthy people. It also had a central public garden, a hotel, and places for fun activities. Today, St Leonards has grown much bigger, but the original town area is still there within it.
Contents
The Story of St Leonards-on-Sea
Who Owned the Land Before?
The land where St Leonards now stands used to belong to the Levett family. They were an old family from Sussex. Later, their relatives, the Eversfields, owned the land. The Eversfields were important in Tudor times because of their iron factories and many properties.
How St Leonards Was Created
James Burton was a very successful builder from London. He had built many famous areas there, like parts of Bloomsbury and houses near Regent's Park. James Burton bought land from the Eversfield family. He wanted to create a new seaside resort there.
The land he bought was part of Gensing Farm. It included a small, wooded valley that went down to the sea. Building started in early 1826. James Burton planned a house for himself and areas for shops and services. He also designed public buildings for entertainment. He carefully placed beautiful villas among the trees and water of the central gardens.
He also made sure that the main road leading to St Leonards was improved. He arranged for a new road to be built through Silverhill for easier access. Before he passed away in 1837, many important buildings were finished. These included the Royal Victoria Hotel and tall houses along the seafront. His son, Decimus Burton, continued his father's work. In 1850, Decimus bought more land and expanded the town to the west. He lived in St Leonards for the rest of his life.
A Popular Seaside Spot
St Leonards quickly became a very popular place to visit by the sea. Important people like Princess Sophia of Gloucester stayed there in 1831. Even Princess Victoria and her mother stayed for a winter in 1834-1835. Later, in 1837, Queen Adelaide also spent a winter in the town.
The town of Hastings noticed how popular St Leonards was becoming. Hastings started to grow westwards too. The Eversfield family, who had sold land to the Burtons, saw a chance to sell more land. This led to many new buildings being built between the two towns.
In 1875, St Leonards and Hastings officially joined together. By then, the seafront stretched for about three miles. Soon after, areas like Warrior Square and Upper St Leonards were also developed.
Arrival of the Railways
The railways made it easier for people to visit. The first railway line reached West Marina in 1845. Later, in 1852, the St Leonards Warrior Square station opened.
The Pier and Marine Court
Work on the St Leonards pier began in 1888. It was officially opened in 1891. The pier was located near the Royal Victoria Hotel. It had a fancy entrance building where visitors could drive right up. There was also a building at the far end used for dancing and roller hockey. The pier was damaged during World War II to prevent invasion. Its remains were removed in 1951.
On the seafront, there is a famous building called Marine Court. It looks like an ocean liner and is built in the Art Deco style. When it was finished in 1937, it was the tallest block of flats in the United Kingdom. It had 153 flats and 3 restaurants. Today, it is a listed building, which means it's protected for its historical importance.
Where is St Leonards-on-Sea?
St Leonards today covers two main areas. First, it includes the land that rises steeply to the west of Hastings. This area leads up towards Silverhill and Hollington. Second, it includes a lower area to the west called Bulverhythe. This lower area is thought to be where the port of Hastings once was. Within the higher land, there are small valleys, like the one where the Priory stream flows through Alexandra Park.
Getting Around St Leonards
The main roads in St Leonards are the seafront roads, Grand Parade and Marina. These are part of the A259 coastal route. Another important road is London Road. St Leonards has two open railway stations. One station, St Leonards (West Marina), closed in 1967. Buses and trains provide public transport for the town today.
Parks and Gardens to Explore
St Leonards has several lovely parks and gardens for everyone to enjoy.
Warrior Square Gardens
These gardens first opened in 1852. The local Council bought parts of the land over time. A statue of Queen Victoria was put up here in 1902. The gardens have been improved a lot, with new landscaping and wall repairs finished in 2001.
St Leonards Gardens
These gardens were originally private gardens for the Burton family. The town bought them in 1879. The gardens used to have two ponds and a maze, which was very popular. The maze even gave Maze Hill its name! The entrance to St Leonards Gardens is a grand building designed by Burton. The Council bought the garden in 1880 and opened it to the public. It has trees, shrubs, grass, and a central pond. The garden has recently been restored.
Gensing Gardens
The Council bought Gensing Gardens in 1872. The name comes from the original farm that was once here. The garden has been improved many times over the last 10 years. It has flower beds, trees, grass areas, and a playground for children up to 14 years old. It's a very important open space in its neighborhood.
Markwick Gardens
Markwick Gardens were created in the 1860s. They were mainly for the people living in Markwick Terrace. The land was once owned by the Eversfield Trust. Now, the gardens are privately owned by the Eversfield Estates. Local residents manage the gardens through the Markwick Gardens Association.
Views Around St Leonards
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Horse and Groom – St Leonards' oldest public house (1829)
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Mews Road with Marine Court in background
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North Street with Kenilworth Road in background
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St Clements – Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded restaurant
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Steps down to Kings Road
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Stanhope Place
