Early History AD 270

The Romans lived in Sussex but left very little behind. A villa or possibly a temple and cemetery stood where Springfield Road is now. When it was excavated in the 1870s burial urns, pottery fragments, coins and an iron lamp was found. They built a church, alth although there are no remains.

The Saxons were the first settlers in what we now call central Brighton. Their settlement was established where the Downs met the sea - roughly were Pool Valley and the Old Steine are today.

1086 - the Doomsday Book indicates that the population of Brighton was around 400 strong and that the fishing industry was well established. Brighton was divided between three manors, Brighthelmstone - Lewes; Brighthelmstone - Michelham; and Brighthelmstone - Atlingworth. Brighthelmstone - Atlingworth was the most important as it contained the church. Each manor was valued at £12 and the town paid an annual rent to Ralph de Chesney of 4000 herrings.

* All pictures courtesy of Hastings Borough Council