Redoubt Fortress set to open next month with new events

Discover Eastbourne’s journey from a Victorian seaside tennis town to 1970’s mass market seaside resort in the free Seaside Holiday exhibition from July 23 to September 5, with 1940’s bathing costumes, arailway porter’s uniform heralding the days of luxury steam travel and Lewis Carroll’s renowned bed desk, commissioned for his holidays in Eastbourne.

The Alice in Wonderland writer often holidayed in Eastbourne and even visited a local school, telling stories to the children. With postcards, photographs and memories on display, travellers can leave their own memories at the exhibition while kids take part in themed activities.

In the parade ground, traditional seaside fun continues for free with sandpits and a summer play park, while mums and dads relax with a Colonel Coffee in the vintage themed café.

Kicking off the holidays, the free Bronze Age Day on July 23 celebrates this season’s Pavilion exhibition. With the opportunity to have a go at making Bronze Age food, shoes and flint making, the fun family day uncovers more behind the exhibition.

Opening on March 21, Making Tracks: Eastbourne’ s Bronze Age Mystery recreates part of Britain’s biggest Bronze Age causeway, which caught the eye of historians across the country when it was found in Eastbourne 21 years ago. The free exhibition unravels its mystery with a display of never before seen together artefacts from the British Museum.

Eastbourne Borough Council lead cabinet member for culture, tourism and enterprise, Cllr Margaret Bannister said, “Heritage Eastbourne has so much to offer to the town’s visitors, and families will love learning about the varied history of the town, from the Bronze Age to Victoriana seaside holidays, through fun and engaging interactive exhibitions.

“With the majority of exhibitions being completely free, great family days out with Heritage Eastbourne are accessible to all this year.”

In the Redoubt museum, a brand new WW1 exhibition opens from March 21 and uncovers the story of 11 Sussex men, all either wounded or killed at the Battle of Boar’s Head, showing the human side of war and its effect upon both the soldiers and the local community. There will be real footage of soldiers marching through the town’s train station, diary extracts, poetic sounds of the battlefield and a display of Eastbourne’s very own Victoria Cross winner.

Younger visitors can also interact with a soldier’s kit bag of interactive equipment to help them discover life as a soldier.

The 200-year-old-fortress is home to many more renowned exhibits including WW1 trench art to a captured German car.

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