Seaford: Sussex towns and villages

Seaford was once one of the busiest ports in southern England

The spying game

Former keeper of the Queen’s paintings, Anthony Blunt, lived in Seaford. He was known as Sir Anthony Blunt, KCVO, between 1956 and 1979, but was then stripped of his honours, as he was revealed to have been a Soviet spy. He was exposed as a member of the Cambridge Five, who were a group of spies working from the Soviet Union up until the 1950s.

Hear ye, hear ye

Seaford boasts one of the longest serving town criers in England and Wales. Peter White was appointed in 1977, by Lewes District Council. Mr White is available to assist local charitable and voluntary groups to publicise their events, free of charge.

Piracy and plundering

Seaford was once one of the busiest ports in southern England, but just like a scene from a children’s book, it suffered constant marauding at the hands of French pirates, with the town even being burnt to the ground on several occasions.

Full military honours

There are an impressive seven holders of the Victoria Cross associated with Seaford. Claud Raymond, William George Walker and Cuthbert Bromley lived in the town; Herbert Jones, David Auldjo Jamieson and Geoffrey Charles Tasker Keyes went to school in Seaford; and William Frederick McFadzean trained at the town’s North Camp.

Seven Sisters Country Park

280 hectares of chalk cliffs, river valley and open chalk grassland. Go walking, birdwatching, cycling or canoeing

01323 870280; www.sevensisters.org.uk

Eat

Ollivers Restaurant

Delicious homemade food in a cosy yet lively setting

01323 872111; www.olliversrestaurant.co.uk

Drink

The Golden Galleon

Cask ales, fine wines and great food, with a fantastic view to top it all off

01323 892247; www.vintageinn.co.uk/thegoldengalleonseaford

Sleep