Welcome to Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill is located on the south-east coast of England, in the county of East Sussex, approximately 56 miles south of London and 28 miles east of Brighton.

The town has a population of around 42,700. Administratively it is within the local government district of Rother which covers an area of approximately 510 sq kms.

It is a pleasant seaside resort renowned for its De La Warr Pavilion, overlooking the beach, which was the country's first sea-front entertainment complex of its kind when it was built in 1935. The town is also a popular base for divers exploring the many wrecks located along the stretch of coast between Beachy Head to the west, and Dungeness to the east. A little known fact about Bexhill is that it was the location for the first motor race in the United Kingdom, in 1902.

Although iguanodon fragments and primitive boats have been excavated at Egerton Park, showing early occupation of the site, the town's recorded history dates from a Charter of 772 in which the King of Mercia, Offa II, granted land to build a church to Bishop Oswald. Following the Norman invasion, Bexhill was given to Robert, Count of Eu, by William the Conqueror as victory spoils. It's major development came in the 19th century when the the 7th Earl of Dorset decided to transform the then village into an exclusive seaside resort with the name Bexhill-on-Sea.

Bexhill has a relatively narrow economic base with service industries providing the primary employment sector. There is continuing focus on development of the town into a centre for cultural tourism.

The name Bexley derives from the Anglo-Saxon name 'Bexelei', from 'leah' - a glade, where 'box' grows.