Peacehaven, East Sussex

Peacehaven is a coastal town in East Sussex, perched above the chalk cliffs of the South Downs about six miles east of Brighton. It is notable for being the point where the Greenwich Meridian crosses the English south coast, marked by a 3.5-metre tall obelisk commissioned in 1936. The town’s layout follows an American-inspired grid system, with roads running east-west and avenues north-south.

Founded in 1916 by Charles Neville, Peacehaven began as a plotlands development where working-class families could buy cheap land to build simple homes, often using materials like old railway carriages or army huts. This gave rise to a unique community spirit centred on freedom and a simpler lifestyle away from the city. The town grew steadily, with the local council eventually investing in infrastructure and services.

Peacehaven’s history stretches back much further, with evidence of Bronze Age and Iron Age settlements nearby. The town also features two listed farmhouses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and a flint shepherd’s hut from the 1880s. The nearby cliffs form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, valued for their geological and biological features.

Peacehaven has cultural connections featuring in Graham Greene’s novel Brighton Rock and the film Quadrophenia. It is twinned with Épinay-sous-Sénart in France and Isernhagen in Germany, reflecting its international links.