Rottingdean, Sussex

Description
Rottingdean, a village and a parish in Sussex. The village stands on the coast, 4 miles ESE of Brighton station on the L.B. & S.C.R., and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Brighton. Acreage of parish, 3154; population, 1627. There is a parish council of eleven members. Bathing machines have been established, many lodging-houses have been erected, and there are two hotels. The village is lighted by the electric light, and the electric railway which ran for years from the Aquarium in Brighton to Kemp Town was extended to Bottingdean in 1895. At one time the village was noted for its wells, which were influenced by the tides. High cliff's are on the coast. Agate and chalcedony pebbles are found, and are cut and polished for bracelets. A French force landed here in 1377 with the intention of sacking Lewes and its priory, and were confronted and defeated by the prior and some neighbouring knights, but captured the prior and carried him away. The S aisle of the church was then burnt down, but has since been restored. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chichester; net value, £220 with residence. Patron, the Marquis of Abergaveney. The church is Early English, in good condition, with three beautiful stained glass windows by Sir E. Burne-Jones, and has a tower and spire. There are a convalescent home, the Brighton industrial schools, and a coastguard station.