In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Rottingdean like this:
ROTTINGDEAN, a village, a parish, and a sub-district, in Lewes district, Sussex. The village stands on the coast, 4 miles E S E of Brighton r. station; is a sea-bathing resort; has a post-office under Brighton, privatebaths, bathing-machines, and many lodging-houses; and is noted for its wells, which are nearly empty at high-water and rise as the tide falls. ...
The parish comprises 3, 147 acres of land, and 492 of water. Real property, £13, 719; of which £4, 225 are in gas-works. Pop., 1,016. Houses, 203. The property is divided among a few. High cliffs are on the coast. Agate and chalcedonypebbles are found, and are cut and polished for bracelets. There are four coast-guard stations. A French forcelanded here in 1377, with the intention of sacking Lewes and its priory; and were confronted and defeated by theprior and some neighbouring knights; but captured theprior, and carried him away. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chichester. Value, £332.* Patron, the Earl of Abergavenny. The church is early English, in good condition; and has a tower and spire. There are a national school, the Brighton industrial schools, and a large classical academy.—The sub-district contains 7 parishes. Acres, 16, 711. Pop., 2, 392. Houses, 462.
Rottingdean through time
Rottingdean is now part of Brighton and Hove district. Click here for graphs and data of how Brighton and Hove has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Rottingdean itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Rottingdean, in Brighton and Hove and Sussex | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/8914
Date accessed: 23rd April 2024
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