Pillars Of The Community

As well as being the home constituency of three British Prime Ministers, Seaford can lay claim to a rich educational past and historic naval importance. CLIVE AGRAN met local expert Kevin Gordon to find out more

- Kevin Gordon

THERE’S a rope across the entrance and an apologetic sign to explain the Martello Tower is closed. It feels rather like a long shot but I press the bell, presumably a modern addition, and am delighted when Kevin Gordon opens the door. A former British Transport policeman, he’s now the official chronicler of the Seaford (pronounced Seaford) Museum and Heritage Society and a lot more besides as I am shortly to discover.

Inside what was the very last Martello Tower built in Britain are dozens of volunteers busy cleaning up artefacts, filing documents, painting walls and staring at computer screens. Kate Turvey, the long-serving chairman of the SM & H Society, explains they are in the process of installing a lift and handrails to improve accessibility. Although she’s a little coy as to when precisely it will re-open, some time in the spring seems a fair bet.

During the mid-morning tea break, Kevin reveals a few pertinent facts about Seaford’s history. A one-time Cinque Ports ‘limb’ whose naval credentials diminished towards the end of the 16th century when silt nudged the River Ouse eastwards to Newhaven, it has demonstrated considerable versatility and enjoyed significant success.

Can any other parliamentary constituency in the country claim responsibility for more Prime Ministers? A notorious rotten borough, no fewer than three of its MPs rose to the highest office in the land before the constituency was eventually incorporated into Lewes following the 1832 Reform Act. Henry Pelham represented the town from 1717 to 1722, William Pitt the Elder from 1747 to 1754 and George Canning in 1827.

Furthermore, Sir Winston’s Churchill’s wife, Clementine, once lived in Seaford.