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The pub which is little more than a decade old has a long history having been built around 1811 as the Portobello Coastguard Station on the site of a former 18th century farmhouse that became the Lifeboat Inn so named because a small three person vessel would be lowered down the nearby cliff when a ship was in distress. Early on it seemed to revert to being a pub as it was known as the Brewers Arms during the 1830s and was heavily linked with the local smuggling trade, many tunnels and passages were discovered beneath when it was renovated in the 1990s. In 1841 11 cottages on the left were built as coastguard living quarters and the old building seems to have reverted again as a coastguard station which it remained until the Second World War. It remained unused and derelict until the 1990s conversion back into a pub named in a public competition, very apt for Peacehaven, after a sett was discovered in its garden. The road is the A259 South Coast Road which prior to the building of Peacehaven and Telscombe Cliffs was known as the Dover Road. Beyond is Telscombe Tye, a common piece of land separating the 20th century developments of Saltdean and Peacehaven.
©Simon Carey
Block of flats on the western edge of Telscombe Cliffs. The sign tied to the fence in the central reservation welcomes home mummy and Jack. Not the first time a message has been left here as I recall a recent sheet proclaiming someone's 60th birthday. The bus lane in the foreground has recently been created to speed up buses travelling into Brighton particularly in the morning rush hour when the stretch of road between Peacehaven and Brighton can resemble little more than an eight mile traffic jam. Needless to say it isn't popular with motorists who have to use this road as there is no other way of getting into Brighton.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.1km<br/>The Badgers Watch pub restaurant is situated on Telscombe Cliff, it was formerly known as the Lifeboat Inn, as it funded the first local lifeboat. Website: http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebadgerswatchpeacehaven/
©Paul Gillett
Dist:0.1km<br/>The official title for this establishment is some euphemism, but essentially it handles the discharge to the sea of most of Brighton's sewage. The cranes are idle with the jibs down - is this because of the exposed position? It seems unlikely any possible wind would blow a crane over.
©Robin Webster
Dist:0.1km<br/>There is a dip in the cliffs here, and a layer of reddish soil overlies the chalk. This has given way, taking part of the fence with it.
©Robin Webster
Dist:0.1km<br/>Looking across South Coast Road and Telscombe Tye towards Telscombe Cliffs. The latter was actually the first place to be developed along the cliffs by the Cavendish Land Company around 1900 though this attempt initially failed. However, with Charles Neville's development of Peacehaven and Saltdean the older Telscombe Cliffs was revitalised and grew with the former. The bungalows in view are on Gorham Way named after the Lord of Manor at Telscombe, Ambrose Gorham, who having battled to prevent Neville getting hold of his land, willed the Tye to Brighton Borough Council, despite the fact Telscombe had never been a part of Brighton, on condition it remained in perpetual use as an area of common land and thus creating a buffer between the outlying eastern edge of Brighton and the towns to the east.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>Stretching from South Coast Road to Grassmere Avenue. This part of Telscombe Cliffs was I believe originally laid out by the Cavendish Land Company, the straight lines of Neville's avenues begins at Telscombe Cliffs Way.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>The steps lead steeply down to the beach which is comprised of shingle with excellent rock pools at low tide. This path is not marked on the OS maps.
©Andy Potter
Dist:0.2km<br/>The sea defence protecting the pumping station is on the left whilst an eroding cliff which has been repaired is on the right.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>Public access to the shingle beach that has built up between the groynes that act a as sea defence for the pumping station. Despite it being illegal the beach has always had a reputation as a nudist beach.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>Given some protection by the defences protecting the pumping station a small shingle beach has formed between the cliffs and the rocky foreshore. However, access is very limited by foot around the base of the groyne in the distance meaning a secure knowledge of the tide times is imperative if visiting otherwise there is the very real danger of being isolated and cut off.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>Opposite view of [[1204849]] which was taken from the cliff jutting out in the distance and at low tide. The small shingle beach has been protected by the sea defences around Portobello Pumping Station and is a lovely little beach. However, the only access is around the eastern groyne protecting Portobello Beach which means anyone visit must have an intimate knowledge of the tide times otherwise there is a very real danger of being isolated and cut off.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>The fence to the right is nearly reaching the beach whilst the post to its left is just starting the process and will be joined sooned by the rest of it.
©Simon Carey
Dist:0.2km<br/>
©Peter
Dist:0.2km<br/>near to the Badger Watch restaurant
©Paul Gillett

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  • The Bevendean Co-operative Pub

    Hello friends, if you haven't already been told about the The Bevendean Co-operative pub, then its about time you knew- It's a campaign to turn a closed down local inner city pub into a family …
    taylormotm in North Moulsecoomb, Tuesday 07 February, 2012


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