Local site presentation Beachy Head Beachy head is a beautiful site in Sussex that many visitors come to see,

it has a long and tangled history beginning as a landmark for sea goers and as a home to communities in East Dean. In French Beachy Head is believed to be a corruption of the original French meaning beautiful headland. The King of the Saxons Nunna is said to be a connection with East Dean. Beachy head is the highest of the seven sisters and the eastern most part of the national park. Its an area of outstanding natural beauty Beachy Head was a place where much illegal smuggling used to take place. Smuggling became a popular past time in Britain due to the high taxes placed on imports. By avoiding customs officers and avoiding taxes, goods could be sold for much lower prices. This made items such as tabacco, alchahol and tea much more affordable to the masses. So while smuggling is usually viewed as the work of violent criminals, it was common for entire villages to assist the smuggling operations, aiding the smugglers while hampering the customs men.1 Beachy Head has always been one of the main landmarks for sailors and seafarers. Many ships were damaged and some even wrecked due to the cliffs and sharp rocks below, the sea often rough. The belle Tout lighthouse was designed to warn sailors of the approaching cliffs in the early 1800s but sometimes it remained unseen due to the misty weather and fog, this meant that work began on building a second lighthouse for Beachy Head, it was erected in the sea below the cliffs. The lighthouse was manned by three lighthouse keepers and it was 43 meters high, the lighthouse keepers were there to take turns in maintaining the light. This happened until 1983 when the lights became authomated. In current times the lighthouse is far less important and dying out due to satellite navigation systems on ships. Jonathan Darby was the Rector of Wilmington and the Parson of Friston and East Dean, he was also the curate of St Michaels church in Litlington in 1962. He had the duties of taking care of the bodies which were washed up from wrecks, which greatly saddened him. There are tales that some ships were wrecked deliberately and that the trailors were tricked by people attached lanterns to grazing animals to mimic the effect of lights on other ships, so sailors would believe they were near other ships far from the mainland. Ship wrecks and killed sailors was a murderous affair, the number was high and it was and it was an undignified end. Parson Darby knew that to prevent this from happening further he needed a reliable fixed light that would warn the men at sea of the whereabouts of the cliffs. He then excavated Parson Darbys Hole in existing caverns. He created a chimney that led up from the coast and rooms above it where he set lights of ledges on stormy nights. He saved many lives watching the sea from his dark dingey caves on stormy nights when the sea was
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24/2/2012 Beachy Head History Site

rough. There were a couple of cases where although the ships were wrecked some sailors had their lives saved after being pulled into Parson Darbys Hole. Whether much wrecking was done by the locals on purpose is still a controversial topic amongst the people of Sussex today but there is no doubt that the wrecks provided a source of income for people by selling on the goods because wrecks were rapidly stripped of all valuables and useful equipment. Unfortunately Parson Darby died in 1726 and is buried in Friston churchyard beneath an epitaph: He was definitely the sailors' friend. Beachy Head is famous for its white cliffs and the dramatic, undulating coastline that rumbles along the Seven Sisters, but there is much more to explore. A short walk inland brings you to the village of East Dean, where the Tiger Inn, Hikers Rest, Thai Terre and a world-class deli surround a quaint village green. Beachy Head beer is brewed a short hop down the road. East Dean is also home to a thriving community of artists, and the wider area is a hotspot for bird watchers catching a glimpse of migrating birds. Mountain bikers are at home in Friston Forest and kayakers and canoeists enjoy the sheltered waters of Cuckmere Haven. Beachy Head is also close to the South Downs Way, a national treasure of a trail that runs for 100 miles between Winchester and Eastbourne. So whether youre into walking, cycling or horse riding, the South Downs Way offers an incredible opportunity.2 What beachy head is used for On trip advisor I found some interesting comments about what people thought about Beachy Head; Wrap up warm! It gets very windy up the top but the views are spectacular and the area is very photogenic. It has an unfortunate reputation, and spookily my camera's memory card failed right at the top. Probably due to the cold. Never mind, it means I'll have to go back! The classic white chalk cliffs. Good walks above them, bad falls from them. Suicide Beachy head has over 20 estimated deaths there per year. Beachy head used in film and media Due to its stunning natural beauty Beachy Head has been a feature in many films such as the famous Quadrophenia and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Also the cure had two of their music videos filmed there Close to me Brighton Rock and Just like Heaven. It also featured in Many Happy Returns which was an episode of the TV show the prisoner
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21/2/2012 Beachy Head Information Site http://www.beachyhead.org.uk/explore_beachy_head/

Beachy Head was also the setting for The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" and "Close To Me" videos. It is well known for the closing scene of Quadrophenia, where Phil Daniels shoots a scooter off of the very top of Beachy Head. Local Eastbourne band The Removalists also shot the video for "Last Train to Soul Bay" at Beachy Head. It made a short appearance in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" where Chitty fell off, and flew the first time after that.