Eastbourne has changed allot over the years, and has changed form a collection of small villages, to one of Britain’s most popular tourist spots. Today, over 48million people visit Eastbourne a year as tourist, and it has created over 4000 jobs. But what changed Eastbourne form a market town, with no major industries at all, to a thriving tourist town? And what made a population of little over 1000 grow to a population of nearly 100,000? The simple answer is the invention of trains, which easily enabled tourists to visit towns like Eastbourne.

   The Eastbourne we know and love today is very different from the Eastbourne of 800 years ago. Today Eastbourne would be considered a large town, with a population of 98,493 (according to East Sussex county council figures), however, even at the end of the 16th century, only had little over 1000 people living there. Eastbourne became a ‘Market town’ in 1232; however you or I would have still considered it only a small village. It wasn’t until the 18th century however that seaside areas became fashionable for health reasons. The belief that salt water could keep you healthy more than tripled the population of Eastbourne, but still, this was a very small population. It seems clear, to me at least, that people did like the idea of living in a coastal town, but it wasn’t practical. The industries there were nowhere near as large or prosperous as the industries in large cities, meaning that towns like Eastbourne didn’t have the jobs to support a large population.

   So, if Eastbourne had a small population, and no way of attracting new residents, what happened that changed all that? The simple answer is George Stephenson happened. In 1929 Stephenson launched the Rocket, Britain’s first steam engine. While only rich people could afford to live in Eastbourne, the invention of the train meant that workers, from all over the country, could come and visit coastal towns for a day trip. It was not until 1849 that the trains could reach Eastbourne, but when tourists eventually arrived, they came in great numbers to this beautiful coastal town. A cycle began to appear, more tourists means new industries, new industries means more jobs and more jobs means a larger population.

   Eastbourne’s economy changed rapidly after that. Demand from tourists for new attractions meant Eastbourne, and other towns like it, became a hotbed for entrepreneurs who had spotted the gap in the market. New tourist related businesses were creating many new jobs. The main ‘entrepreneur’ in Eastbourne however appears to have been Eastbourne Borough Council, who has made a huge effort to attract tourists, including building four theatres. One of the major investments was Eastbourne’s famous pier, which is currently owned by Six Piers LTD, and was put up for sale in June 2009. However, it was originally, owned by a company which was set up specifically for this one venture. ‘The Eastbourne Pire Company’ started up with £15,000, and began to work on 18 April 1866. It eventually opened in 1870, but was only completed in 1972. When the pier went on sale, the asking price was over £5 Million.

   Over all, the pier shows how much Eastbourne’s economy has changed. A company that started with only £15,000 managed to build a business which is on sale for over £5 Million; this wouldn’t have even crossed the minds of people living in 16th century Eastbourne. Eastbourne is a wonderful example of how new technology (i.e. the introduction of trains) can completely change the economies of even the smallest towns.