Bexhill-on-Sea (GB)

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Bexhill-on-Sea Station Office cancel of bars and maltese cross 1907
The Station earlier had been issued with the K27 Post Office Numeral. Whilst Bexhill-on-Sea main office had been issued with the K27 numeral both in c1887
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Bexhill-on-Sea (often shortened to just Bexhil) is a seaside town and civil parish situated in the county of East Sussex in South East England. An ancient town and part of the local government district of Rother, Bexhill is home to a number of archaeological sites, a Manor House in the Old Town, an abundance of Edwardian and Victorian architecture, and the famous De La Warr Pavilion: today a centre for contemporary art – which has featured the work of Andy Warhol, Cerith Wyn Evans and Richard Wilson amongst others – and an auditorium, where Bob Marley had his first UK appearance and has since seen performances by Elvis Costello, Goldfrapp, Ray Davies, Years & Years, Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson.

The first reference to Bexhill, or Bexelei as it was originally called, was in a charter granted by King Offa of Mercia in 772 AD. It is recorded that King Offa had 'defeated the men of Hastings' in 771 AD.

At this time, the term Hastings would have referred to this whole area rather than the town itself as it does today. In the charter, King Offa established a church and religious community in Bexhill. During the Norman Conquest of 1066 it appears that Bexhill was largely destroyed. The Domesday survey of 1086 records that the manor was worth £20 before the conquest, was 'waste' in 1066 and was worth £18 10s in 1086. King William I used the lands he had conquered to reward his knights and gave Bexhill manor to Robert, Count of Eu, with most of the Hastings area.1902 was the year that Bexhill became an Incorporated Borough. This was the first Royal Charter granted by Edward VII. Bexhill was the last town in Sussex to be incorporated and it was the first time a Royal Charter was delivered by motorcar. To celebrate the town's newfound status and to promote the resort, the 8th Earl De La Warr organised the country's first ever motorcar races along De La Warr Parade in May 1902. The town was scandalised at this time by the divorce of Earl De La Warr.

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Bexhill-on-Sea

Current Post Office (Buckhurst Road (1897-1937) then Devonshire Square (1931-present))

1897 to date the office became a Post Office in its own right and opened up north east of the Railway station on Buckhurst Road before finally closing in 1937 and moving to its present day site on Devonshire Square south of the Railway.

First Post Office (Off High Street, Old Town) 1818-1897

Bexhills first postal service commenced in the Old town at the King's Barracks. In 1818 a Penny Post operated between Battle acting as Head Office and Bexhill operating as a receiving House. A Post office opened in 1840 on Belle Hill as an outhouse of Genista Cottage. It operated until the 1850's. In 1860 the Head office moved to Hastings which had grown faster than Battle. The 'new' office opened up with Reeve's Grocery shop on the High street and remained in the 'Old Town' - Until 1897. The advent of the Railway expanded the town and the Post Office moved to be nearer the homes and businesses that came with the Rail increase nearer the coast. The building no longer exists.

Bexhill Old Town 1897 -1937

On its closure in 1897 a smaller post office opened up in New Town to maintain postal services

Sub Offices

Bexhill-on-Sea Station Office

Bexhill-on-Sea Station Office cancel of bars and maltese cross 1907

Bexhill West is a closed station in Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. It was the terminus of the Bexhill West branch of the Hastings Line. It was opened by the South Eastern and Chatham Railway and was operated by the Southern Region of British Railways on closing. The station building still survives as an antiques house. The trackbed and site of the now demolished platforms are now occupied by commercial industrial buildings. A 4.5-mile (7.2 km) branch line was ceremonially opened between Crowhurst and Bexhill on 31 May 1902 by the nominally independent Crowhurst, Sidley & Bexhill Railway Company which had been promoted by the Earl De La Warr together with other local businessmen and landowners. The line had the backing of the South Eastern Railway which ran services to the nearby Hastings and St Leonards stations.