Despite officially being part of the Borough of Hastings, we felt that St Leonards On Sea deserved a page of its own.
After all, the area was an ancient parish in its own right - although the area really came into its own after James Burton's influence in the 19th Century for it was he that was responsible for many of the elegant houses, parks and gardens that still exist.
Although seen by many as the 'poorer' side of Hastings, property prices in the town rose some 185% in the height of the property boom in the earlier 2000s as demand for Burton's grand buildings grew.
Although run-down in many areas, there's been a sustained effort to regenerate the entire area - in some cases with great success. For example, a grant for nearly £1million from the Heritage Lottery Fund was channeled into restoring St Leonards Gardens and South Lodge to their former glory.
Renovation work included additional seating as well as the graden walls, paths and railings. The gradens look particular pleasant in the spring and early summer thanks to the generous replanting of the flower and shrub borders.