Inventive exercise

Discovering past invention and innovation was the theme of a guided walk organised by Bexhill Museum.

Curator Julian Porter met a group of enthusiasts in Devonshire Square and took them on a journey of discovery through town which focussed previous residents who helped shape the 20th century.

Julian spoke about famous names such as John Logie Baird and Frank Nichols but also Norman Holden, the son of a Victorian station master, who developed the 3D television system which prototype is owned by the museum, and Harry Grindell Matthews who invented the death ray and wireless telephone system.

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"At the start of the 20th century there were some really interesting characters scattered all around town," said Julian.

"Then there were the Elva works which used to be where the Viking fish shop is now, on the crossroads of the A259, where the sports cars were first produced - in the 1950's Elva was huge in Bexhill, and there was even a mark 7 Elva racing car drivin by Elvis in the film Viva Las Vegas.

"This is part of Museum and Galleries month, which has a theme of Ideas and Innovation, so we thought we would have a look around at some of the sites associated with our inventors. For instance, the first motor race was here, and there was cycling early on, and this is thought to be the first town to have electricity supply which would have been in the 1900's. We were very advanced in lot of areas - it's thought we were the first area to allow mixed bathing."

The next Bexhill Museum guided walk takes place on Wednesday May 28 at 10.30am, and will be Stepping Out for a family ramble in Bexhill Highwoods.

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The theme will be to show parents and children how to look out for signs of the many creatures living in the Highwoods, and finish off by making a decorative postcard as a souvenir. The event will be led by Alan Malpass, and those taking part should meet at the car park, which is just off Pear Tree Lane.