[3] In the Middle Ages, Seaford was one of the main ports serving Southern England, but the town's fortunes declined due to coastal sedimentation silting up its harbour and persistent raids by French pirates.

The coastal confederation of Cinque Ports in the mediaeval period consisted of forty-two towns and villages; Seaford was included under the "Limb" of Hastings.

Local legend has it that Seaford residents would, on occasion, cause ships to run aground by placing fake harbour lights on the cliffs.

[5] Seaford's fortunes revived in the 19th century with the arrival of the railway connecting the town to Lewes and London.

The town lies on the coast near Seaford Head, roughly equidistant between the mouths of the River Ouse and the Cuckmere.

This stretch of coast is notified for its geological and ecological features as Seaford to Beachy Head Site of Special Scientific Interest.

[6] The River Ouse used to run parallel to the shore behind the shingle bar, entering the sea close to Seaford.

However, a major storm in the 16th century broke through the bar at its western end, creating a new river mouth close to the village called Meeching, which was later renamed to Newhaven.

The town formerly had excellent beaches, which were supplied by longshore drift constantly moving sand along the coast from west to east.

During a severe storm that October a substantial amount of the deposited material on the upper part of the beach was washed out past low tide level, leading to questions in the House of Commons.

[7][8] The town's publicity website[9] states: "For many, the main attraction in Seaford is the beach", which draws visitors, particularly during the summer months when sea temperatures can reach up to 20°C (68°F).

[13] The Old Town Hall in South Street was the meeting place of the borough council, which had the power to elect two members of parliament, until the implementation of the Reform Act 1832.

Seaford returned three members of parliament who went on to become Prime Minister: Henry Pelham represented the town from 1717 to 1722, William Pitt the Elder from 1747 to 1754 and George Canning in 1827.

As of July 2024, Liberal Democrat James MacCleary serves as the MP for the Lewes constituency, which includes Seaford.

Caulfield, a former NHS nurse, won the seat in 2015 by a narrow margin of 1,083 votes, unseating the previous Liberal Democrat MP, Norman Baker.

(in post 1865 – 1901) [citation needed] Seaford has the westernmost of the South Coast Martello Towers, number 74, now a local history museum.

They are made up of volunteers, mainly young people, who give thousands of unpaid hours every year to train and help keep the public safe.

The Wave is a leisure centre offering a range of sports and pastimes, including badminton, indoor bowls, children's disco dancing, line-dancing and fitness classes.

Seaford was also home to an independent school, Newlands Preparatory and Manor, which included a specialist unit for pupils with specific learning difficulties.

[35] The town is also home to a special needs boarding school called Bowden House which is run by Tower Hamlets Council.

[37] The transepts and polygonal apse are Gothic Revival additions designed by John Billing and built in 1861–82.

[40] St Luke's Church, opened in 1959 and built of flint and brick, serves the Chyngton and Sutton suburbs of the town.

James O'Hanlon Hughes and Geoffrey Welch designed the flint and render building, which was extended in 1969 using artificial stone.

[43] A town-centre Baptist chapel was demolished in 1973 and replaced by a new brown-brick circular church on the road to East Blatchington.