This oasis is not only a quiet corner of the town but at this time of year is also worth visiting for the beautiful flowers.

The Crouch was first mentioned in 1601 when it was owned by the Rev. Hyde who had been the vicar of St Leonard's since 1575.

The Crouch was the site of Seaford Market at least until 1712, when it was last mentioned and it is probable that the word "Crouch" refers to the market cross which would have stood here.

The area to the north was originally the garden of Crouch House, a place where, in the 1840s, a young Charles Gordon (later the famous General Gordon) visited, as his aunt lived here.

The 25-room house and seven acres of land were bought by Seaford Urban District Council in 1930 for £4,300.

The area between the Telephone Exchange and the Crouch was once a terrace of ancient cottages but these were knocked down in 1905 and East Street was widened and a flint wall built.

In 1927 the old town hall was renovated and a Tudor sandstone arch was found buried amongst the rubble in the basement. This archway was then inset into the Crouch Gardens wall.

In 1951 an area of the garden near to the telephone exchange was set aside to be a Rose Garden. Two years later Seaford prepared for the coronation of the Queen and there the Seaford and District Allotment Holders and Horticultural Association (do you think it was shortened to the SADAHAHA?) met in February 1953 to discuss how they could brighten up the town.

It was decided to plant trees in Broad Street (to replace Elms which had been cut down a few months earlier), to plant up gardens around the newly sited War Memorial and to produce a mobile garden on the back of a trailer to take part in the Coronation Parade.

The coronation saw another addition to Crouch Gardens when a wrought iron gate was made in the Berry Brothers blacksmiths in Crouch Lane.

The gate was designed by Gilbert Berry and had taken 100 hours to make.

The centre of the gate included the letters "ER-1953" picked out in gold and was generously donated to the town by the makers.

At a ceremony on Coronation Day, 2nd June 1952 the gate was formally opened by Commander Jack on behalf of the council and it was also blessed by the Rev. Shillito.

A key to the gate was handed to the makers so that members of the Berry family could use the gate in the future. The gateway was listed by English Heritage in 1971.

Seaford Council took back the running of Crouch Gardens from Lewes District Council in 2005 and the gardens have never looked better.
In September 2007 a walled garden at the Crouch was dedicated and volunteers have been busy creating a community garden for the young and old to enjoy.

Although the garden is still being created, it will be open on Sunday, July 12, between 11am and 5pm as part of the Sussex "Garden Gadabout" which raises funds for the Sussex Beacon. Dozens of gardens from Shoreham to Seaford are open for this event whose patron is the gardener Carol Klein.

The same day also sees many gardens in town open for "Seaford in Bloom".

This annual event started in 1992 and is managed by a committee which includes the founders Isabel and Ashley Stephenson.

That first year they erected five hanging baskets – this year there are no less than 76! As well as the beautiful floral boat near the railway station, Seaford in Bloom is also responsible for a number of floral towers and the beautiful floral tubs outside the Police Station.

Working inside at the Tourist Information Centre, I know that they are noticed and appreciated.

The TIC has details of all the Seaford gardens open this weekend and I hope you will make the effort to visit them all. Thank you to all the green fingered people of Seaford who help our town look so radiant at this time of year.