SOUTHBOURNE’S history is the subject of a new project thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

A grant of £6,000 has enabled the Southbourne Creative Hub in Belle Vue Road to co-ordinate activities to allow local residents to understand more about the history of the area.

Entitled Surprising Southbourne, the project has a number of strands including a textiles group which is creating hangings to reflect Southbourne in the past.

Now members of the public are being urged to join a new creative writing group due to start on Wednesday March 27.

Those interested can use stories of their own or can be provided with material to write short stories and poems inspired by local history.

As well as the work of the writing group, a DVD about the history of the area will be made and there are also plans for an exhibition and music to be performed at the Southbourne Music Festival in the summer.

Pictures and stories about the Shell House which once stood on Southbourne Overcliff Drive are also being sought to form part of the exhibition.

In the 18th century Southbourne was heathland and was notorious for smugglers. By mid-Victorian times it had a promenade and pier and a Winter Gardens. Fisherman’s Walk was established 100 years ago.

There are still spaces available on the writing course, which will run for five weeks on Wednesdays from 10.30am until 12.30pm from March 27.

Anyone interested should call 01202 427962 or email southbournech@yahoo.co.uk