Nestled on the cusp of Brighton and the South Downs, Devil’s Dyke is well known for its stunning views and fabled past. Devil's Dyke is famed for its rich Iron Age history with early settlements dotted across the hills. Its name stems from a legend - the Devil was furious about the conversion of the people of the Weald to Christianity and decided to dig a dyke through the South Downs so the sea could flow in and drown them.
But its more recent history is much more jovial than its name would suggest for the site was once a fairground. Devil's Dyke's Funicular Railway (Image: Regency Society | James Gray Archive) Dating back to Brighton’s heyday as a Victorian resort, Devil’s Dyke began to attract hundreds of tourists for its sweeping views across the Downs. The site benefited even more when, in 1887, the Devil’s Dyke railway opened to draw tourists from the town centre out to the countryside to sample the area.
The cable car across the valley (Image: Regency Society | James Gray Archive) Capitalising on the success of The Dyke Hotel, now The Devil’s Dyke pub, J H Hubbard bought the hotel and the Dyke Estate in 1892. From there, he set about turning the site into Dyke Park, an adventure park housing some of the UK’s most pioneering attractions. The park entrance was originally marked with two elephant statues which welcome visitors into the area.
Now, two smaller statues stand in a clearing near the Devil’s Dyke car park. The park was known for many things, not le.