Normans Bay is a coastal hamlet

Hamlet (place)

A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...

 in the Pevensey Levels

Pevensey Levels

The area known as the Pevensey Levels is a Site of Special Scientific Interest notified under Section 28 of theWildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an area of marshland situated between Bexhill in the east, Pevensey in the west and Hailsham in the north...

 area of East Sussex

East Sussex

East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...

, England.

In 2005 divers trying to free a lobster pot discovered a large anchor and cannons offshore. It is thought to be the remains of the English warship HMS Resolution

HMS Resolution (1667)

HMS Resolution was a 70-gun third-rate ship of the line of the Royal Navy, launched at Harwich Dockyard in 6 December 1667. She was one of only three third rate vessels designed and built by the noted maritime architect Sir Anthony Deane.-History:...

, which sunk there in 1703.

Contrary to popular belief it does not take its name from the Norman conquest of England

Norman conquest of England

The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...

 of 1066. The area occupied by Normans Bay was under water at the time. The forces of William the Conqueror are believed to have landed at nearby Pevensey

Pevensey

Pevensey is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne, one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of the parish.-Geography:The village of Pevensey is located on...

 although there has been some dispute about this.

Normans Bay is near the popular seaside resorts of Eastbourne

Eastbourne

Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...

 and Brighton

Brighton

Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...

 to the west and Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...

 to the east, with a regular train service on the hour during the day (not Sundays). It is served by Normans Bay railway station

Normans Bay railway station

Normans Bay railway station serves Normans Bay in East Sussex. It is on the East Coastway Line, and train services are provided by Southern.According to a text held by a local resident, the station was built in Victorian times due to the arrival of a stranded whale in the nearby marshes, although...

. The nearest bus service is in Pevensey Bay.

Some points of interest include a sand and shingle beach, a Napoleonic defence tower, two caravan sites and a large Inn. The main village is surrounded by mostly dry marshland to the North, in which lay the land remains of an ancient settlement known as Northolt, which is thought to have gradually been abandoned when the sea retreated (though there is some speculation about this).