In 1545 a french fleet commanded by the high Admiral of France, Claude d'Annabent, sailed into seaford bay, after unsucessful raids on Brighthelmstone and Meeching, but this time they met fierce resistance. 1500 French troops landed, where a force led by Sir Nicholas Pelham was waiting for them. A bloody battle ensued where the French withdrew to their ships leaving a 100 corpses on the beach.
This area named the buckle in honour of the Pelham family, whose family arms bore an augmentation of honour in the form of a buckle. This was granted to Sir John de Pelham for the capture of King John of France at the battle of Poitier - the buckle being part of the kings sword.