the town became much bigger after a railway station was built there in 1849. it joined eastbourne to london, brighton and the south coast railway. from 1858, william cavendish, 2nd duke of burlington (later 7th duke of cavendish) invested a lot of money into the town. the elegant areas of meads, devonshire park and the western parades were developed as a result of his investment. cavendish's influence is recognised by many place and business names in eastbourne, for example: the cavendish school, the burlington hotel, or the devonshire park theatre.