Eastbourne is located in the southeastern coast of England.  This resort town grew rapidly from 1851 to 1891 which increased from 4,000 to 35,000.  In The Romance of a Shop this town is mentioned on two seperate occasions.  First in Chapter 11, when it mentions that Phyllis took a trip there and stayed three weeks.  Which was stated that it did not seem to do her any good; this was referring to her health problems, and saying that the trip to the southern city did not do anything to improve these problems.  The second time was in Chapter 12,  which talked about how Phyllis flirted with Fred a good bit.  Fred played along with this flirting in hope that it would get back to Lucy.