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Severe Winter
From the Hastings News of 18/01/1861
The severity of the winter had lead to much suffering of workmen thrown out of work. The men formed a marching band, appointed a committee and canvassed the town for help.
Luggers Set Sail
From the Hastings News of 24/01/1861
The big luggers engaged in mackerel catching had all left for the western fishing grounds in the last few days.
Fire Brigade
From the Hastings News of 08/02/1861
The formation of a local fire brigade was being considered.
A stained glass window in All Saints Church, designed to commemorate Earl Waldegrave, was unveiled. On 30 March 1861, Miss Sayer laid the first stone of the Waldegrave drinking fountain, next to the Holy Trinity Church.
Hastings (United) Cricket Club was founded.
The two-masted trading brig Lambourn was repaired by the shipbuilders Kent and relaunched after lying at the bottom of the High Street as an eyesore for several months.
1861 Census
From the Hastings News of 26/04/1861
The 1861 census showed the number of people in Hastings to be just under 25,000. All Saints and St Clements only increased 62 in a decade.
Jack-in-the-Green
From the Hastings News of 03/05/1861
May Day on 1 May was celebrated by the appearance of some ‘Jacks-in-the-Green' accompanied by amateur sweeps.
A report was published on the Hastings Old Bank bankruptcy of four years ago.
There were railway improvements at Gensing Station [now Warrior Square Station].
Unclaimed Wrecks
From the Hastings News of 17/05/1861
There was a corporation law case, based on ancient charters, for unclaimed wrecks.
A special meeting of Hastings Council was arranged to purchase the Eversfield Waterworks from Mr C Clark, reportedly for £9,000.
Penny Bank Created
From the Hastings News of 31/05/1861
A meeting of nearly 250 people took place on 24 May in the girls school room, All Saints, to talk about and set up a Penny Bank. It was soon operating, with 150 people depositing by late July.
New Drill Hall
From the Hastings News of 07/06/1861
A new drill hall was created in Middle Street for the Volunteer Artillery Corps and Rifles to share.
There were large reductions in the rail fares between Hastings and London.
Boating Regattas
From the Hastings News of 14/06/1861
After failing to agree, Hastings and St Leonards decided to have separate boating regattas: St Leonards on July 25, Hastings August 12.
Postal Services
From the Hastings News of 21/06/1861
There was still much doubt over the wisdom of the revision of the postal services. The bags were brought to Hastings instead of Bopeep Station.
A report on the new reservoirs that had been built on the West Hill (which opened today) and Halton.
A meeting of about 50 people took place at the Town Hall at 7pm on 3 July to form the Hastings Volunteer Fire Brigade. This is said to be the first such brigade in Britain (a similar meeting was taking ...
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Hops Flooded
From the Hastings News of 12/07/1861
Wastel Brisco complained of damage done to his hop crop during the floods owing to faulty drainage.
Thomas Brassey jnr had a party on 12 July to celebrate the finish of redecoration of the Beauport Park mansion after the death of Sir Charles Lamb. Redecoration took nine months.
Rock Fair
From the Hastings News of 26/07/1861
'Rock Fair is Dead': A comment on the Hastings 'Rock Fair' which used to be held on the Priory Grounds and was now discontinued, although many new people still tried to celebrate the occasion.
Fire Brigade Meets
From the Hastings News of 26/07/1861
The fire brigade met on 22 July. It had three sections, of 13 men each; two sections for the Old Town, one for St Leonards. On 2 August, 20 members of the new fire brigade mustered for the first drill.
The prominent local businessman Boykett Breeds committed suicide on 26 July.
Bopeep Races
From the Hastings News of 02/08/1861
A meeting was held at the York pub in the town centre on 27 July to revive the races at Bopeep.
New Waterworks
From the Hastings News of 09/08/1861
The new Eversfield Waterworks was officially inspected by the committee on 1 August. The second new reservoir had just been opened at Halton on 7 August.
Hastings Regatta
From the Hastings News of 16/08/1861
The Hastings regatta was held on 10 and 11 August, with a fete in the evening at Halton, with fireworks.
Rifle Fete
From the Hastings News of 23/08/1861
The First Cinque Port Rifle Volunteers held a prize fete at the ranges in Ecclesbourne Glen. They had a shooting match there on 24 September.
Installation of Lord Palmerston as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, at Dover.
Hastings Council approved the buying of land for a new police station, on the corner of Norman Road and Mercatoria. On 19 September, the News reported that the council had accepted a tender for £598 from Mr Bridgland for the ...
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There was a concert to aid the building of the girls Ragged School.
Herring Fishing
From the Hastings News of 13/09/1861
The fishing fleet had sailed for the summer herring fishing. It was hoped that the fishing this season will be prosperous after the bad recent times.
Anti-slavery meetings were held, with John Anderson, the runaway slave, speaking. The American Civil War had begun in April 1861.
Schooner Wrecked
From the Hastings News of 20/09/1861
The schooner Midge, 130 tons, was wrecked off the Saxon Hotel by a sudden storm.
A letter stating the need of a cricketing ground for Hastings, and suggesting the Priory land.
Servants’ Home
From the Hastings News of 27/09/1861
Report on a servants’ home, for girls out of work at the time, to prevent them from mixing with people of doubtful character.
The Gensing (Warrior Square) Railway Station was to be improved, with passengers able to take their seats on a train without running the risk of a violent cold or drenching.
Russian Royals
From the Hastings News of 27/09/1861
The Russian Royal family, the Grand Duke and Duchess Constantine, visited town for a day.
Penny Bank Success
From the Hastings News of 04/10/1861
The Penny Bank was a continuing success. It was open at the Town Hall from 7 till 8 on Saturday evenings, with 325 members and 20-30 joining each week.
Ragged School
From the Hastings News of 11/10/1861
It was reported that the Ragged School subscription was very poor.
Poor Fishing
From the Hastings News of 11/10/1861
The fishing harvest was very poor.
A whirlwind struck Carlisle Parade in the afternoon.
Poor vs Rich
From the Hastings News of 18/10/1861
There was a complaint of lack of good housing for the poor, and too many houses for the rich.
A Hastings Council meeting discussed a plan for a pier, forming a harbour, at a cost of no more than £100,000.
A gas explosion occurred in Coburg Place, Old Town, following a gas leak into a sewer near Swan Lane. The effect was said to be similar to a steam engine firing.
The famous author Charles Dickens gave readings from Christmas Carol and Pickwick Papers at the Music Hall, Hastings.
Herring Success
From the Hastings News of 08/11/1861
Successful herring haul by 20-30 boats.
Immorality
From the Hastings News of 08/11/1861
The newspaper commented on the recent police report about the large amount of profanity and temperance.
There was a large amount of flooding in the Priory Valley, the worst for 8-9 years, but little damage.
Pier and Harbour
From the Hastings News of 22/11/1861
A further meeting on the proposed pier and harbour was held on 20 November. The News of 29 November said that it was against the harbour development.
Poor Herring Catch
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
So far the herring harvest had been as unsuccessful at home as it had been in the North Sea. Although large shoals abounded, bad weather had made fishing difficult.
Gale Warnings
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
The following warnings of storms would operate from the flagstaff at the Custom House near the Fishmarket, opposite the bottom of High Street: The Drum - stormy winds; The Cone - gale force winds; Cone/Drum - dangerous winds.
Schooner Repaired
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
The French schooner Louise, wrecked during the summer, had been repaired and re-launched
Death of Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert. The mayor intended to suspend business between 10-12 on Monday for the funeral of His Majesty.
Poor Fishing
From the Hastings News of 27/12/1861
The larger Hastings luggers had returned from the North Sea as herring fishing was entirely suspended. A bad year, with the average earning of fishermen not succeeding 8/- a week.