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Fairs Abolished From the Hastings News of 12/01/1872

The Council voted to abolish fairs held 23-24 November and Whit Tuesday - an "abominable nuisance" - to prevent the assemblage of a class of people who were no credit to the town or to anybody else.

Teachers’ Association Formed From the Hastings News of 26/01/1872

There was a meeting on 20 January at St Mary Magdalen schoolroom to form the East Sussex Elementary Teachers' Association. The chairman was JB Ayers, who had just retired after 28 years as master of All Saints and St Clements ... (more...)

Vandalism From the Hastings News of 02/02/1872

The St Leonards Commissioners offered £5 reward after vandalism, including seats overturned, the pedestal barometer glass smashed, plants removed etc in private gardens.

Open Spaces From the Hastings News of 09/02/1872

Cllr Winter urged the need to "increase the public open spaces in the borough"; land was being sold for building, and the price would rise. The Council's general purposes committee was to report from time to time.

Channel Tunnel From the Hastings News of 16/02/1872

Thomas Brassey and others formed a company to survey to see if it was practical to build a tunnel between Dover and Calais. Capital £30,000.

Longevity From the Hastings News of 16/02/1872

Six local men on Marine Parade near the sundial had total ages of 481. Thomas ('Duncan') White 84, Matthew Phillips 83, John Breeds 80, Henry Phillips 79, John Haste 75, fishermen, and John Oliver 80, old pleasure boat man. All in ... (more...)

Rocks and Roads From the Hastings News of 16/02/1872

Dr Bowerbank to St Leonards Commisasioners: I have not the slightest doubt but that you may remove all the rocks between high and low water marks without in the slightest degree interfering with the natural tidal deposit of the shingle ... (more...)

Rowdyism From the Hastings News of 01/03/1872

John Banks reported on louts pelting each other in the streets with turves and stones, and bad language. But there was a danger of a summons if one took action. He said police dared not box ears, if sauced.

Clear Visibility From the Hastings News of 15/03/1872

On 8 March the French coast was as clearly visible as Beachy Head in normal weather. To Boulogne it was 45 miles, to StValery 60 miles.

Battle Painting. From the Hastings News of 19/04/1872

The mayor suggested that a picture of the Battle of Hastings given by the Dowager Lady Webster be lent to the V & A Museum because of storage problems. Agreed. But the News of 14 June 1872 reported that the ... (more...)

End of the Turnpikes From the Hastings News of 19/04/1872

The Council was notified that the Select Committee of the House of Commons had recommended that the Hollington & Hastings, and the St Leonards & Sedlesombe Turnpike Trusts should end in November 1875.

New Schools Officer From the Hastings News of 19/04/1872

The Schools Board is to appoint a school attendance officer for the first time.

News Owner Retires From the Hastings News of 26/04/1872

John Ransom, the present proprietor of the Hastings News, is to retire next week. The new owner of the News is Henry Tendall.

Martello Towers Blown Up From the Hastings News of 26/04/1872

The Martello Towers, numbers 35 and 38, near Pett Level, were blown up by gun cotton experts. Great crowds watched.

Races From the Hastings News of 03/05/1872

Six steeplechases were held onMr Hassell's farm on the Catsfield border of the Crowhurst parish. There were great crowds. Sir Auchitel Ashburnham was judge.

Ship Beached From the Hastings News of 24/05/1872

The ship screw steamship Baltimore, of the North-German Lloyd's line, from Baltimore to Bremen, was in collision off Hastings, and was beached opposite Government House, at the end of George Street. It was 350 feet long, in 8 feet of ... (more...)

New Type of Building From the Hastings News of 31/05/1872

The old stabling on the south side of Crown Lane had been removed by the Hastings Cottage Improvement Society and the first block of buildings in the borough to be made from concrete were now being erected. The concrete was ... (more...)

Pier’s First Vessel 31/05/1872

The nearly-finished Hastings Pier was used for the first time by a vessel, when Thomas Brassey's large yacht Eothen [?], 325 tons, steam-screw, 78 hp, 9-10 knots, tied up at the end. The pier was open to public inspection.

Teaching the Poor From the Hastings News of 07/06/1872

The Rev JW Tottenham told the School Board that it was quite impossible for some poor  parents with young families to send their elder children to school. He advocated providing some places to serve as infant nurseries, as the London ... (more...)

New Laundry Business From the Hastings News of 07/06/1872

The first general meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards Laundry Company was held. Shares had been spread and plant bought, and the company expected to start business in July.

Brassey and Park Lane From the Hastings News of 14/06/1872

Thomas Brassey MP, who had recently come into a large fortune following the death of his father, Thomas, the railway builder, had taken 20 Park Lane in London, and had decorated and furnished it.

Town Centre Development From the Hastings News of 14/06/1872

The Council agreed the laying of drains for the new streets to be called Earl Street and Mann Street, plus one other, on what was then Golding's Garden on the Cornwallis Estate. [The 1873 Ordnance Survey plan shows no buildings ... (more...)

Art School Idea From the Hastings News of 14/06/1872

A special meeting of the East Sussex Schoolmasters Association, held in Wellington Grammar School in Castle Hill Road on 8 June, discussed the urgent need to teach children science and art, which had low priority. It was suggested that a ... (more...)

Gensing Gardens Open From the Hastings News of 05/07/1872

Gensing Pleasure Grounds, bought by town, were formally opened by the mayor on 3 July. They had been laid out by William Andrews, the borough surveyor, and Mr Palmer, the gardener. [They lie between London Road and Charles Road, St ... (more...)

New Shop From the Hastings News of 19/07/1872

Improvements at Rock's Carriage Works at White Rock. There was to be a new Gothic building by prominent local builder John Kowell; architects Jeffery & Skiller. It will be a great architectural feature of the Front line. It would have ... (more...)

Turnpike Toll Bar From the Hastings News of 26/07/1872

The trustees of the Hastings and Flimwell Turnpike erected a new toll bar near Christ Church, Ore.

St Leonards Pier From the Hastings News of 26/07/1872

The St Leonards Commissioners refused the St Leonards Pier Company's application to enclose part of the promenade for a pier.

New Book From the Hastings News of 09/08/1872

A book - All Saints Day in 1425, a tale of Hastings in ye olden tyme - was especially written for a grand bazaar for the All Saints Church restoration fund, to be held in the Music Hall, Robertson Street, ... (more...)

Hastings Pier Opens From the Hastings News of 09/08/1872

The pier opened on 5 August, the bank holiday, by Earl Granville, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, with Thomas Ross, mayor, Mr Kay-Shuttleworth MP and Thomas Brassey MP. There was heavy rain. The Coastguard formed a guard of honour ... (more...)

Women’s Hospital From the Hastings News of 16/08/1872

A trust fund of £6,000 set up to establish a convalescent asylum to help females recover, offered to turn it over to assist the Infirmary.

Delightful Bexhill Road From the Hastings News of 23/08/1872

The News said: "The day will come when houses will spring up on Bulverhythe Salts. The road through St Leonards to Bexhill is now one of our best drives ... Only one thing is wanted to make it perfect - ... (more...)

Priory Historic Losses From the Hastings News of 30/08/1872

At a meeting of the Philosophical & Historical Society, Mr TH Cole, president, regretted the want of a museum at Hastings. The old Priory Barn was then being pulled down "in which were several relics and mouldings of the old ... (more...)

Fishery Decline From the Hastings News of 06/09/1872

The Hastings fishery was in decline. Formerly, August/September saw 30 large luggers off to the North Sea on the herring voyage; this year [1872] it was only seven.

Preachers Fined From the Hastings News of 06/09/1872

Two men were fined 20s for obstructing White Rock Parade by religious preaching. The News of 13 September carried letters of protest.

Cricket Ground Open From the Hastings News of 13/09/1872

The Cricket Ground was open to the public free on Saturdays. The Council gave £1,000 from the rates for the purchase of it.

Bathing Nude From the Hastings News of 13/09/1872

There were complaints of people bathing nude in the sea. A man was fined 20s.

Oldest Trader Dies From the Hastings News of 20/09/1872

Joseph Job died on 15th at 32 George Street, in 82nd year. He had been a watchmaker  for 61 years and was the oldest tradesman in the borough.

Last Freeman Dies From the Hastings News of 11/10/1872

On the 8th, the last link with the political past was broken on the death of James Winter, aged 82, at 4 Cavendish Place. He was the last surviving freeman.

Increased Traffic From the Hastings News of 16/10/1872

There had been an increase in traffic. Last Saturday 12th from 2.30-4.30 there were 1,056 saddle horses, donkeys and vehicles of various descriptions which went past the Albert Memorial; on Monday, ditto hours, 946.

St Leonards Pier From the Hastings News of 18/10/1872

The St Leonards Commissioners had strict neutrality over the proposal for a St Leonards pier.

St Clements Restoration From the Hastings News of 01/11/1872

Mr Butterfield, London architect, was to advise on the restoration of St Clements Church. He suggested the removal of much of the churchyard and a large portion of the Town Hall.

Water from Glens From the Hastings News of 01/11/1872

The Council approved a plan to extend water reservoirs in Warren Glen and Fairlight Glen streams at £5,500.

New Elections From the Hastings News of 08/11/1872

In the first local elections under the new Secret Ballot Act, the Conservatives gained six from the Liberals in the borough.

School Absentees From the Hastings News of 13/11/1872

The first prosecutions for non-attendance at school were carried out. In St Leonards, a defendant had sent four children to school, but kept the youngest at home to nurse its mother.

Herring Glut From the Hastings News of 22/11/1872

There had been a glut of herrings, with just six boats bring in 25-30,000. The price fell to £1 a last, and not less than 40 lasts were landed in four hours.

Bank Moves From the Hastings News of 22/11/1872

The Old, or Beeching, Bank moved from Pelham Place to 17 Wellington Place on 21 November. [Now Lloyds Bank]

Liberal Association From the Hastings News of 22/11/1872

A Liberal Association was to be formed, with Mr Howell as chairman, Ald Guasden as vice-chairman and Stanley Weston as secretary.

Clive Vale Development 29/11/1872

The News said: "The Clive Vale Estate - A numerous assemblage gathered at the Market Hall, George Street, on Tuesday 26th evening, when Mr WH Collier, the auctioneer of the British Land Company, offered for sale nearly one hundred plots ... (more...)

Workhouse Data From the Hastings News of 29/11/1872

New, tougher wards for the 'casuals' (tramps) had been built near the gates of the workhouse, reported the News in a long feature. It said: During the past few years it had been discovered that an astonishingly large number of ... (more...)

High Street Fire From the Hastings News of 06/12/1872

Mr Wells, ornamental painter and decorator, 78 High Street, paint and workshop on fire on 30th; the volunteer Fire Brigade put it out. Sgt Glenister and Mr Wells fell through a trapdoor downstairs to the basement.

Turnpike Road to End From the Hastings News of 06/12/1872

The Hastings to Flimwell Turnpike Trust was to end on 1 November 1873.

Severe Rain From the Hastings News of 12/12/1872

Torrential rain fell on 7th. The Central Recreation Ground became a lake, because it was believed Old Roar reservoir had burst; St Andrew's Gardens [Alexandra Park] were flooded - the workmen were knee-deep after 4 hours. Part of St Clements ... (more...)