Hastings Chronicle

Christmas Day Fire From the Hastings News of 02/01/1880

There was a serious fire in the High Street on the evening of Christmas Day. The two shops at No 48 (opposite the town hall), selling grocery and shoes, were gutted, and the shops on either side were greatly damaged. ... (more...)

New Gas Lamp From the Hastings News of 09/01/1880

The Council agreed a new type of gas lamp could be put up temporarily near the Albert Memorial, to show how gas lamps could light the streets. [The was because of the possiblity that the electric company would provide better ... (more...)

Ore Fire From the Hastings News of 09/01/1880

There was a fatal fire in Ore on 4 January.

Station Conflict From the Hastings News of 16/01/1880

Hastings Council and South Eastern Railway were in conflict over the poor quality of Hastings Station. The Council had just lost its application to the Railway Commissioners aimed at forcing SER to enlarge and improve the station. The News of ... (more...)

Fisherman Jailed From the Hastings News of 16/01/1880

Hastings fisherman George 'Buffey' Bumstead. of Hill Street, was given two years hard labour by Folkestone Quarter Sessions for wounding a Folkestone fisherman with a knife on 13 November 1879.

Barley Lane 06/02/1880

The Council agreed to widen and improve the lower part of Barley Lane. On 7 May 1880 they agreed to rename the bottom section Harold Road.

Coastguards Inspected From the Hastings News of 13/02/1880

The Duke of Edinburgh visited Hastings on 10 February to inspect the Coastguards. He carried out formal inspections at their HQ, Government House in Marine Parade, and then at the Prospect Place Station.

Boats Lights From the Hastings News of 27/02/1880

A memorial was given to the Board of Trade from 300 Hastings fishermen, showing the impossibility of changing the positions of lights on ships.

Mission for Seamen From the Hastings News of 05/03/1880

A meeting took place in the Castle Assembly Rooms at the Castle Hotel to set up a new Home and Abroad Mission for seamen.

St Leonards Gardens From the Hastings News of 07/05/1880

The former St Leonards Subscription Gardens were formally reopened as the St Leonards Gardens on 17 April 1880. The founders of St Leonards had reserved a large space behind the Assembly Rooms as gardens, called the Subscription Gardens until the ... (more...)

St John’s Foundation Stone From the Hastings News of 07/05/1880

The foundation stone of the new St John the Evangelist Church was laid by Thomas Brassey, on the corner of Pevensey Road and Upper Maze Hill. The previous church of the same name on the same site had been destroyed ... (more...)

Temporary Grammar School From the Hastings News of 07/05/1880

A new temporary home for the grammar school was opened on Monday 3 May by the mayor. For over two years a Board of Governors had been trying to sort out the problems in carrying out the grammar school scheme, ... (more...)

New Roads and Paths From the Hastings News of 14/05/1880

Earl Street and South Terrace were formally adopted by the Council. The pavement was widened and improved at White Rock and Eversfield Place.

Temperance Tea Gardens From the Hastings News of 21/05/1880

The new Harold Tea and Pleasure Gardens had opened. They were at Pinders Shaw, on the east side of the upper Clive Vale valley. They were built by Mr W Rogers, who had a large temperance hotel. There was a ... (more...)

New Platform From the Hastings News of 18/06/1880

A new platform opened at Hastings Station, showing there were better relations between Hastings Council and the SER Company. The Brighton platform was also been improved.

Big Houses to Build From the Hastings News of 09/07/1880

A new road connecting Pevensey Road to the edge of the Eversfield Estate was to be called Rosamond Road [now called Albany Road]. This opened up that area for expensive development.

Boat Tragedy From the Hastings News of 20/08/1880

The Hastings pleasure boat the Velocipede sank on 16 August. Two lives were lost.

More Baths Open From the Hastings News of 20/08/1880

The private baths section of the White Rock Baths opened on 16 August. The first part of the Baths had opened on 28 May 1878.

House Destroyed From the Hastings News of 29/10/1880

In the worst gale for a long time, a house - No 9 West Hill Terrace, St Leonards - was destroyed when a chimney stack fell through the roof and down to the basement. The lower part of St ... (more...)

Miss Sayer Dies From the Hastings News of 29/10/1880

The respected Miss Mary Sayer died on 21 October, aged 79, at her residence, Parade House [where Marine Parade runs into George Street]. She had been in a feeble state for some time, and had just returned from her country ... (more...)

New Hollington School 04/12/1880

A new boys' school was opened in Hollington. Until then the boys had been in the St Johns Church Sunday school room, but the church had refused to renew the lease and bigger premises were needed. The schools for girls ... (more...)

Road = Money From the Hastings News of 10/12/1880

The Council meeting on 3 December refused to back a scheme to improve the section of Elphinstone Road between Laton Road and Pondbay Bridge. The narrow road, steep hill and the small wooden bridge over the Ore Valley stream were ... (more...)