...188218831884...

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Fishmarket Development From the Hastings News of 12/01/1883

Council voted to accept a scheme for the Fishmarket extension of sea wall and slope for boats.

Mount Pleasant School: More Opens 15/01/1883

On 10 January 1882 the Hastings School Board agreed to enlarge Mount Pleasant Infant School, by adding two new blocks for older boys and girls, and these were officially opened on Monday 15 January 1883. The News of 19 January ... (more...)

School Board Report From the Hastings News of 19/01/1883

The Hastings School Board published in the News a summary of its work over the three years to February 1883. It looked back to the 1870 Education Act, which had aimed to improve all education by setting up 'school boards' ... (more...)

Liberal President Howell From the Hastings News of 26/01/1883

The well-known local builder John Howell was elected president of the Liberal Association at its annual meeting on 25 January. He was proposed by William Ransom, editor of the Hastings News, who described him as the "old friend" of the ... (more...)

Poor Conditions for the Poor From the Hastings News of 26/01/1883

The Hastings Workhouse's Board of Guardians were forced to improve the "lamentable" conditions at their relief office in Lower South Road, Bohemia, when one of the most distinguished guardians protested about it. The News of 26 January reported that Major-General ... (more...)

St Johns Church Nave From the Hastings News of 09/02/1883

A memorial stone in connection with the erection of a new nave for the Church of St John the Evangelist in Maze Hill was laid on 5 February by the Hastings Tory MP Mr CJ Murray. After a special service, ... (more...)

Underground Speaking Tube From the Hastings News of 09/02/1883

The Council meeting on 2 February gave permission to Mr Thomas E Marriott to lay an inch pipe under the roadway between the Music Hall in Robertson Street and 52 Robertson Street, directly opposite, for the purpose of connecting his ... (more...)

West Hill Roads From the Hastings News of 09/02/1883

The Council meeting on 2 February had received plans for four roads on the Stonefield Estate from Mr Edward Henry Sayer-Milward: Milward Road, Milward Crescent, Nelson Road and Wellington Road (from Plynlimmon to Milward Road). The Council had discussed this ... (more...)

West Hill Space From the Hastings News of 16/02/1883

The Council proposed to find out whether the open ground on the West Hill could be saved from development by approaching the Sayer-Milward Estate with a view to purchase.

Better Water Supply From the Hastings News of 23/02/1883

A public inquiry was held by the Local Government Board at the town hall on 21 February into the application of the Council to borrow £9,020 for new waterworks. Cllr Brown told the inquiry: "The Buck's Hole pumping station, from ... (more...)

Bus Company Bust From the Hastings News of 23/02/1883

The Hastings and St Leonards Omnibus Company should be wound up, the adjourned annual meeting decided on Tuesday 20 February. A large gathering of shareholders in the Provincial Hotel, 17 Havelock Road, heard that the company had lost £1,000 of ... (more...)

Southwater/Ellenslea Roads From the Hastings News of 09/03/1883

The Council agreed on 2 March to spend about £170 building the retaining wall between the footpath and carriageway at the bottom of the hill where Ellenslea Road and Southwater Road joined, improving the roads so that they could be ... (more...)

Political Corruption From the Hastings News of 09/03/1883

"The Municipal Election Petitions - Opening of the Inquiry at the Town Hall - During the past two months, one of the chief topics of conversation in local circles has been the subject of the three petitions presented against three ... (more...)

New Warrior Square Church From the Hastings News of 16/03/1883

The new Presbyterian Church of England on the north-west corner of Warrior Square (west side) and Terrace Road was opened on Wednesday 14 March. It had cost £8,160.

Death of Leading Liberal From the Hastings News of 16/03/1883

Staunch Liberal John Pearson, born in Battle in 1803, died in Hastings on 27 February 1883. A News editorial said: "Mr Pearson was a Reformer before the electoral Reformation [of 1832] - an advocate for popular rights when peer, and ... (more...)

Gas Money From the Hastings News of 23/03/1883

A public meeting was held on the Gas Company's application to Parliament for further borrowing powers.

The Salvation Army in Hastings From the Hastings News of 30/03/1883

"A contingent of this organization, which has given rise to such excitement and disturbance in many places, have for several years past held Sunday services in Hastings, in the Fishmarket and the Market Hall [in George Street], and although at ... (more...)

Beauport Park Fire From the Hastings News of 06/04/1883

A small part of the large house at Beauport Park was destroyed by fire. It was currently occupied by Sir Charles Lamb, who was away at the time.

New Baptist Church 11/04/1883

The new Baptist Church in Chapel Park Road was opened on 11 April 1883.

Fire in Gunmakers From the Hastings News of 13/04/1883

There was a serious fire in 8 George Street, the premises of Mr Austin, the gunmaker. The fire was in the basement and was difficult to put out, but this was achieved before the gunpowder and fireworks stored there exploded.

Mary Robertson Dies From the Hastings News of 20/04/1883

Miss Mary Robertson, the sister of former Hastings Tory MP Patrick Robertson, died at their family home, Halton House, off Old London Road, on 9 April, aged 75. "The poor will long remember her as one of the kindest of ... (more...)

Electric Wires From the Hastings News of 11/05/1883

Wires were being laid by the Electric Light Company to light the town.

New Club Company 25/05/1883

A meeting was held to form a new company that intended to create a new gentlemen's club for the borough. It was agreed that £15,000 capital would be raised to purchase the large building comprising 1 and 3 Warrior Square, ... (more...)

Electric Light Under Way From the Hastings News of 01/06/1883

The annual meeting of the Hastings Electric Light Company on the afternoon of Thursday 31 May heard that the directors had purchased on a long lease a piece of ground on the corner of Earl Street abutting the railway. Here ... (more...)

New Bus Company From the Hastings News of 01/06/1883

The shareholders of the newly-formed Omnibus Company held a meeting at noon on Thursday 31 May in the observer building in Claremont. The chairman, Henry M Baker, said the meeting was simply a formal one to set up the company, ... (more...)

Rebuild St Matthews Church? From the Hastings News of 01/06/1883

A large meeting was held at the St Matthews School in Silverhill on 31 May to discuss the urgent need for more church accommodation. The vicar, the Rev FE Newton, said: "St Matthews Church was built several years ago by ... (more...)

St Peter’s Road Created From the Hastings News of 08/06/1883

The Council agreed on 1 June to the construction of the new St Peter's Road at Bohemia, from Tower Road to the top of Chapel Park Road. It would be on the Magdalen Charity Estate, which had applied for the ... (more...)

Clive Vale Infants School Needed From the Hastings News of 15/06/1883

The "very rapidly increasing" district of Clive Vale urgently needed to have an infant school, the Hastings School Board had decided. There was not an immediate need for schools for older children, but the Board should find a site for ... (more...)

Music Hall Renamded Public Hall From the Hastings News of 15/06/1883

The big first-floor room known as the Music Hall, between Robertson Street and Havelock Road, was to be renamed the Public Hall. The leaser, Mr Charles Lockey, was responding to this suggestion being made by several people, as it was ... (more...)

Hollington Schools Chairman From the Hastings News of 15/06/1883

Colonel Lewis, the gentleman owner of High Beech house, was re-elected chairman of the Hollington School Board, by the board members. They were holding their first meeting on 11 June following the three-yearly elections that had recently taken place. Col ... (more...)

New Old Town Church 02/07/1883

The new Roman Catholic church, St Mary Star of the Sea, at the top of the High Street, was officially opened.

New Liberal MP From the Hastings News of 06/07/1883

The Liberals defeated the Tories in one of the most exciting parliamentary elections held in Hastings, on Friday 29 June. Hastings then had two MPs, one being Liberal Sir Thomas Brassey, and the other the Tory Mr CJ Murray. ... (more...)

New Grammar School Opens From the Hastings News of 06/07/1883

The new Grammar School for boys was formally opened at noon on Wednesday 4 July. It had been erected on the slopes at the north end of St Marys Terrace. The governors had had considerable difficulty finding a suitable site. ... (more...)

Temperance Hotel Closes 27/07/1883

The temperance hotel in Queens Road was formally wound up at a special shareholders meeting on Thursday 9 August. The Albert Hotel had been built by the Coffee Palace and Hotel Company, which was set up in 1879 by many ... (more...)

Blacklands Sunday School From the Hastings News of 03/08/1883

Lady Brassey on 27 July lay the foundation stone of the new Sunday school going to be built onto the north end of Christ Church, Blacklands. It would hold 250 children, with one room 60 feet by 21 feet, plus ... (more...)

Gas in Hollington From the Hastings News of 03/08/1883

The Gas Company had just extended their mains to Hollington, and gas was available for 4s 4d per thousand cubic feet for private consumers. So far no move had been made for obtaining public lamps.

Alarming Fire in Old Town From the Hastings News of 03/08/1883

The Phoenix Brewery in Courthouse Street, owned by Messrs Burfield, was severely damaged by a major fire on the evening of Sunday 29 July. The fire started around 7pm in the boiler house and neighouring parts of the brewery, which ... (more...)

Tory Councillor Goes Bust From the Hastings News of 03/08/1883

The Tory councillor and former local newspaper owner James Dorman had been made bankrupt. [He had massive debts of £3,862. He became well-known in 1859 when he started publishing Osborne's Advertiser, a weekly St Leonards paper listing local visitors and ... (more...)

Deat of Mark Breach 06/08/1883

Mr Mark Breach, the prominent fishmonger and a leading in the local fishing industry, died today

Brassey and the Workers From the Hastings News of 10/08/1883

Over a thousand people went on excursion to Sir Thomas Brassey's country mansion Normanhurst Court on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 August. They were members of the London Working Men's Club and Institute, with family members. They came to Battle by ... (more...)

Pier’s Busiest Day From the Hastings News of 10/08/1883

Hastings Pier had its busiest day so far in its 11-year history on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 August, when over 9,400 people passed through the turnstiles.

A Little Local Difficulty From the Hastings News of 10/08/1883

Hastings Council was condemned for selling a piece of ground to an alderman for a third of its true value. A Council meeting on 3 August heard that the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury were "declining to grant the ... (more...)

St Peter’s Church Foundation Stone From the Hastings News of 10/08/1883

Lady Brassey laid the foundation stone of the new St Peter's Church, at the top of Chapel Park Road, just before its junction with Bohemia Road, on Saturday 4 August. The contractor was John Howell, and building costs (excluding site) ... (more...)

West Hill Roads From the Hastings News of 24/08/1883

New roads were planned for the West Hill. One would cross the hill above Wallingers Walk [this would be Wellington Road; until then the only road off the West Hill was the steep and narrow Castle Hill Road.]

Chess Club - One Year Old From the Hastings News of 24/08/1883

The first annual meeting of the Hastings Chess Club took place in the Seaside Hotel, White Rock Place, on Friday 17 August. The chairman was Mr VB Crake. There was a fair attendance. The club then had 33 members, and ... (more...)

Elizabeth Blackwell Addresses Suffrage Meeting 29/08/1883

Dr Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor of medicine in modern times and a resident of Hastings, chaired a meeting of the National Society for Women's Suffrage on Wednesday 29 August. The meeting took place in the Assembly Rooms above ... (more...)

Courthouse Street Fire From the Hastings News of 07/09/1883

There was a fire in Courthouse Street, at the rear of the Kings Head Inn.

Gas Beats Electric From the Hastings News of 07/09/1883

The Hastings Gas Company had won its battle to put up the price of gas and raise new share capital of £120,000 in its war against the new Electric Light Company. A meeting of gas shareholders was told on 6 ... (more...)

Athelstan Road School From the Hastings News of 14/09/1883

There was a site for a new school in Athelstan Road, Clive Vale.

Balloon Ascent From the Hastings News of 14/09/1883

The balloon called 'The Colonel' made an ascent from the Cricket Ground.

Liberal Demo From the Hastings News of 14/09/1883

There was a great Liberal demonstration in the Cricket Ground on Thursday 13 September. Thousands of people attended thoughout the afternoon, enjoying much music from various bandstands, fairground amusements and a range of food. The culmination came in the evening ... (more...)

Beaulieu House Built 20/09/1883

The foundation stone of the new Beaulieu House was laid. In 1874 Stephen Hankey had bought the old Beaulieu House (a late 18th century farmhouse) and its 88 acres from Mr Habershon, the architect of St Helens Church and St ... (more...)

Building Land at Bulverhythe From the Hastings News of 21/09/1883

The News said: "With the rapid growth of this borough the green swards in our immediate vicinity are gradually being covered with bricks and mortar. This is, to a great exetnt, a necessity, however much it may, in some respects, ... (more...)

Hills Offered to Town From the Hastings News of 12/10/1883

A lease of the East and West Hills was offered to the Council by the Sayer-Milward Estate.

Major New Waterworks From the Hastings News of 12/10/1883

Thursday 11 October "witnessed the inauguration of a new era in the water supply of the borough of Hastings by the opening of the extensive works which have for several months past been in course of execution at Filsham, a ... (more...)

More Stade Damage From the Hastings News of 19/10/1883

High tides caused more damage to the Stade and the sea defences.

White Rock Bandstand From the Hastings News of 26/10/1883

A prominent and attractive bandstand was erected for the Town Band on the new Baths Parade, created by the building of the White Rock Baths.

Oscar Wilde From the Hastings News of 05/11/1883

The well-known Oscar Wilde lectured at the Gaiety Theatre, Queens Road. His talk was called 'The House Beautiful' and there was a very fair attendance. He "dealt with the practical side of asceticism and gave some useful advice on house ... (more...)

Halton House Development From the Hastings News of 09/11/1883

"Halton House Estate - This Estate, lately purchased by Mr W Rogers, is being laid out for building purposes. Mr D Jones is the surveyor." [It was off what is now called Robertsons Hill, Old London Road.]

First Electric Lights 12/11/1883

The first electric street lights in Hastings were switched on during the evening of Monday 12 November. They burnt steadily and were 'much appreciated'. This followed a Council meeting on 7 September which had agreed to experimental lighting of part ... (more...)

Hastings Solicitor Jailed From the Hastings News of 16/11/1883

Hastings solicitor William Henry Hewitt, 30, was jailed for six years by the Kent and Sussex Assizes on 9 November for obtaining £650 by fraud from a retired tradesman. The case concerned a mortgage on building land in 1881, involving ... (more...)

Newspaper Dinner From the Hastings News of 23/11/1883

"On Saturday night [17 November] the members of the local Press held a dinner at the Seaside Hotel [White Rock Place], and considering the enjoyable character of the occasion and the success which attended this, the first effort in the ... (more...)

New Railway Bridge From the Hastings News of 30/11/1883

The new bridge over the railway, connecting South Terrace with Park Road [now called Priory Avenue], was being energetically pushed forward. The cost was estimated at £8-9,000, and it was being carried out by the Cornwallis Park Estate to open ... (more...)

Castle Street Fire From the Hastings News of 07/12/1883

There was a fire in Castle Street at the premises of Mr Apps, the butcher, on 3 December. The house was gutted, and adjoining houses badly burned.

Bourne Police Station From the Hastings News of 14/12/1883

The Council was informed that the Chief Superintendent of Hastings Police had just taken formal possession of the new Police Station and Fire Engine House in Bourne Street.

Salvation Army Officers Convicted From the Hastings News of 14/12/1883

Three Salvation Army officers - Major Frank Smith, Captain William Beaty, Captain John Blandy - were convicted of disturbing the peace in a procession. The borough bench on 14 December heard that on the morning of Sunday 2 December, "the ... (more...)

Prominent Businessman Acquitted of Perjury 20/12/1883

Cllr John Howell, the town's leading builder and president of the local Liberal Party, was acquitted of perjury at Hastings Police Court. A private investigator, Mr Kendal, from London had alleged that Howell committed perjury when Howell had hired ... (more...)

Women’s Suffrage Group Formed From the Hastings News of 21/12/1883

A meeting was held on 17 December in Cambridge Road to form a local branch of the National Society for Women's Suffrage. A committee was formed. Miss Fricker Hall, of Bonham House, Pevensey Road, was appointed honorary secretary. The meeting ... (more...)