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Town Centre Floods
From the Hastings News of 13/01/1899
The sea flooded the town centre on Thursday January 12. Constant waves dashed through Harold Place and past the Memorial, round Bank Buildings and ran into Middle Street. The following week, the News reported the whole of Grosvenor Gardens being ...
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The new girls' and infants' department at Priory Road School were officially opened on Monday 9 January. This completed the group of schools there.
The Workhouse guardians agreed on 12 January by 17 votes to nine to spend £45,600 on building the new workhouse on the 'Nine Acre Site', as argued for by the chairman Ald Frederick Tuppenney. The News said that although ...
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Tourist Licences
From the Hastings News of 20/01/1899
The Hastings Borough licenses currently covered 25 wagonettes and charabancs, 130 bathchairs, 250 rowing boats and 80 attendants of porter's carts.
Circus Man Dies
From the Hastings News of 20/01/1899
Death of Sam Oliver, Hastings circus celebrity, in the workhouse on Monday 16 January.
There was rejoicing at the harbour office and by the Tramites on Wednesday 25 January. The results of the combined polls of property owners and ratepayers were released, showing they supported both a rate-sustained harbour and a municipally-worked tramcar service. ...
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In one of the largest known scandals in the history of the town, the Hastings Gas Company shareholders decided they wanted to increase their profits by moving their gasworks out of Hastings, thereby not having to pay £4,000 in coal ...
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A liquidator was appointed for the Electric Light Company at its winding-up meeting on 28 January. The chairman, Mr FA Langham, said he was confident that the shareholders would receive a bonus in addition to their share capital.
Pier Improvement
From the Hastings News of 03/02/1899
The Hastings Pier pavilion closed at the end of January for re-roofing and enlargement. It was expected to re-open in mid-May. The pavilion had been open continuously since the pier opened in 1872.
The Financial Times made a ferocious attack upon the financial aspects of Hastings harbour. "Hastings, if we are not mistaken, has furnished some remarkable specimens of this kind [being in the hands of complete amateurs] in the past, and now ...
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Waiter Cuts Throat
From the Hastings News of 10/02/1899
Waiter Joseph Peach, in irregular recent employment, had been found at 26 Pelham Street with his throat cut, but he was now recovering.
There was distress in the fishing quarters, as gales had prevented boats from leaving the beach for the previous six weeks. High tide floods had damaged sea frontage on Sunday 12 February. Homes at Denmark Place, Caroline Place, Beach Terrace, ...
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YMCA Problems
From the Hastings News of 24/02/1899
The YMCA in Claremont was in financial difficulty and its existence was threatened. The appeal was successful.
The Council on 17 February agreed to co-operate with Mr Murphy on his tramway project, under certain conditions.
Mr Frank Stileman, the engineering expert of Barrow-in-Furness hired by the Council to look into the harbour, said in his report published on 21 February that extra work would cost an estimated £68,000. He found it impossible to verify the ...
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The National Telephone Company was busy putting down main telephone lines in the streets of the town.
The Hastings Harbour Bill had gone before Parliament unopposed, because the councillors opposing it could not afford to take action. On 28 March the Council in committee discussed a guarantee of the harbour prior to passing a final Council resolution ...
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The Local Government Board conducted an inquiry into Hastings sea defences, as the Council had applied to borrow £3,677 for further work.
The Empire Theatre of Varieties was declared open by the mayor on Thursday 30 March. The Empire was situated at the east end of Pelham Place on the seafront. [It was soon renamed as the Hippodrome, then the Cinema de ...
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Steamer Disaster
From the Hastings News of 07/04/1899
A German steamer was run down and sank eight miles south of Hastings The 2,710 ton Pontos, 300 feet long, with a cargo of cattle plus several passengers, sank on Friday 31 March. Twenty passengers and crew were brought ashore ...
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The Council meeting of 21 April agreed to allow mixed bathing, after a long period of considering the matter. They at last agreed to overcome their fears and change byelaws, thereby giving it the go-ahead in the coming summer.
After a three-day hearing, the Hastings Corporation Tramway Bill was rejected by the Select Committee of the House of Lords on 3 May. The News understood the fears of the opponents, that the town's wealthier visitors might not like such ...
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Jane Niblet died in the workhouse infirmary in Ore in her 102nd year.
There was a serious fire at 5 Albion Street, Halton, on Saturday 20 May. The butchers and grocers was almost destroyed and neighbouring buildings were damaged. On 28 May there was a big blaze at the rear of 45a George ...
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Charabancs Coming
From the Hastings News of 26/05/1899
A proposal to introduce motor charabancs on the seafront was taking definite form.
Drunk Farmer
From the Hastings News of 26/05/1899
William Yielding a Hollington farmer, was charged with being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and cart and with assaulting the police, on 25 May.
Argus Man Dies
From the Hastings News of 02/06/1899
Mr HW Hooper, former managing editor of the Argus at Hastings, died on 30 May. The Brighton-based Argus had large premises at the bottom of Castle Hill Road, from where the eastern Sussex edition of the newspaper was produced.
Farm Arson
From the Hastings News of 09/06/1899
A haystack belonging to John Austin of Mill Farm, Fairlight, was set on fire on Sunday 4 June. It was believed to be work of an incendiary.
Bigger Cemetery
From the Hastings News of 16/06/1899
The consecration of the enlarged Borough Cemetery was conducted by the Bishop on Thursday 15 June.
New Union Banner
From the Hastings News of 16/06/1899
Liberal MP Lucas Shadwell unfurled a new banner of the local Navvies and Bricklayers' Union at a meeting in the Market Hall, George Street, on the evening of Tuesday 13 June. Mr Shadwell was warmly applauded for his speech supporting ...
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Mr Peter Jenkins, the prominent and popular local businessman and works contractor, died suddenly of burst blood vessel at his home in St Leonards on Tuesday 27 June. "By dint of his own personal efforts and attention to business Mr ...
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The House of Commons Select Committee on 10 July rejected another Bill aiming to set up a tram system in Hastings. The committee decided that the Bexhill and St Leonards Tramways Company's proposal was undesirable and detrimental to the interests ...
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The Queen 80
From the Hastings News of 21/07/1899
Queen Victoria's 80 birthday was celebrated with a flower show and fete at Ore on 19 July.
There was much shock and distress in the Old Town when the fine belt of old elm trees skirting the Croft Road boundary of the late Miss North's field were suddenly felled. The News aid: "The demolition of the St ...
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Alderman Dr Bagshawe had purchased the Town House, Nos 1 and 2 George Street, and offered the property to the Corporation. The building was thought to obstruct the entrance to High Street, creating a dangerous corner, with the High Street ...
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Tramway Go-Ahead
From the Hastings News of 28/07/1899
Mr Murphy's proposal for a tram system connecting Hastings and Bexhill was partially approved at an inquiry by the Light Railway Commissioners on Thursday 27 July in the town hall. They gave the go-ahead for tramways to connect St Leonards ...
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The Hastings Board of Guardians was urged to pause before starting to build the new workhouse, as the question of old age pensions was muted.
Bus Overturns
From the Hastings News of 04/08/1899
The last omnibus from Silverhill on the night of Friday 28 July overturned and seven people were injured.
A public meeting was held in the Silverhill Assembly Room to appoint a district committee for Hollington, Silverhill and Bohemia to arrange a demonstration and mass meeting in September to support tramway agitation. A demonstration was held on the West ...
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Mr Freeman Thomas (son-in-law of Lord Brassey) had been chosen as Liberal candidate for Hastings after Captain Mildmay's resignation in July. The News of 22 September reported that Captain Mildmay wanted repayment of the £50 he advanced for registration purposes.
Priory Street Fire
From the Hastings News of 25/08/1899
The premises of the Bill Posting Company in Priory Street were destroyed by fire.
Union to be Formed
From the Hastings News of 01/09/1899
Hastings bakers and confectioners resolved to form a branch of the National Union of Operative Bakers and Confectioners.
Death of Toby King
From the Hastings Mail of 09/09/1899
The radical, outspoken Hollington man Alfred 'Toby' King died on Monday 4 September, aged 62, at his home in Marley Lane, Battle. The Mail and Times said he was a "very remarkable character. He was a man who read widely, ...
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Gas Go-Ahead
From the Hastings Mail of 09/09/1899
Royal assent was given on 13 July to the Gas Company's bill seeking power to build new gasworks at Glyne Gap, shareholders were told at their half-yearly meeting on 8 September. Chairman Cllr Dr Gray said everyone should be very ...
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Mendicity Problem
From the Hastings News of 22/09/1899
The Mendicity Society's annual subscription list was insufficient, and the charity was in debt. In the previous 15 years it had provided shelter and help to 29,000 wayfarers.
Pier Fire
From the Hastings News of 22/09/1899
There was a fire on Hastings Pier on Monday 18 September, with the decking close to the side seats alight. The probable cause was a careless smoker.
The Local Government Board carried out a public inquiry on 21 September into the application of Hastings Council to borrow £38,613 for the development and extension of the Electric Light Company. The Council had paid £54,850 for the works etc ...
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Tram Hopes?
From the Hastings News of 22/09/1899
The News reported that, with the local elections coming in November, councillors were ending their two year opposition to the trams in town. The News said the Council should build and run the system, not a private company. The widespread ...
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Surplus Beach
From the Hastings News of 29/09/1899
Corporation carts removed 2,500 loads of beach from the surplus accumulated in the Fishmarket vicinity.
The Harbour Commissioners were about to go to Parliament for additional powers to increase capital for the harbour works. Under the previous Act, ratepayers were under no liability until the structure was finished to the satisfaction of the borough engineer ...
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Drowned in Sewage
From the Hastings News of 10/11/1899
Teh accidental drowning took place of George Archer Williams, the son of George Williams, the Corporation's engineer at Filsham Pumping Station, at Rock-a-Nore Sewage Works.
Saw Mill Fire
From the Hastings News of 17/11/1899
The workshop of Cllr J Stredwick's steam saw mills was destroyed by fire on Thursday 16 November.
The Hastings fishing smack Good Intent (belonging to Messrs Alfred W and James Bumstead) struck a rock opposite Warrior Square on Tuesday 21 November and sank almost immediately. The three hands saved themselves.
Plans had been deposited with Hastings Corporation for a proposed Cinque Ports Light Railway, extending from Ramsgate to Hastings.
Ashburnham Dies
From the Hastings News of 08/12/1899
Sir Anchitel Ashburnham, one of the notable people in the local establishment, died on Saturday 2 December, aged 71. He was buried on 6 December at Guestling Church, following a procession there from his nearby family home, the grand old ...
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Mr William Draper, owner of the St Leonards steam mill and windmill in Sedlescombe Road South, Silverhill, had died. He was a leading wholesale and retail corn dealer. The family also had the Havenhurst Steam Mills in Bexhill Road, next ...
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