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As the old century ended and the new one began, a doctor in Ore refused to help a local resident who was dying. William Kidney, a poor working man of Red Lake Cottages, had been ill for some time. On ...
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The number of voters on the Parliamentary list for Hastings Borough was 8,142.
The Board of Guardians meeting was told that there were 236 inmates in the Workhouse, ten more than the same week in 1899, with 1,141 people receiving outdoor relief.
Ore Penny Dinners
From the Hastings News of 05/01/1900
The Ore penny dinners for poor children were inaugurated on January 1. There were 160 children at the opening dinner. “The children had an unlimited supply of soup and bread, with jam and bread as a second course, and to ...
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Mystery Murder
From the Hastings News of 05/01/1900
Mystery surrounded the death of Charles Henry Neal. An absent revolver that caused the fatal wound and missing keys to the shop point to murder. An open verdict was recorded.
Soldier W Beney, son of Mr and Mrs J Beney of 2 Bohemia Road, was killed in action in the Boer War. A second son, Thomas, aged 21/2 and also a soldier, was reported drowned at Lindley in November 1900. ...
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The meeting of the Board of Guardians refused to double the strength of the tea served to Workhouse inmates. It was currently one ounce per 10 pints of water, whereas the norm elsewhere was 1½ ounces per eight pints.
Horse Cruelty
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1900
A News reporter and other witnesses were upset to see the cruelty inflicted on two small horses that were trying to pull heavily laden carts up Old London Road, below Mount Road.
Boarder Bust
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1900
A receiving order was put on Alexander McPhail, boarding house keeper of 1 Breeds Place.
Coal Ring?
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1900
There was a shortage of coal in Hastings - almost a coal famine. The Boer War was blamed, but the News understood there was plenty of coal at the tips, and wondered “Was there a coal ring?”.
The First Taxis
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1900
Hastings Corporation advertised for people to apply for licences “to run two motor cars to be ready for plying for hire by Easter next”. The cars had to be built in such a way as to comply with the regulations ...
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Lord Brassey set sail from Melbourne, Australia, for England on his large three-masted yacht Sunbeam.
Park Theft
From the Hastings News of 19/01/1900
The Chips and Sparks column said: “The iron plate is missing from the remains of the old oak tree taken from the submerged forest near the site of the Hastings Pier Pavilion 30 years ago, and which has been exhibited ...
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The Workhouse Board of Guardians were seeking a new matron, as Miss Reckless had been appointed matron of St Pancras Workhouse.
Refuse Problem
From the Hastings Observer of 20/01/1900
The town’s refuse: A Council meeting on 19 January discussed building a ‘refuse destructor’ at Silverhill or north of Buckshole Reservoir. But the idea was turned down on the recommendation of the Sanitary Committee, because: there were objections from nearby ...
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Brassey Institute
From the Hastings Observer of 20/01/1900
The Council on 19 January agreed to rearrange the Brassey Institute in Claremont because the School of Art and Science did not have enough room and were in very bad working conditions. The possible loss of grants had forced the ...
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Local friendly societies carry out a street parade in aid of the war fund.
Death of important local establishment figure Frederick James Parsons, who turned the Hastings Observer into the most influential Hastings-area newspaper from the 1870s onwards. He was born in Rye on 6 October 1844, the eldest son of Isaac Parsons, a ...
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Frederick Moore, an engineer at Eversfield Hotel, was killed by the hotel lift while working on it. His head was crushed and flattened. There was an open verdict, although it may have been suicide.
George Plane Clarke, a carpenter of Kings Road, appeared in Hastings Bankruptcy Court.
Unemployed Suicide
From the Hastings News of 26/01/1900
An inquest was held on 18 January into the suicide of William Edward Parsons, a builders’ labourer, aged 55. He had been unemployed for six months. He cut his own throat, but was found alive by his family. A doctor ...
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The Grammar School: The Council had given the school £1,000 towards the cost of creating a laboratory for science. This followed correspondence between the Charity Commissioners and the Magdalen and Lasher charities which owned the school. The Observer asked why ...
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Shornden Suicide
From the Hastings News of 02/02/1900
Francis Marion Edwards, aged 21, daughter of a late greengrocer at Lower Clarence Terrace, Silverhill, was found drowned in Shornden Reservoir on 27 January.
Death of George Meadows, former town clerk. He was born in the Old Town on 28 November 1819. He worked for various local solicitors, then forming his own business Meadows, Elliott and Thorpe. He became clerk to the police and ...
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The civic ceremony of “turning on the tap” took place at the new Fairlight covered water reservoirs, almost opposite the Kings Head pub on Rye Road. The first of the underground tanks was then ready to receive water drawn from ...
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Ore Cricket
From the Hastings News of 16/02/1900
A new cricket club for Ore and Clive Vale had been formed.
A ticket meeting was held at Wellington Square Baptist Church Hall to support the “Stop the War” South African Conciliation Committee. A large crowd of hostile opponents gathered outside.
The First Cinque Ports Rifles departed from Hastings for the Boer War in South Africa on Tuesday 20 February. There were farewell gatherings, with an artillery muster at Rock-a-Nore and a march to the headquarters of the Rifles in Middle ...
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Reverend Resigns
From the Hastings News of 02/03/1900
The Rev Arthur Williams had resigned his position at Emmanuel Church in Priory Road.
Central Hall, in Bank Buildings, Station Road, could now be hired for a variety of public purposes, as it’s heating, lighting, etc, had just been greatly improved. It could seat 250 people. The large room at the Brassey Institute, Claremont, ...
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General Booth
From the Hastings News of 02/03/1900
General Booth of the Salvation Army had conducted services at the Gaiety Theatre in Queens Road [now the Odeon Cinema].
A public inquiry was held at the Town Hall into the application of the Corporation to borrow £7,050 for work of wood paving, sewage, seafront improvements and alterations to the Brassey Institute. These were unopposed.
There was a fire at Mrs Catermoles small general shop in Dorset Place, off Cambridge Road.
Joseph Henbrey Tendall, owner of the Hastings News and clerk to the Hastings School Board, died on Wednesday 21 March. He died at his home, 144 Marina, after a long illness. The News (March 23) said: “From a humble beginning ...
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Reverend to Go
From the Hastings News of 23/03/1900
The Rev WR Peacock was to resign his ministry at Wellington Square Baptist Chapel.
Fever Death
From the Hastings News of 27/03/1900
An inquest was held into the death of Naomi Hartnup who died at Oak Terrace, Ore, of puerperal fever.
Fish hawker Samuel Porter, of 27 Union Street, St Leonards, died of blood poisoning after being pricked by a fish bone.
Another Tram Bill
From the Hastings News of 30/03/1900
Mr WM Murphy’s bill for providing a circular route of electric tramways for Hastings and St Leonards went before a Parliamentary committee on Monday 26 March. This followed the partial success of his bill in 1899 that allowed the linking ...
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Property Sale
From the Hastings News of 30/03/1900
Messrs Dawson and Harden held an important sale of property at the Castle Hotel, Wellington Square, on 27 March.
Dr William Knighton, ex-vice-chairman of the School Board, died at his home Tileworth, St Leonards, on Sunday 1 April
Alderman Tuppenney, chairman of Hastings Board of Guardians, on Thursday 5 April, formally laid the corner stone of the new Workhouse under erection on the west side of Cackle Street. The old Workhouse, on the other side of the road, ...
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Private F Wells of Hastings died from lung disease at Cape Town.
Mrs Gray, the mother of Cllr Dr G Gray JP (chairman of the Hastings Gas Company) died at their home, 33 Wellington Square.
A coroners inquiry on 9 April into the death of Helen Louisa Hunt, wife of the Hastings stationmaster, who was killed by a train at the level crossing on the SE Railway near the Hastings gas works in Waterworks Road, ...
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WH Borrow’s Show
From the Hastings News of 13/04/1900
Mr WH Borrow, the well-known Hastings artist, had a show of paintings at the Continental Gallery, New Bond Street, London.
The Hastings Harbour Bill had passed the committee stage of the House of Commons. It aimed to extend the periods limited by former acts for the compulsory purchase of lands and for the completion of the harbour works etc.
Chapel Burnt
From the Hastings News of 20/04/1900
The Norman Road Wesleyan Chapel had been destroyed by fire. The News of 17 August reported that the tender of Mr WG Morgan of £4,521 for rebuilding the chapel had been accepted.
Edward Alexander Tothurst, a fishmonger of Bourne Street, had appeared in the Bankruptcy Court.
Cllr Frederick Cruttenden, builder and contractor, of 20 Warrior Gardens, appeared for public examination in the Bankruptcy Court. He had been declared bankrupt several times since 1882. He seemed to take many chances in the building trade, most of which ...
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Workhouse Donkey
From the Hastings News of 27/04/1900
The Workhouse had acquired a new donkey, called Peggy Primrose after Lord Rosebery's daughter.
Desecrated Hastings
From the Hastings Observer of 28/04/1900
The annual meeting of the Lord’s Day Observance Society was held in Central Hall on 23 April. There were many complaints about the failure to observe the Sabbath across the town. There was “wholesale desecration” by “steamboats plying for hire, ...
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Boer Volunteers
From the Hastings News of 04/05/1900
Privates Gladwish and Weaver, of the Ore Company of Rifles, were about to be sent to the Sussex Volunteer contingent fighting in South Africa.
Cook’s Suicide
From the Hastings News of 04/05/1900
An inquest was held into the suicide of Elizabeth Jones, a cook lately employed at Quarry Hill, St Leonards.
Swan Boat in Park
From the Hastings Observer of 05/05/1900
“A handsome craft, built in the form of a swan”, was launched at the Alexandra Park boating lake on Saturday 28 April. It would be part of the fleet for hire.
There was a noisy beach scene on Sunday afternoon, 29 April, by the Queens Hotel stade. “The well-known seaside Protestant preacher” the Rev John Woods tried to “expose alleged idolatrous practices in the Church of England”. Mr JWE Chubb objected, ...
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Shingle Pinchers
From the Hastings News of 11/05/1900
At the Chancery Division, London, on 4 May an injunction was sought in the case of Moon and Papillon, restraining the defendants from removing shingle from a piece of land just above high water mark near Hastings.
Bus Company Poorer
From the Hastings Observer of 12/05/1900
The Hastings Bus Company had held its AGM. Its spending had gone up, to meet increased demand and run more services on extended routes, later in the day and in winter, but its income had not increased in balance, partly ...
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Mr Cheale's white windmill, opposite the Wesleyan Chapel on the Ridge, Ore, was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday 16 May in a spectacular blaze clearly visible from as far away as Silverhill. The smock mill was a well-known landmark, ...
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Suicide of Fritz Basler, a valet who had resided at Robertson Terrace. He was found dead in a hut in Linton Road, with a revolver in his hand. A note said “Death was preferable to a life without prospects”.
Harbour ‘Progress’
From the Hastings News of 25/05/1900
The Harbour completion movement had made “distinct progress”. It only remained for the Commissioners to enter into a necessary guarantee with the Corporation and raise the cash. Then Messrs Punchard, Mc Taggart and Co could proceed with the work, which ...
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Bankrupts
From the Hastings News of 25/05/1900
Boarding house keeper Ferdinand Bombach of 17 and 18 Warrior Gardens, Joseph Nightingale, licensed victualler of the Freemason's Hotel, 19 Wellington Place, and Arthur John Rolfe, draper of Castle Street, had come up before public examination at the Bankruptcy Court.
There was a march of a section of local Volunteers as the local official celebration of the fall of Pretoria in the Boer War.
Edwin George Cornick, a railway carriage cleaner, was run over by a train and killed at Hastings Station. An inquest a few days later decided it was accidental death.
Henry Veness, aged 84, of 7 Shepherd Street, was killed when he fell downstairs.
Henry Winter Dies
From the Hastings News of 22/06/1900
Death on 19 June of Henry Winter, in 83rd year. He was a staunch Liberal, an ex-councillor, alderman, JP and a member of the Board of Guardians, living in Quarry Terrace. Winter was “the only son of Mr William Winter, ...
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More Bankrupts
From the Hastings News of 29/06/1900
Thomas John Gullen, an upholsterer and lodging house keeper of 9 Royal Terrace, had appeared before the Bankruptcy Court. George Novis had failed as a shoemaker, at 4 Western Road, St Leonards.
Workshop Fire
From the Hastings News of 06/07/1900
A carpenters workshop was burnt down on the West Hill on Saturday 30 June.
Drunken Policeman
From the Hastings News of 06/07/1900
William West, a sergeant in the Borough Police, was fined 20 shillings on 4 July for being drunk in charge of a horse and cart.
Harbour Delayed
From the Hastings News of 06/07/1900
Harbour completion still hung fire, because the necessary cash at fair terms stood in the way.
Ice House Opens
From the Hastings News of 13/07/1900
The new Hastings and St Leonards Ice and Cold Storage Company, in Rock-a-Nore Road, opened for public inspection on Friday 6 July. But the News of 7 March 1901 said shareholders "have not made a fortune", despite the rosy picture ...
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Trams Approved
From the Hastings News of 13/07/1900
The Board of Trade formally confirmed the Light Railway order for the construction of Mr W Murphy’s electric tramway line from Bexhill to St Leonards.
Pier Fire
From the Hastings News of 20/07/1900
There was an outbreak of fire on Hastings Pier during a concert on Sunday 15 July. The fire was put out promptly, though flames were seen from White Rock Parade.
Workhouse Work
From the Hastings News of 20/07/1900
At Hastings Workhouse, every casual or tramp was required to smash three gallons of boulders in return for his supper, bed and breakfast.
Charles Liddelow, of 50 Carisbrooke Road and Stanton on the Wolds, Nottinghamshire, the railway contractor and constructor of Rother Light Railway, did not appear at Hastings Bankruptcy Court. The hearing was adjourned.
The Rev John Wood, the beach orator charged with obstruction on the foreshore, failed to appear before the Police Court on Tuesday 24 July.
Some £80,000 stood between those who were willing to finance the Harbour completion and the Commissioners. The News of 17 August said that completion of the harbour had been suspended. If the Corporation guarantee had been for £180,000 instead of ...
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Eversfield Hospital in West Hill Road was hit by lightning during terrific thunderstorms on Friday 27 July. Mr Gambier the medical officer was struck. A stableman connected with the nearby Broadhurst's livery stable was violently thrown down.
Lord and Lady Brassey were welcomed home after performing a viceregal service in Victoria, Australia. There were street decorations in Robertson Street and the Front Line, a procession, presentation and evening fete. Brassey had been a Hastings MP from 1868-1886.
New Lifeboat
From the Hastings News of 10/08/1900
It was announced that Hastings was to be supplied with a new lifeboat by the RNLI.
Kipling in Town
From the Hastings News of 24/08/1900
The famous novelist Rudyard Kipling had been staying in Hastings.
Child Saved
From the Hastings News of 24/08/1900
Well-known boatman Jack Peddlesden saved another child from drowning near the stone groyne at the east end of the White Rock Baths.
Councillor a Hero
From the Hastings News of 24/08/1900
Hastings councillor Owen Wickens, of St Helens ward, captured a burglar during his stay at a large farmhouse near Sandhurst.
Printer Dies
From the Hastings News of 31/08/1900
Death of on Wednesday 29 August of Charles Clark, the well-known George Street printer.
The slaughter house in Hollington Old Lane was extensively damaged by fire. It belonged to Mr Owens, of Norman Road.
Fiddling Problems
From the Hastings News of 07/09/1900
There were complaints about Hastings blind fiddlers, the steamboat whistles, the organ-grinders and the monkeys. They should be dispensed with, said the complainers.
Engineer Killed
From the Hastings News of 21/09/1900
An inquest was held into the death of Charles Harcourt Wordsworth, aged 24, an engineer who was killed by a zinc strainer which fell from a window of the Palace Hotel, White Rock.
Electioneering
From the Hastings News of 28/09/1900
There had been meetings around the town that week to further the Conservative candidature of Edward Boyle QC in the forthcoming general election. They took place at Silverhill Assembly Room and Christ Church Parish Room on 24 September, and Ore ...
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Estate agent Thomas Henry Case, of 164 London Road, came before the Bankruptcy Court.
In the general election, the Liberal, Freeman Freeman-Thomas won, with 3,399 votes against Conservative Edward Boyle’s 3,191, a majority of 209. “Vote for Freeman-Thomas, and Lord Brassey will finish the Harbour” was one of the many cries heard in the ...
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A haystack adjoining Broomgrove Road in Mount Pleasant caught fire. It was extinguished after the hay was severely damaged.
Harbour Engineer
From the Hastings News of 12/10/1900
Mr Kidd, the contractor's resident engineer during the Harbour works, was in Hastings on Saturday 6 October. His presence caused a revival of the electioneering representation that Freeman-Thomas's victory could mean Lord Brassey would finish the work.
Cycle Shop Gutted
From the Hastings News of 12/10/1900
A cycle shop in Elphinstone Road, on the corner with Queens Road, was completely gutted by fire on Tuesday 9 October. It belonged to Mr Barton. The adjoining greengrocers premises of Mr E Mortimer were also damaged by the fire ...
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The well-known local builder William Henry Santer Eldridge died on Tuesday 16 October. His son, WH junior, carried on the business, Eldridge & Son, from its premises at the top of Prospect Place.
News Changes Hands
From the Hastings News of 19/10/1900
The Hastings and St Leonards News had changed hands. The late Joseph Henbrey Tendall had been the proprietor; now it was Henry Trevor Gardiner, of Gardiner & Co, based at 6 Bank Buildings (on the ground floor, below the Central ...
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Museum Re-opens
From the Hastings News of 19/10/1900
Lord and Lady Brassey had formally re-opened the Hastings Museum at the Brassey Institute, Claremont. It had been in “cribbed and confined quarters” on the top floor of the Institute, but now it was in the much bigger exhibition room. ...
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Mrs Brett Dies
From the Hastings News of 26/10/1900
Mrs Celia Brett, wife of the well-known local historian and journalist Thomas Brandon Brett, died on 19 October, aged 77, at their home in Norman Road.
Fish Salesman Dies
From the Hastings News of 26/10/1900
Death on 22 October of Thomas (Tonser) Adams, one of the best-known and oldest fishermen. He used to be the chief fish salesman, just as his sons Tom and Bill were then on the Fishmarket.
The Hastings lifeboat was called out on 25 October to help the German four-masted sailing ship Helican, 1,200 tons, which ran ashore half a mile east of Winchelsea. It was successfully relaunched.
Harbour Finances
From the Hastings News of 09/11/1900
At a Council meeting, Alderman Hutchings was re-appointed Harbour Commissioner, hinting that the Public Works Loan Commissioner would support the raising of the necessary finances for the completion of the enterprise.
A meeting was held at Market Hall, George Street, to form a Costermongers Benefit and Protection Society in protest against the Corporation’s bye-laws. The union started with 63 members.
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