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Inaugurating the new century, the mayor and Corporation attended church and then had lunch at the Queens Hotel.
Suicide in Ore
From the Hastings News of 04/01/1901
An inquest was held into the death of James Veness, aged 68, of 1 Lords Cottages, Ore. He was suffering from depression and committed suicide by strangulation with some wire. His wife found him dead after he had gone outside ...
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Rusty Nail Kills
From the Hastings News of 04/01/1901
John Newton Edwards, of 6 Silverlands Road, died from the scratch of a rusty nail on 31 December. He was a grocer’s assistant in the employ of Mr Chase.
The recently-formed Anchor Musical and Charitable Society gave tea to 600 poor children on Wednesday evening, 2 January, in the Market Hall, George Street. They were given bread, butter and jam; mixed, sweet and plum cakes; and tea. Musicians from ...
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Tramway Question
From the Hastings Mail of 05/01/1901
The Mail believed that work would start on the trams in April 1901. Mr Murphy had had the legal power to start the work for nearly months, but there was no sign on the streets of anything happening. The Mail ...
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The opening of a new school at St Helens owing to the growth of the district took place on Monday 7 January. The old Infants School at St Helens under Miss Alice Nelson was closed to transfer to the new ...
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Town Centre Loo
From the Hastings News of 11/01/1901
A start had been made on the much talked-about and long-awaited public lavatory in Harold Place. Boarding had been put up round the site and the foundations were being laid.
Boer War Death
From the Hastings News of 18/01/1901
Death of Pte W Mitchell of the Active Service Company of the Hastings Volunteer Rifles. He died of enteric fever in a hospital in Bloemfontein.
Death of Queen Victoria, aged 81, after a reign of 63 years. Telegrams of condolence were sent by the mayor and others. The King's Accession was proclaimed on 25 January in a special meeting of the Corporation. Memoriam services were ...
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Brisco Dies
From the Hastings News of 24/01/1901
Death of Miss Sarah Brisco on Monday 21 January, at 79 Portland Place, London. She was the second daughter of “the late Wastel Brisco who, years ago, purchased the well-known Bohemia Place, a building erected at the order of Princess ...
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Fire at Jenny Lind
From the Hastings News of 24/01/1901
The cellar of the Jenny Lind pub in the High Street caught fire on Wednesday 23 January, but was speedily extinguished, although jars of spirits burst, causing considerable damage.
News Changes Days
From the Hastings News of 24/01/1901
The Hastings News switched from publishing on Fridays to Thursdays, from this issue. It went back to Fridays on June 14.
Death of Mr Horace Ditch, the Old Town builder, on 24 January, aged over 70.
Reginald Ashburnham, second son of the late Sir Anchitel Ashburnham, fell about 40 feet down the cliff just below Lovers Seat, Fairlight.
Pub Open Illegally
From the Hastings News of 07/02/1901
A Hollington public house disobeyed the general closing order and remained open all day on Saturday 2 February.
Inquests had been held into the suicides of Mrs EM Willard, aged 45, wife of a farm labourer living at Bradbourne Cottage, and of John George Harman, aged 75, found in a washhouse at 11 Hill Street. Both had died ...
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A Hastings contingent of Volunteer Riflemen departed for the Front via Chichester. Sixty marched to Warrior Square Station, where they were addressed by the mayor.
Lift Work Soon
From the Hastings News of 14/02/1901
Alderman Idenden had said that preliminary work on the lift to the East Hill should commence, and that he believed that with the improved state of the money market the necessary finance to complete the Harbour would be forthcoming.
Lift Go-ahead
From the Hastings News of 21/02/1901
The Council meeting on 15 February gave the go-ahead for the construction of the East Hill Lift. It would rise 148 feet vertically, with its rails covering 258 feet, at a gradient of 1 in 1.66. It would be run ...
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Temperance Car
From the Hastings News of 21/02/1901
The new Hastings Temperance Refreshment Car had been formally inaugurated on the seafront by Lady Reade.
Railway Problems
From the Hastings News of 28/02/1901
Albert Lambert, aged 16, a fireman on a locomotive, lost his leg in an accident working on the Bexhill, Sidley and Crowhurst Railway on 22 February. The next day, engine driver Harry William Mussle, collapsed and died at a locomotive ...
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A complaint against hospital authorities sending women with fractured ribs to the Workhouse was made public at its Board of Guardians meeting on 28 February.
March 5 Mr Freeman-Thomas MP introduced a deputation representing the Hastings Harbour Commissioners and the contractors (Messrs Punchard, McTaggart, Lowther & Co) to the Public Works Loans Board on 5 March to obtain a loan to complete the works. A ...
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War Deaths
From the Hastings News of 07/03/1901
A memorial to Pte Walter Charles Wood and Leading Seaman William Tribe was to be a brass tablet on the pillar near the font in St Clements Church. The News also reported that there was a death at the Front: ...
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There was agitation to induce the Council to put into force Clause 35 of the Housing Act 1890. A special sub-committee had been appointed at the Council meeting on 1 March to go into the question. A delegate told the ...
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Messrs Atkins Bros and Cox’s had opened a new 'hygienic bread factory' at 10 Earl Street, on a site previously occupied by the Bus Company. They were the largest baker in the town, with many bakeries and shops. The company ...
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The Municipal Employees’ Association was applying to ratepayers’ representatives for the “establishment of a living wage for the lowest grades of the Council employee of 26 shillings a week”. The News said many men in the town had to exist ...
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Winston Churchill MP, correspondent for the Morning Post during the Boer War, gave two lectures at the Royal Concert Hall, Warrior Gardens, on “How I Saw the War”. It was illustrated by limelight views. He stayed at the Grand Hotel.
Human bones were found during the East Hill Lift excavations.
Bankrupt Engineers
From the Hastings News of 14/03/1901
John Felgate and Allen Hodgson Parker, trading as the Southern Engineering Company, of Robertson Street, had appeared in the Bankruptcy Court.
Lord Brassey lectured on “Life in Australia” at the Public Hall, Robertson Street in aid of the Princess of Wales Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Fund.
Suicide by laudanum of Amos Stevens, poulterer, of Thatch Cottage, Old Lane, Hollington.
New Bandstand
From the Hastings News of 21/03/1901
The Council on 15 March agreed there should be a new bandstand for the White Rock Baths Promenade to replace the existing disgraceful structure, which was too small. The cost would be £248, which some councillors felt to be mean.
New Betting Law
From the Hastings News of 25/03/1901
A Council meeting on 19 March agreed to bring out a new byelaw placing tighter controls on street betting. They wanted to suppress it and the new law made it an offence to assemble in the street to receive bets.
Tramways Work Soon
From the Hastings News of 28/03/1901
Work on the tramways was scheduled to commence in May. Already 20,000 tons of rails were on order from an American firm.
Burial at Fairlight of Richard D’Oyly Carte (1844-1901), of the Savoy Theatre. Death of Miss Margaret Griffiths, for 35 years headmistress of Halton Infant School.
Tailor’s Suicide
From the Hastings News of 11/04/1901
An inquest was held on the suicide death of Philip Berringer Paine, a tailor of 58 St Marys Road, found in Ore reservoir.
Saxon Spear
From the Hastings News of 18/04/1901
The shop Reeves and Son, High Street, displayed the top of a Saxon spear found in excavations on the East Hill.
Hastings Council was asked for its comments on a proposed bill increasing the powers of local authorities to solve the housing problems of working class people. A widespread problem was great overcrowding, resulting in poor health. The bill would give ...
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Work started on laying down the wood paving from the Memorial to the Old Town.
Mr Christopher Farcey, a whitesmith aged 65, committed suicide by jumping 20 feet from the top of his house in Western Road. He had been sitting with his wife, when he suddenly got up and dived through a closed window, ...
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Two local solicitors went bankrupt in the same week in April 1901. Frederick Atkinson, living at Milward House, 133 Milward Road, and lately carrying on a business at 39 Havelock Road and in Sackville Chambers in Bexhill, had gross liabilities ...
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The Harbour Commissioners were to ask the Council to remove the 25 year time-limit it had put on the town’s guarantee for the £100,000 required to complete the Harbour works. The Council’s limit stood in the way of raising the ...
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The tramway scheme was given official backing by the Council meeting on Friday 19 April. The Council was told that the background was: (1) The Hastings, Bexhill and District Light Railways (Electric) Company Ltd, under the 1896 Light Railways Act ...
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Bus Company AGM
From the Hastings News of 25/04/1901
The annual meeting of the Hastings Omnibus Company was held on Saturday 20 April in the Queens Hotel. The directors believed that 1.5 million passengers carried that year had all had a very cheap ride, which was also far more ...
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James Clifton, militiaman and wagonette conductor, dropped dead in the bar of the Old Golden Cross Hotel, Havelock Road.
There was an opening ceremony at the new rifle range in Warren Glen, Fairlight, on Monday 6 May. Mrs Sayer-Milward fired the first shot. The site was provided on long lease at a nominal rent by the Rev WC Sayer-Milward. ...
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Sudden death of Charles Grisbrook, well known local builder, at his residence 12 Cornwallis Street.
A public meeting on Housing the Working Classes was held at Central Hall, Bank Buildings, on Wednesday 15 May, organised by the Hastings District Housing Council. There was poor attendance. Clem Edwards spoke about the large number of empty houses ...
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Builders Bust
From the Hastings News of 16/05/1901
Failure of the Hastings builders Moon and Carner.
Pier Problems
From the Hastings News of 16/05/1901
The annual meeting of the Hastings Pier Company took place on 13 May was a heated affair. The company was not doing well and many shareholders were unhappy, voting against the chairman's report. They felt the increased spending on band ...
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The 1901 census had shown the population of the borough only rising a few thousand, less than expected. The News said that some local papers saw this as bad, showing Hastings was going to the dogs and that the outlook ...
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The News said: "The shareholders of Paine, Rogers & Co [the big wholesale fruiterers based in Middle Street, which had just held its AGM] should count themselves extremely lucky. In these times a dividend of 20% is unknown at all ...
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Rail Fares Up
From the Hastings News of 23/05/1901
A public meeting was held at the Town Hall on 20 May to protest against the action of the railway companies in increasing the excursion fares and in discontinuing cheap Saturday trips. The Hon TA Brassey had written a letter ...
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New Water Carts
From the Hastings News of 23/05/1901
Twelve new water carts were to be purchased by the Corporation.
The directors of Hastings Baths Company had approached the Council, offering to sell the property. Lord Brassey was now the chairman; as Mr Brassey he had laid the foundation stone on 28 June 1876. The company “has not been successful ...
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Major-General Dies
From the Hastings News of 30/05/1901
Death of Major-General William Creagh, late of the 19th Bengal Infantry and former churchwarden of St Johns Church, Upper St Leonards.
The six-year old son of Mrs Green, widowed proprietor of the Black House beerhouse in Priory Street, was run over and killed by an omnibus.
The new Norman Road Wesleyan Church was dedicated on 5 June, with the president preaching to a large congregation. It had been built for £4,521 by Mr WG Morgan; the architect was Mr James Weir of London; total costs were ...
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Fishmonger Bust
From the Hastings News of 06/06/1901
Failure of Emmanuel Hawes, poulterer and wholesale fishmonger at Queens Road and East Beach Street.
Cllr Bradnam presented a petition to the Council meeting from resident ratepayers objecting to the new byelaw prohibiting the drying of clothes on parts of the beach. But the law went ahead.
Frederick George Pike was charged with threatening and intimidating his maid, in his employment at 5 George Street.
Gamblers Raided
From the Hastings News of 14/06/1901
A gambling house was raided at 44 Gensing Road on Thursday 13 June, Derby Day. George Talbot was summoned under the Betting Act. The News of 21 June said that the police during the last few days before the Derby ...
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Home from the War
From the Hastings News of 14/06/1901
Hastings men returning from the Boer War landed at Southampton on Sunday 9 June and were welcomed home at Hastings on 13 June. They were received by the mayor at West Marina Station and then marched through the town, terminating ...
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Housing Council
From the Hastings News of 21/06/1901
Hastings Housing Council met at the Beehive Restaurant on 18 June. Many working men’s organisation had so far failed to send deputies. The News of 16 August said that at another meeting at the Beehive Restaurant in Pelham Street, Mr ...
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The removal of the “dilapidated and discarded” White Rock bandstand to the Marina in St Leonards had aroused great indignation. But the new bandstand was completed at White Rock on Wednesday 17 July, and it was considered to be an ...
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Motors on Seafront
From the Hastings News of 21/06/1901
At the Council meeting on 14 June, Councillor Boutwood wanted more public motors on the seafront, which was currently limited to two licensed motors. The Council agreed the number could be increased, but on 8 July, the Council Licensing Committee ...
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Noisy Beanfeasters
From the Hastings News of 28/06/1901
There was noisy entry into the town after midnight on Saturday 22 June, with several break loads of local beanfeasters.
Omnibus Death
From the Hastings News of 05/07/1901
There was an inquest at Buchanan into the death of Henry White, of 4 Cornfield Terrace, killed when he fell from an omnibus.
A fire at Saxon Chambers, London Road, in the offices of architects Messrs Pigott and Oxley destroyed 600 drawings and plans.
There was a strike by men employed on the new gas mains on the Front opposite London Road on Monday 8 July, with 20 men abandoning tools for an additional halfpenny an hour. But as no settlement had been reached ...
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Lodgings Bust
From the Hastings News of 12/07/1901
Sarah Ann Kerr, Mrs Crawley and Miss Tullett, all former lodging house keepers of Eversfield Place, appeared in the Bankruptcy Court, along with EC Carter, coal merchant, of London Road.
The Council on 8 July discussed the Harbour question in detail. Its history was outlined by the News. The Commissioners had failed to raise the money needed to complete it, despite their most extraordinary exertions with financiers and the Public ...
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There was a terrific thunderstorm, with chimneys struck and a fatality in Ore.
The historic Cinque Ports gathering known as the Brotherhood and Guestling was held at Hastings on Sunday 14 July, with about 100 officers from the ports and limbs attending.
Tram Jam
From the Hastings News of 26/07/1901
Hastings and the tram: Recently the Town Council formally ratified the agreement with Murphy and executed it. These terms provided for the payment of wayleaves, giving the Corporation the right to use the iron standards for electric light purposes and ...
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Dairyman Frederick William Nowell of 2 Zuriel Place, Old London Road, was found hanging from trees opposite his house.
Major-General Sir Archibald Sherer died at The Residency, Church Road, on 29 July. He had been a Conservative councillor for the St Leonards ward.
Problems with Lift
From the Hastings News of 02/08/1901
There were difficulties with the completion of the East Hill lift during excavations. Faulty sand and rock had to be removed while making the “yawning gap”.
There was a fatal accident in Havelock Road. John Swain, on trying to get into a railway van slipped and fell under a wheel and died.
A man named Auderton, assistant to Mr H Jarvis, vet surgeon, of St Leonards, was found dead on the beach at Rock-a-Nore, smelling of prussic acid. The body of Eliza Harris, of 38 Salisbury Road, was found in Shornden Reservoir.
The induction of the Rev CW Cooper as vicar of Christ Church, Ore, took place on 6 August. The News of 30 August reported strong indignation at the Reverend's denunciation at a meeting of the Council's Licensing Committee of the ...
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James Godsell, aged seven, was found drowned off a groyne. He was the son of Samuel James Godsell, labourer.
A News editorial stressed the need for a Free Library and reading room at Hastings. Few of the artisan class enter within the Brassey walls at Claremont.
Hastings Housing Council had its first annual meeting at the Beehive Restaurant in Pelham Street on 13 August. Mr Street, of the Battersea Housing Council, described Hastings as having the worst constructed Borough Council ever seen in his travels.
The Sussex County Agricultural Show took place at Horntye Field off Bohemia Road on 21/2 August.
Lord Brassey's huge yacht, the three-masted schooner the Sunbeam, had been off Hastings during the last few days. On the 21st and 22nd it was open for inspection by visitors and on the evening of the 21st there was a ...
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Bus Tragedy
From the Hastings News of 30/08/1901
There was a fatal fall from an omnibus by Harriet Maria Hogg, wife of the retired auctioneer of 21 Norman Terrace.
Trams via Harbour?
From the Hastings News of 30/08/1901
A few days earlier, an engineering official was surveying the harbour to make possible provision for the landing of some thousands of tons of material for building the trams system. The News was glad the Council could be allowing the ...
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The Hastings Guardians had been pressured into building a new workhouse by the Local Government Board, and it was now nearing completion, with only finishing touches needed. The Guardians set up a furnishing committee, was recommending spending £1,300, which the ...
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Servant Killed
From the Hastings News of 06/09/1901
An inquiry was held into the death of Cecilia Campion, a domestic servant who was fatally injured playing on a giant stride swing at the Roman Catholic Convent in Magdalen Road.
A three-day al-fresco market was held in Clive Vale, in the grounds of Normanhurst Lodge, at 38 Edmund Road, to help the Old Town Church Schools. It was opened by the borough MP Mr Freeman-Thomas.
Suffrage Speech
From the Hastings News of 13/09/1901
Mrs W Slade spoke on women's suffrage at the Central Hall, Bank Buildings, on 9 September.
New Mission Hall
From the Hastings News of 13/09/1901
The foundation stone for the new Mission Hall at Halton was laid by Mr Beck of Hastings and Ald Kemp of Lewes on 11 September.
The Hastings Board of Guardians was still in possession of a white elephant in the shape of the Elphinstone Road site of 18 acres of land purchased for a new workhouse and never built on. The cost to the ratepayer ...
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Sand in Harbour
From the Hastings News of 27/09/1901
The accumulation of some 8,000 loads of sand in the harbour was the subject of much East End comment and was alluded to as Mount Palmer, after the borough engineer, Mr PH Palmer. The Harbour Commissioners had given the Corporation ...
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Gold was found in George Street. Some 500 gold coins, chiefly George III sovereigns, were discovered during some alterations at 56 George Street. Two workmen, Mr Brunton and Mr Poole, found them in some old sacking. They came to the ...
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The new lifeboat sent by the National Lifeboat Association was formally launched at Bopeep. The Charles Arckoll II took the place of the Charles Arckoll.
Bad Work Prospects
From the Hastings News of 01/11/1901
There was talk of ugly predictions for the prospects of the local working classes during the coming winter, with "visions of relief funds and soup kitchens". The News said many artisans were out of work, with "painters, as usual, being ...
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Labourer Killed
From the Hastings Mail of 02/11/1901
An inquest was held on Saturday 26 October in the East Sussex Hospital into the death on Tuesday 17 October of Frederick Wimbourne, builder’s labourer, aged 42 or 43. He was out of work. He was trying to put two ...
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