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Dec
George William Parris of 62 Stonefield Road was found hanging in a slaughter house.
Sea Front Trams
From the Hastings Mail of 04/01/1902
A meeting was held in opposition to sea front trams on 2 January, at the Royal Concert Hall, Warrior Gardens. It was resolved to form a committee to oppose the bill in Parliament. The next day the Council supported the ...
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Harbour Dilemma
From the Hastings Mail of 04/01/1902
The Harbour Consultative Committee met on 3 January and was troubled over clause 3 of the 1897 Harbour Act. It referred the matter to eminent counsel for their opinion. The Mail of 11 January said that the contractors Punchard, McTaggart, ...
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Arts Studio Opens
From the Hastings News of 11/01/1902
The opening of the Leighton Studio for the study of all branches of the fine arts at the Royal Concert Hall, Warrior Gardens, took place on Saturday 28 December 1901.
The well-known Mr CE Beeching terminated his appointment as manager of Lloyds Bank, Hastings; Mr HC Willmott succeeded him.
Death of Charles Vidler, one of the partners of the long-established firm of Ellison and Vidler, the prominent wine merchants.
Golf Club Changes
From the Hastings Mail of 11/01/1902
Hastings Golf Club would shortly give up the use of the six holes on the public portion of the East Hill. Six new holes would be made off Barley Lane so that the whole course would then be on private ...
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Harbour Sand to Go
From the Hastings Mail of 18/01/1902
Jan 18 WM The Parks and Gardens Committee recommended acceptance of the offer by Messrs Jackson and Holdoway to remove the heap of sand deposited on the harbour works foreshore by 1st July and the remainder deposited at Rock-a-Nore within ...
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Miss Emily Fox, staying with her mother at 134 Marina, threw herself into a rough sea and drowned in front of a crowd at West Marina.
A new showroom had been designed by James Winter and built at his cemetery memorial works at 43 and 45 Croft Road.
An inquest was held into the accident and later death from injuries of William Lisle Bissenden, of 206 Mount Pleasant Road, a carriage cleaner at Hastings Railway Station, who tripped on wires.
Housing Discussed
From the Hastings Mail of 01/02/1902
The housing question was discussed at the St Leonards Assembly Rooms on 29 January. The local MP gave his views. There were pleas for improved legislation. Were Hastings people apathetic?
The annual meeting of the Charity Organisation Society heard that the number of applications for assistance more than doubled in 1901 compared with 1900 – up from 612 to 1,291. Aid was given in 808 cases, nearly twice 1900. Spending ...
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There were complaints from residents who lived in the vicinity of the Electric Light Works in Earl Street of the nuisance caused by vibration and smoke from the chimneys. The vibration was said to be worse since the Council controlled ...
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Licensee Suicide?
From the Hastings Mail of 05/02/1902
The body of Stephen Hubbard, licensee of the Sea View Hotel, Warrior Square, was found in the sea opposite 38 Marina.
The Fishermen’s Chaplain and Mr Felton Smith had formed a Lad’s Brigade amongst the boys of the fishing quarter.
Dangerous Paths
From the Hastings Mail of 08/02/1902
There were complaints about the dangerous unpaved and unlighted paths across the West Hill.
Halton Mission
From the Hastings Mail of 08/02/1902
The Friends had opened their new Mission Hall at Halton.
A good portion of the cliff gave way at Target Hill, on the east side of Ecclesbourne Glen, not far from the footpath.
War Death
From the Hastings Mail of 10/02/1902
Hastings Volunteer Pte W Wilkins died from dysentry at Edenburg, Orange River Colony.
Harbour Bonds
From the Hastings Mail of 22/02/1902
The Harbour Question: At a meeting of the Harbour Commissioners held on 17 February, financier Mr T Aplin Taylor was present. He had undertaken to raise £100,000 in 3% bonds, the interest being guaranteed by the Corporation for 25 years ...
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Death of George Tapp, aged 15, second son of Mr Tapp, the well-known blacksmith in the Old Town, of consumption.
Tram Deal Thwarted
From the Hastings Mail of 01/03/1902
Mr Murphy had agreed to new terms with the Council's Tramways Committee: (1) That the lines from the Memorial to the Borough Cemetery and Hollington should be started before anything was done to the Front Line, and that the circuit ...
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The Friendly Societies held a parade of members and supporters to help the societies at present helping to feed the unemployed in the borough. Started at 7pm, going through Old Town, along seafront to London Road, down East Ascent, then ...
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New Rifle Club
From the Hastings Mail of 08/03/1902
Hastings and District Rifle Club held its first annual meeting on 24 February. Volunteers were to be admitted and ladies encouraged.
Poultry rearing had become a new industry for Hastings, said the Mail. A “thriving poultry farm” at the Hawkwood Fancy and Utility Poultry Farm was started a year ago in Hollington by Mr Eliot Schneider “who is determined to create ...
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New Liberal Club
From the Hastings Mail of 08/03/1902
A new Liberal Club was formed at 36 Wellington Square.
The fish trade with Paris: With reference to the recent County Court action in which a fish dealer sued the Railway Company for damages owing to the late arrival of fish at Paris, the trade had been damaged in the ...
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Asquith Rally
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
The Liberal League met in the Concert Hall on 14 March to hear a speech by Mr Herbert Asquith. The hall was filled to overflowing.
Housing Delayed
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
There was a delay by Hastings Housing Council in supplying any hard evidence of overcrowding to the Town Council, which would do nothing until the case was proved. A start had been made on the Halton House estate where perhaps ...
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Victoria Statue
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
The Borough was planning to acquire a site at the lower Warrior Square Gardens for the Queen Victoria statue. The Mail of 20 September 1902 reported that a start was made with the erection of the Memorial after considerable legal ...
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Bankrupt Jeweller
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
William Thomas Paine, jeweller of Presents House, Havelock Road, was at the Bankruptcy Court.
Cllr Wickens Dies
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
Cllr Owen Wickens died on 11 March at his residence, London House, 246 Old London Road, Ore village (also his drapers shop). He was a popular and well-respected Tory councillor who had done much to help the poor people of ...
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Steps by Lift
From the Hastings Mail of 15/03/1902
Progress on the East Hill Lift: A line of steps was placed by the side of the lift, which were very useful for the workmen.
Tram Bill Halted
From the Hastings Mail of 22/03/1902
The Parliamentary Select Committee on 20 March did not grant Mr Murphy’s application for the Front Line Tramways Bill to go before the House of Lords Committee for consideration.
The town clerk wrote on behalf of the Harbour Consultative Committee asking upon what terms the Commissioners would be prepared to dispose of the whole undertaking to the Corporation. The Commissioners did not seem to enjoy the idea of parting ...
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Tory Stands Down
From the Hastings Mail of 29/03/1902
Conservative Edward Boyle declined taking part in a second fight for the Hastings Parliamentary seat.
Henry Stretton was charged on 3 April with living wholly or in part off prostitution. Stretton had been living since January in the back of a house in High Street.
The Council decided on 4 April to purchase 11½ acres of the Brisco Estate for £20,000 to utilise the land for a winter garden, sports ground and a new town hall. [Now White Rock Gardens.] This was a controversial decision, ...
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General Booth was back at the Gaiety Theatre after two years.
George Street Fire
From the Hastings Mail of 12/04/1902
There was a destructive fire in the Old Curiosity Shop, 3 [?] George Street, owned by Mr Francis Goldman, with £2,500 worth of damage. It was impossible to save Goldman’s premises, with flames advancing over Mr Coote’s estate agency office ...
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Rosy Past
From the Hastings Mail of 19/04/1902
The Mail comment column talked about “the more prosperous period of 15 years ago, and the rosy times that were enjoyed 20 or 30 years since”.
“So! Ore has provided the borough with its first working-man councillor!” This was the Liberal Mr James Seargison who replaced the late Cllr Wickens, Tory, who had died on 10 March 1902. He was elected on 16 April, but did ...
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Cllr Boutwood questioned whether the losses on the Electric Light Works during the previous two years were to form a floating debt, or if an increase in rates would have to be made to make up the loss.
Council Wages
From the Hastings Mail of 19/04/1902
Corporation wages should be raised in line with Tunbridge Wells, requested the Secretary of the Hastings and St Leonards Trades and Labour Council.
More Bankrupts
From the Hastings Mail of 19/04/1902
Rosa Ellis, boarding house proprietor, late of 88 Warrior Square; William Thomas Paine, jeweller; and Alfred Moses Nightingale, grocer and wine, spirit and beer merchant of Chapman's stores, Ore were in the Bankruptcy Court.
A house was gutted at 2 Montpelier Villas, Old London Road (just below Priory Road), residence of Mr W Henderson, a shoemaker, on 20 April.
At a Housing Council meeting at Todd’s Dining Rooms, Breeds Place, on 19 April the vice-president Mr J Swaine complained of the dropping of the monthly meetings, which implied there was nothing to consider. A Mr Cramp “knew of a ...
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The body of a child was found buried in a garden in a lane on the Beauport Estate on 27 April.
Hollington Fire
From the Hastings Mail of 03/05/1902
There was a fire at Reuben Foster's blacksmiths and cycle shop at Hollington [131 Battle Road?] on 28 April.
A Council meeting on 9 May decided against any Sunday working of the East Hill Lift.
The Council on 9 May rescinded the resolution passed on 7 March refusing to support Mr Murphy’s Bill for the Front Line until he had constructed the suburban lines. The Mayor ruled out of order Cllr Boutwood’s motion that the ...
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Fisherman Drowns
From the Hastings Mail of 15/05/1902
Fishermen Robert Hide drowned in sight of his mates when he was knocked backwards and over the side while assisting to hoist the sail of the boat Thomas and Elizabeth.
The fledgling resort of Bexhill staged Britain's first international motorsport event on Whit Monday. Speed trials and motor races took place along the east end of the seafront, then the private cycle track of Earl De La Warr, the father ...
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The new 18 hole golf course was completed. It was opened on Sunday 18 May. The six holes on Corporation property on the East Hill had been given up, and the course was entirely on private property.
The Royal Navy torpedo boat, the Spanker, a fishery protection vessel, laid off Hastings on 21 May. Large numbers of people rowed around the vessel.
Wooden Marina
From the Hastings Mail of 24/05/1902
The wood paving of the St Leonards seafront Marina was to start next week. The News of 31 May said commenced on 27 May from Warrior Square to the end of the parade at the Marina.
There was a gas explosion at 4 St Matthews Road, Silverhill. Albert Armstrong, an inspector of the Gas Company, was admitted to hospital.
The starting of a sea fishing festival was the subject of a meeting at the Castle Hotel, Wellington Square, on 26 May.
The new railway line linking Bexhill to the Hastings-Charing Cross line at Crowhurst opened on Saturday 31 May. The four and a half mile track ran from Crowhurst via a 17-arch brick viaduct across the Crowhurst Marshes to a station ...
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Boer War Ends
From the Hastings Mail of 07/06/1902
Celebration of news of peace in the Boer War brought unorganised local revelry on 2 June. On 8 June there were church Sunday Services on the restoration of peace. On Sunday 6 July, a drumhead service was held in Alexandra ...
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Lift Near Lift-Off
From the Hastings Mail of 14/06/1902
Work on the East Hill Lift was practically completed. The cars had been in position for some time. On Tuesday 10 June water necessary for the hydraulic apparatus was run into the tanks in preparation for the test trial by ...
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Great interest was caused by the sight of a floating dock off Hastings being towed down the Channel on its way to the Bermudas.
Philip Rufford of 37 Magdalen Road, St Leonards, the well known ardent geologist, committed suicide on 19 June. His body was found on the SE Railway line at Cragoak Bridge near Wadhurst. Dr Thomas Prickard Harvey of 99 London Road, ...
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Upwards of a thousand householders were summoned in connection with failing to pay rates. This number showed an unfortunate increase.
Lift Starts Trials
From the Hastings Mail of 28/06/1902
The East Hill Lift was to run for a whole day next week. The Mail of Saturday 12 July said the Lift was to run for several hours that day, with the formal official test next week.
Workhouse Master
From the Hastings Mail of 12/07/1902
Death of John Pearce at Ore, on 10 July, the former Master of the Workhouse.
The Hastings Housing Council held its second annual meeting on 11 July, under the president Mr J Forrest. But it was not a big event. The HHC had not been able to find men of influence at their periodical meetings.
The Town Council was informed that a firm of financiers was willing to raise a loan to complete the Harbour, provided that the interpretation of a clause in the Act was made clear by another Act which would have to ...
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A Council meeting on 18 July was informed that the Eversfleld Estate bordering on the north side of Alexandra Park's Shornden Reservoir and Harmers Reservoirs was to be developed for building. [This was the Beaufort Road area.] The estate's surveyor ...
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"An incident which showed the absolute safety of the East Hill Lift occurred yesterday [Friday 18 July] morning, whilst a trial trip was being made. Councillors Gallop and Diton, Mr Bumstead, Mr Palmer jnr and one other had ascended, and ...
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Horses Suffering
From the Hastings Mail of 19/07/1902
People concerned about horses suffering from the slippery new wooden road paving presented a 185-signature petition to the Council meeting on 18 July. Ratepayers and horse owners said the paving was "exceedingly difficult and dangerous for horses, and that severe ...
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In the Divorce Court on 18 July, the Countess de la Warr was granted a decree nisi for the desertion and misconduct of her husband, the Earl, with an actress named Miss Turner. In court were the Countess's father Lord ...
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Freemason Honours
From the Hastings Mail of 26/07/1902
The borough engineer was given an honour as a Freemason. Mr PH Palmer was awarded a special title, as was Castle Hotel manager Mr H Boyce. The awards were part of a special meeting of Sussex Freemasons on July 23 ...
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Lift: Final Tests
From the Hastings Mail of 09/08/1902
The East Hill Lift was in working order after final trials on Monday 4 August, Bank Holiday Monday. The cars were loaded up with iron over 2 tons and the tanks filled with water. Ropes were cut to test the ...
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Steamer Stuck
From the Hastings Mail of 09/08/1902
The Brighton Queen passenger steamer was stuck on the Castle Rocks opposite the West Hill on 4 August, Bank Holiday Monday. Passengers were stranded with tickets to Newhaven, Eastbourne and Brighton.
A fatal lamp accident occurred at Pottery Cottages, Silverhill, residence of Mr Tree, chimney sweep on 8 August. Two children were burnt, and Richard Tree, aged nine, died later.
The Coronation of Edward VII was celebrated with rejoicings at Hastings on 9 and 10 August. There was an official thanksgiving of the Council at St Clements, with the mayor in Coronation garb, and a fete in the Park, with ...
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The East Hill Lift opened to the public for the first time on the morning of Saturday, 10 August. The Mail of 16 August reported that it had been well patronised in its first week, with an average of 1,200 ...
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Henry Aspey committed suicide on the railway line at Galley Hill. He was knocked down and killed by the Hastings train.
Harbour Hitch
From the Hastings Mail of 16/08/1902
Another hitch for the Harbour: The agreement between the Commissioners and the contractors was still unsigned.
Death on 19 August of Maurice Sarsfield Walsh JP, editor of the Hastings Observer. He died at his home, 4 St Helens Terrace, aged 59, following eight months of various illnesses. He was born 3 December 1843 in London and ...
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An application to borrow £20,110 for the purchase of nine acres of the Brisco Estate at White Rock for a recreation ground etc was heard at a Town Hall inquiry. There was a big report in the Mail. The tenant ...
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Laundry Fire
From the Hastings Mail of 30/08/1902
The Warrior Square Steam Laundry, in Cross Street, St Leonards, was burnt out on 29 August. Visitors’ linen was destroyed.
Harbour Drags On
From the Hastings Mail of 30/08/1902
A contractor in negotiations with the Harbour Commissioners over completing the works provisionally signed an agreement if Clause3 was confirmed as the parties had agreed it should be. The Mail of 6 September reported that the mayor had indignantly denied ...
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Gasworks Progress
From the Hastings Mail of 06/09/1902
The half-yearly meeting of the Gas Company on 4 March in their Queens Road office heard that the company was in a very satisfactory position. Work was progressing well on the new Glyne Gap works, which was still unfinished; £45,000 ...
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During three hours on Tuesday 2 March just over an inch and a third of rain fell, with the fall for the complete day being 1.62 inches. "With such an extraordinary downpour it is only to be expected that extraordinary ...
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At the djourned inquest into the death of Thomas Moore, Mr Frank Roots, an engine driver of 6 St Saviour Flats, St Leonards, was committed for trial for alleged manslaughter over the Bopeep tunnel accident. On 20 September the charge ...
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Fatal Fire
From the Hastings Mail of 13/09/1902
An inquest was held into the death of Flora Jacobs, fatally burnt in a bedroom at 4 West Ascent.
Pier Master Dies
From the Hastings Mail of 13/09/1902
Hastings Pier Master Clement Lenton died at Norman Chambers, Saxon Road, on 10 September. Mr R Turner was appointed as his successor on 2 October.
Water Filter?
From the Hastings Mail of 20/09/1902
A Council meeting discussed the future filtering of the Brede water supply for an outlet of nearly £5,000.
There was an alarming incident on the East Hill Lift on Monday 22 September, with a man dashed through a window and several passengers injured. The downward-going car increased speed rapidly and came into violent collision with the buffers at ...
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Art Exhibition
From the Hastings Mail of 27/09/1902
Thomas Mann, the local art dealer, had turned his 9 Priory Street Galleries into a free public exhibition. His collection was auctioned off on 26 May 1903.
Parks to be Bought
From the Hastings Mail of 04/10/1902
The Council in Committee decided to purchase the 6½ acres of Alexandra Park nearest Queens Road from the Rev Sayer Milward for £1,800. This land was then being held on lease for 56 years, at a rent of £35 pa. ...
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The Council approved the new clause of the Harbour Act but the final negotiations had been delayed during the long legal vacation.
No Parish Churches
From the Hastings Mail of 04/10/1902
Editorial said: “It is curious that neither Hastings or St Leonards possess a parish church. Brighton and Eastbourne and most other towns have such edifices. … To all intents and purposes St Clements is the parish church of Hastings and ...
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The general job firm Skinner & Co (especially transport), of 18 Western Road, “have alighted on the days of prosperity again, but have had the sense to acquire an additional string to their bow – motor cars”. They had five. ...
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More Bankrupt
From the Hastings Mail of 11/10/1902
Richard Oakes Holmes of Warrior Square, a boarding house keeper and mining agent, and Thomas Jackson Cholerton, a tailor of Queens Road, were in the Bankruptcy Court.
Defending Liberty
From the Hastings Mail of 18/10/1902
A mass meeting was held on 13 October at the Public Hall, Robertson Street, in defence of civil and religious liberty issues arising from the Education Bill, which was strongly condemned.
An exhibition was held at 4 Bank Buildings of a working model of the Dolter surface contact system for electric trams. This system was likely to be adopted, not only for the Front Line, but also for Robertson Street and ...
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