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The Hastings Co-operative Society bakery started operations at 155 Queens Road. The premises, which some time before were occupied by a baker, were already fitted up with an oven and other plant necessary for the making of bread. By January ...
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New Soup Kitchen
From the Hastings Mail of 02/01/1909
A new soup kitchen opened for the first time on Tuesday morning, 29 December, in the basement of the Priory Street Institute. It had been started by some ladies and gentlemen, with the help of the Robertson Street Congregational Church, ...
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Record Snowstorm
From the Hastings Mail of 02/01/1909
The heaviest snowstorm in Hastings since 1860 took place on Tuesday 29 December. For fifteen hours there was a heavy fall. This was a veritable God-send to the unemployed, for hundreds of men were employed on the public roads, with ...
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Winkleites
From the Hastings Mail of 02/01/1909
"Early in the new year Hastings was again reminded of the existence of a small community calling themselves 'Winkleites'. They were members of the Prince Albert Winkle Club, which held its second annual dinner in the Harbour shed, on December ...
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The Ore Penny Dinner Fund had a special New Year’s Fare on 5 and 6 January. Many scores of pinched-faced and ill-clothed little children were seated at improvised tables at the fare, at Sandown Schools, eating hot soup, sweets and ...
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Boy Scouts HQ
From the Hastings Mail of 09/01/1909
A meeting had taken place where it was agreed that the local YMCA would allow the boy scouts to use part of its building as a headquarters. Until now the lack of organisation and the want of an HQ had ...
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Run-Down Hastings
From the Hastings Mail of 09/01/1909
Mail editorial: “Our Industrial Difficulties - On every hand, and in every walk of life, complaint is made that competition is so keen that it is impossible to make a comfortable living, notwithstanding the long hours of labour. The small ...
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Crook Jailed
From the Hastings Mail of 16/01/1909
Edward Brasier, Town Hall messenger and defaulting treasurer of the Duke of Wellington Benefit Society, received nine months hard labour for embezzlement.
A Local Government Board inquiry was held into the Council’s application to borrow £954 for works of water supply and £420 for the purchase of a steam roller and a scarifier. The borough engineer’s explanation that the object of the ...
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Death by fire of a domestic servant employed by Mrs Stallard, of 2 Cornwallis Gardens.
Fabian in Town
From the Hastings Mail of 23/01/1909
A Fabian socialist gave an address to the Hastings socialists on Sunday evening, 17th.
Two Fires
From the Hastings Mail of 23/01/1909
A fire outbreak at the Gaiety Theatre, Queens Road, was promptly subdued by the staff, and a fire which did not prove serious occurred at the premises of Messrs Lester and Son, contractors and builders merchants, Earl Street.
The first general meeting of the newly-formed Hastings and St Leonards Progressive League took place on Monday 18 January. Lord Brassey was appointed President, with power vested in the executive.
Frederick Kerswell, the chief collector in the electricity department of Hastings Corporation, was arrested by the police and charged with embezzlement.
Suicide of the manager of the Castle Hotel, Wellington Square. With his mind unhinged, Mr Henry Boyce shot himself with a revolver and was found dead in his apartment bedroom on the second floor, in semi-darkness.
Sudden death of the Rev Canon Alfred Hodges MA, Vicar of Christ Church.
Local Social Democrats held a social evening on Tuesday 2 February at their hall in Priory Street, with between 50 and 60 people present. As two of their members, Mr and Mrs Wingfield, were about to leave for Australia, the ...
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Princess Kropotkin
From the Hastings Mail of 06/02/1909
Princess Kropotkin visited St Leonards, giving a lecture on ‘Russian Autocracy and the Nation’. Her husband had escaped from Russia and was then sharing his exile with the Princess in England.
Stewart Spencer, upholsterer and cabinet maker, of High Street, and residing in Edmund Road, Clive Vale; Alexander James Noakes, of 47 Bohemia Road, and lately trading at 103a Queens Road as an ironmonger; and Thomas Cloke, grocer, of 399 London ...
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Forty unemployed men went to the Workhouse when the weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians was being held, on Thursday 11th. A deputation of five were seen by the board, and they pleaded their cause. They were sympathetically listened ...
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SDF Meetings
From the Hastings Mail of 20/02/1909
Mr EJ Pay and Mr JA Taylor, of Tunbridge Wells, addressed a meeting of the local branch of the SDF on 16 February, in the Lower Public Hall, Robertson Street. On 24 February, Herbert Burrows, the socialist Parliamentary candidate for ...
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There was an early morning fire at Clovelly, 25 St Helens Park Road, the residence of Major General DW Laughton, but it was not serious.
William King, the respected headmaster of the Silverhill Schools, died at his residence Harold Villa, Vale Road, on 24 February.
The Distress Committee funds were only sufficient for two more weeks. There were 894 on the register (with 2,630 dependants), 497 of whom had not had work from the committee. Relief agencies for the hungry and unemployed were working from ...
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The Socialists fielded their first-ever candidate in a Hastings municipal or parliamentary election. This was the St Clements and Halton ward by-election on Thursday 4 March, following the death of the Conservative councillor, Richard Idenden. The Conservative candidate, Mr AG ...
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Mail headline and story: "Sensational Charges Against Hastings Municipal Authorities and Guardians by Muddled Socialists. In connection with the bye-election in St Clements ward on 4 March, the local socialists secured a special issue of Justice, the organ of the ...
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Woman Found Dead
From the Hastings Mail of 13/03/1909
Ellen Cheale, wife of Charles Cheale, labourer, of 26 Old Lane, Hollington, was found dead under the cliff at Fairlight on Tuesday 9 March after being missing for two days. There was a mystery because her hat and woollen tippet ...
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Ore Cemetery
From the Hastings Mail of 13/03/1909
The unkempt condition of the old Ore Parish Cemetery in Winchelsea Road led to a public meeting in the Church Room, Ore, on 10 March to seek opinion about making it more presentable. No register was kept; accounts prior to ...
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A new secretary manager for the Entertainments Association was appointed: Henry S Stevens.
The American Roller Skating Syndicate had recently transformed the Royal Concert Hall in Warrior Gardens into a first class skating rink.
A composite battalion of the Guards was dispatched from London in order to relieve the beleaguered town of Hastings from an imaginary invasion. War minister Mr Haldane had told the House of Commons on 4 March that Hastings had been ...
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In a big public meeting on Saturday 13 March, the Hastings and St Leonards Women's Suffrage Society (formed in 1883) affiliated itself to the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The well-attended event took place "in a high state of ...
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Questions were put in the Town Council meeting on 19 March about who bought the Brisco Estate and its size. Putting the questions was Cllr Carey, answering was the town clerk. The total area was a little over 10 acres, ...
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The transformed Palace Pier [the St Leonards Pier, opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel] was to be reopened in May, after the American Syndicate had taken possession of the Pier on 1 April. The Mail of 10 April reported that the ...
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The AGM of Hastings and District Electric Tramways Ltd heard that the past year had been an extremely disappointing one, with both an increase in expenses and a reduction in receipts. The principal cost was the upkeep of the Dolter ...
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Mr Barton Mortimer Briant, the well-known accountant was found shot dead in the lavatory at his offices on 2 April. These were the Income Tax Recovery Agency, on an upper floor of the building on the corner of Wellington Place ...
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The Mail described how a disappointed man had been living in solitude for some 12 or 14 years in a rock cavern on an allotment on the west side of Ecclesbourne Glen. He was a tall man with long grey ...
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Bankrupts
From the Hastings Mail of 17/04/1909
David Miles, a builder and decorator, of 19 Cornwall Road, and Robert Edmund Hudson, a saddler of 157 Mount Pleasant Road, carrying on business at 26 Castle Street, appeared in the Bankruptcy Court.
A woman was killed in jumping from a moving tramcar on Sunday 18 April, the first tramway death. Miss Annie Eliza Marchant, living at 22 Salisbury Road, Bohemia, struck her head on the stone curbing, just to the west of ...
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The local Women’s Suffrage Society held a mass meeting at the Public Hall, Robertson Street, on Monday 19 April, under the presidency of Mrs Strickland. Prior to the start of the speeches, the Women's Suffrage Choir, under Mrs Harlow Phibbs, ...
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The AGM of the Hastings Pier Company on 21 April heard there was decreased profit and no dividend. A future plan was for a pavilion at the shore end. The directors were criticised.
The first annual lantern slide exhibition of photographs taken by the Hastings and St Leonards Photographic Society were shown at the Public Hall.
Education Committee statistics showed that breakfasts numbered 221,015 from 2 November 1908 till 31 March 1909, at a cost per meal (food only) of about a penny halfpenny. West St Leonards had 60,706, Ore 21,825, Halton 33,198, Old Town 47,431, ...
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Bathing tents for hire were agreed at a Council meeting. The application was from Mr and Mrs Ben Laws for the renewal of a right granted to the late Mr AC Simpson to place them for hire on the foreshore ...
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Light Failure
From the Hastings Mail of 08/05/1909
The Mail said: Thursday night (6th) was memorable as the occasion of the first noticeable failure of the electric light since installation of the duplicate machinery.
Dragoons in Town
From the Hastings Mail of 11/05/1909
A large number of the Dragoon Guards entered Hastings, on their way back from gunnery practice on the ranges at Lydd.
Alf Cobb Fined
From the Hastings Mail of 15/05/1909
Alf Cobb, the well-known local hawker and prominent member of the local socialist party, was summoned on 13 May for obstructing the highway at Kings Road with a barrow on Saturday 8 May. Superintendent Lowe informed the Bench that the ...
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The American Palace Pier (the St Leonards Pier) opened on Sunday 23rd after much work, with two sacred concerts. Kiosks had been erected, and the pavilion daintily painted in white, light green and gold. A new floor was under construction ...
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Gear was lost whilst trawling in Rye Bay. Richard Adams, captain of the Albert and Mary, later appealed to the bench to head a subscription list.
At a Council meeting on 4 June a letter from the Board of Agriculture said the Council should pursue the possible purchase of Little Ridge Farm, which the Council had previously turned down. The Board said that "although the farm ...
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There were new conditions for hawking on the beach, the Council decided on 4 June, following a report from the Council in Committee. They included a system of licensing and registering every person hawking on that part of the foreshore ...
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Hastings Council agreed on 4 June that the owners of the pier, American Rinckeries, could replace an iron arch and railings at the entrance to the pier. This involved removing the existing railings belonging to the Council.
Alfred Chapman Blades, photographer, of 50 Queens Road; Sidney Squires, licensed victualler of the Tower Hotel, Tower Road; and Benjamin Crouch, bootmaker of 65 Bohemia Road, appeared in the Bankruptcy Court.
The Mail said: Socialists ‘obstruct the highway’, demanding equal rights with open air religious meetings. Magistrates on the County Bench on 26 June occupied a large portion of time in hearing some summonses against three socialists: Alfred Cobb, Alfred Peter ...
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Socialism on Beach
From the Hastings Mail of 17/07/1909
There was a debate on the beach on ‘Is Socialism Sound?’ on Wednesday 14th between Alf Cobb and Mr H Johnson of the Angel Hotel, West Hill, at the Queens slipway, Harold Place. A crowd of 300 to 400 gathered ...
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History of Water
From the Hastings Mail of 17/07/1909
The Mail published an interesting paper by the borough engineer on the history of the water supply of Hastings (page 2).
The Coastguard cruiser was off Hastings HMS Argus, under the command of Capt Hicks RN, was watching the interests of the fishermen, keeping a sharp look out for French boats within the three mile radius. So far it had failed ...
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The Mail said there was an orderly and poorly attended Social Democratic Party meeting at the Queens Hotel slipway on Saturday evening (17th), numbering between 30 and 40. Simultaneously a meeting was being held in Queens Road, outside the Cricketers ...
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New Pier Pavilion
From the Hastings Mail of 24/07/1909
The new pavilion was almost complete on the new American Palace [St Leonards] Pier, under the management of Mr Blackwell. It was covered in with a sloping roof of woodwork and glass which was built up on a foundation of ...
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Glenmoor, 53 Saxon Road, a detached bijou residence, was disposed of to Mr EJ McCormick for £600, at an auction at the Castle Hotel.
Fisherman on Trial
From the Hastings Mail of 31/07/1909
A Hastings fisherman had been committed for trial. There was an alleged brutal assault on a local street musician. James Foster, a young man who described himself as a fisherman living in Hastings, was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm ...
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Norman Hotel Sold
From the Hastings Mail of 31/07/1909
The Norman Hotel, Norman Road, was put up for auction. The bidding stopped at £3,000 and went to James Wright, the tenant in occupation.
In the House of Commons, Mr Morrell drew attention to the situation which had arisen between the Hastings Town Council and the Board of Agriculture with regard to the unsatisfied local demand for small holdings, and asked if the Board ...
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The son of ‘Professor’ Smith, the Punch and Judy showman of All Saints Street, had a narrow escape from drowning.
Two members of the Budget Protest League from London held nightly meetings on the beach during the week. They came to preach tariff reform. There was hot heckling, with pandemonium on Wednesday evening (11th) when the League took a stand ...
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An indoor rifle range was opened at White Rock Villa by the mayor.
The second of a series of marine sports, organised by the Borough Entertainments Association, was held on the sands opposite White Rock: paddling races, tug of war, skipping, long jump and high jump for children. The Mail of 28 August ...
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A St Leonards man was killed in trying to save his son. John Barnes, a yard foreman, was knocked down and killed instantly while trying to stop a horse which was being driven in a dogcart by his son of ...
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The little burial ground situated on the Guestling [Winchelsea] Road and known as the Ore Parish Cemetery was to be closed from 30 August for general public interments, on order from the Local Government Board. "This action is the outcome ...
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A week's campaign took place in Hastings by the Budget League, on what free trade finance means - the local rally. The Mail of Saturday 18 September said that a fortnight’s open air free trade meetings, under the auspices of ...
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A four year old child drowned in Shornden Reservoir. Reginald George Rouse drowned in the reservoir that was used for model yachting. He was the son of Mr and Mrs CJ Rouse, of 27 Paynton Road, Silverhill. He died trying ...
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Leonard Sivers, James Hoare, Amos Prior and Alfred Cobb (well-known as chairman of the local Social Democratic Federation), plus others, were summoned for obstructing the highway at Carlisle Parade on 6 September. PC Brownie stated that Cobb remained with his ...
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An inquest was held on the body of Percy James Padgham Couchman, of 154 Hughenden Road. He was employed by the SE & Chatham Railway, and fell from a gangway while working on an engine standing in a shed in ...
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Cobb Details
From the Hastings Mail of 18/09/1909
At the Revision Court hearing on 11 September, Alfred James Cobb, of 52 Middle Street, applied for an occupier’s vote. He was described as 'the local chairman of the Social Democratic Federation Party'. From the details it was learnt that ...
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A Hastings man was fatally injured while haymaking. George Manser, of 23 Duke Street, Silverhill, was killed while haymaking at a farm at Doleham when a heavy wagon rolled forward down a hill on top of him.
The part-occupier of 7 Tower Road, St Leonards, William Scott, was found dead with his throat cut. He was formerly a boatman at St Leonards, but had not worked for the last 13 years since his marriage.
Walter Singer Haskell, grocer of Bohemia Road; Michael Menoah Wickens of 83 St Thomas Road, a builder; and Thomas Midmore Fellingham, of 4a Castledown Terrace, hairdresser and formerly fruiterer of 10 Castledown Terrace, appeared in the Bankruptcy Court.
Railway tragedy, with the death of Edward James Keene, well known East Sussex football referee, in a railway tunnel at Ore. He was looking out of the window when his head came into contact with the face of the Ore ...
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There was a debate in the Public Rooms on ‘Should the working class support the Liberal Party?’ between Mr J Macdougall (Liberal) and a vehement, passionate and witty disclaimer of the government and all its works by Alf Cobb.
Council members were appointed to serve on a Special Committee to investigate matters in connection with the Entertainments Association. Cllr Warner, a critic of the Association, described the charges in a local paper as ‘nauseous’. (The Mail spoke of ‘a ...
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The first free dinner of the winter was given to the poor children of Ore at Sandown Schools on Monday 22nd. There was a need for money.
Obscene Fisherman
From the Hastings Mail of 27/11/1909
Fisherman Jack Breeds was summoned for using obscene language at the Fishmarket on November 20. He was fined 2s 6d, without costs.
Mrs Stricklands explained the work of the local suffragettes in a series of ‘At Homes’ arranged by the committee of the Hastings and St Leonards and East Sussex Women’s Suffrage Society, held on Saturday afternoons, starting 27 November, at their ...
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Poacher Freed
From the Hastings Mail of 04/12/1909
William Gasson was summoned for trespassing in search of game on land in the occupation of Mr HR Brisco at Guestling on 4 November. Evidence was given by Rowland Cloke, a game keeper employed by Mr Lawrence Ashburnham, but magistrates ...
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At Silverhill, a house belonging to Mr C Ticehurst, in Burry Road, was struck by lightning. Groups of interested spectators congregated opposite the Sussex Hotel, Marina, to watch an immense salvage cylinder, lashed together with a series of wooden planks ...
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At a Distress Committee meeting, members were told that the number so far registered as out of work was 283.
The funeral took place of Frank Thomson, a well-known local professor of music.
There was a tragedy at a Hastings bank on Friday 10 December. Mr PJ Whittle, a messenger in the employ of Parr’s Bank at York Buildings, fell dead whilst attending his duties. On 12 December, John Thomas Bray, a fly ...
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At a Council meeting on 17 December, Cllr Carey asked if the Council could offer for sale the Brisco Estate which was then producing no income. He was told after his questioning that the property was not valued on behalf ...
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A Year’s Pensions
From the Hastings Mail of 18/12/1909
The cost for 12 months of the old age pension was £8,848 for 725 pensions in Hastings.
Sir Mugrave Brisco, of Crofton Hall, Wigton, Cumberland, and Coghurst Hall, Ore, died at Crofton Hall. He was the fourth baronet and was born in 1833. He was little known in the town, as he had only moved into Coghurst ...
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There was a large attendance at the Havelock Road Women’s Suffrage Depot when Miss Ruth Kenyon gave a lecture on ‘Women’s Suffrage and Unemployment’.
Fisherman Edwin White was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Rock-a-Nore.
There was a serious outbreak of fire at a second-hand clothier’s establishment of Mr Picton, in Queens Road. Two firemen rescued from blazing basement Crosskey and Adams.