New Stade dues were fixed by the Council.
Mayday
From the Hastings News of 05/05/1848
Mayday - May 1 - was celebrated around the town, with the “shovel and broom gentry” in their “annual bal masque”. A wide range of characters, including Jack in the Green and the “characters of the soot bag”, were “tripping ...
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New Yacht
From the Hastings News of 05/05/1848
Launch of the new 10 ton pleasure yacht British Lion on May 1 from the shipyard at Caroline Place, becoming the largest public pleasure boat on the beach. Built for Messrs Payne and Bumstead.
The newly-built National Schools opened in St Leonards.
A High Street resident complained bitterly about the fishing class: “I would more especially direct your attention to the juniors; those chiefly from the age of 10 or 12 to 30: to their disgusting language, poured forth with stentorian lungs: ...
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Hastings Council clamped down on the expanding beach trades by creating tough new bye-laws regulating the use of the beach by pleasure boats, their capstans and bathing machines, and introducing charges for them. Ladies bathing machines were the only facilities ...
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Fairs
12/06/1848
This was Whit Monday, the liveliest day in the town’s annual calendar. Large numbers of people came in from the surrounding countryside, and all kinds of fun, games and events took place. The three benefit societies hold processions and rural ...
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Two Hastings fishermen, Joseph Swaine and Mark White, were drowned when their boat Henry was run down at night three miles off Fairlight by another vessel, probably a large brig sailing out of Rye Harbour.
Juvenile Crime
From the Hastings News of 25/08/1848
Thomas Mann, a fishing boy aged 13, was sent to Battle House of Correction for 14 days for stealing a turnip from a field at Ore, and for the physical attempts by his friends to stop him being arrested.
Hastings Regatta was held today.
The St Leonards Mechanics Institution was formed in the last few days.
A lifeboat for Shoreham, built near Tackleway by Hastings boatbuilder George Tutt, was launched.
Launch of a large 48 ton fishing vessel, built in the Priory Valley by Mr Winter for Messrs Blacklock of Lydd.
Two Hastings fishermen, Messrs Tassell and Hook, were washed overboard and drowned in rough seas off Shoreham.
The East Well water spring in Rock-a-Nore Road had been completed, Hastings Council was informed. It was funded from the surplus collected following the burning down of 20 net shops in 1846, and was the only free fresh water in ...
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A Fishermen’s Tea Meeting was held at the National School Rooms, Tackleway, with 170 people present.
Start of a three-month stay by Louis Phillipe, ex-King of France, at the [Royal] Victoria Hotel. He was in exile after escaping from the 1848 French revolution in a fishing boat. In addition, the Queen of Belgium arrived on June ...
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Death of Mr NP Nell, a railway worker buried by an earthfall on the Hastings-Ashford line.
Workhouse
From the Hastings News of 26/10/1849
The Board of Guardians of the Hastings Union had decided to exclude the press from its meetings.
Gas Monopoly
From the Hastings News of 07/12/1849
The News published a letter complaining about the gas monopoly in the town, resulting in consumers paying nearly twice as much as in other towns for “an article miserably bad in quality”. The News had two letters on the issue ...
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Railway Benefactor
From the Hastings News of 14/12/1849
Mr W Hoof, the contractor for the Hastings-Ashford railway line, donated an empty brick kiln in his brickyard near Coghurst Gateway to be used as a chapel and school house.
Fishing Port
From the Hastings News of 01/02/1850
The Customs staff was cut to one chief officer, and Hastings was reduced from being a ‘port’ to a creek.
Belmont
From the Hastings News of 01/03/1850
The sale was taking place of the Belmont Estate [the area around what became Belmont Road in Clive Vale]; nine acres of building land and two Italian villas were on offer.
Crime
From the Hastings News of 08/03/1850
Counterfeit 2/6d coins were reported circulating in the town.
The Duke and Duchess of Saxe Coburg and Gotha were staying at the [Royal] Victoria Hotel.
The first foundation stone is laid for the first permanent building to go up on the 'Priory ground', the former America Ground that had been cleared of all buildings in 1836 when the Crown took possession of it. Wealthy London ...
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The Hastings benefit societies organised a non-profit day-out excursion to Brighton and Shoreham, with 1,247 passengers aboard a 37-carriage train, hauled by two engines.
Chartists
From the Hastings News of 30/08/1850
A Chartist political meeting was held at the fishmarket.
Farm Fire
From the Hastings News of 10/01/1851
Fire at Great Ridge Farm, Ore; buildings, crops and machinery destroyed.
An exhibition of items for the forthcoming 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition was held at Messrs Rock and Sons carriage showroom at White Rock on 26/7 February. Children of Hastings Union Workhouse were taken to Crystal Palace by train on July ...
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Last meeting of the Hastings Commissioners. They sold their fire engine to Hastings Council.
St Andrews School
From the Hastings News of 12/09/1851
A night school had been established at StAndrews Church.
Winter Fair
From the Hastings News of 28/11/1851
At the Winter Fair at the Fishmaket 70 horses were auctioned from the railway works, being not then needed.
Railway Death
From the Hastings News of 02/01/1852
Fatal accident at Hastings railway station, when Richard Boyce, aged 35, was run over by a train.
The high court ruled that the benefits of the Magdalen Charity should remain as understood for many centuries, ie that they were for the sick and poor of the parishes of All Saints and St Clements. The charity had been ...
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A new pleasure boat The Rose was launched.
New Yacht Skylark
From the Hastings News of 07/05/1852
A large new yacht Skylark, 30 tons, had been built by George Tutt at his premises under the East Cliff.
Girls School
From the Hastings News of 14/05/1852
The Girls National School had been built in All Saints Street.
MPs Elected
From the Hastings News of 16/07/1852
Patrick Robertson and Musgrave Brisco were elected as MPs for Hastings.
Warrior Square Gardens opened to the public, with a band playing three times a week.
Grammar School
From the Hastings News of 17/09/1852
The fixtures of the Hastings Proprietory Grammar School in Hill Street were sold.
The Commissioners of Customs surrendered the lease of their condemned yard (for the boats of smugglers etc) under the East Cliff [the site of what is now the Fishermen’s Museum].
Gas Works
From the Hastings News of 22/10/1852
A new chimney was to be erected at the gas works.
Floods
From the Hastings News of 24/12/1852
There had been floods in the Old Town and the Priory, and a windmill on the West Hill had been hit by lightning, causing slight damage.
Christmas Dinner
From the Hastings News of 24/12/1852
Musgrave Brisco MP had given his tenants their annual dinner at his Coghurst Hall.
Opening of the St Leonards Exhibition.
The new school of All Saints was to open at Easter for 300 girls; Countess Waldegrave was the principal donor.
Fall of cliff at East Groyne.
The old Warm Baths opposite Pelham Crescent were purchased by the Council for widening the seafront.
The annual Rock Fair took place in a field in St Michaels, White Rock, 26/7 July.
Sale of the Castledown Estate, next to the Castle, to a gentleman from the metropolis for his own residence. Did not reach the reserve price of £4,200 at auction.
“Building operations on a very large scale are contemplated on the Eversfield estate, the whole of which, comprising about 400 acres, is about to be laid out for terraces, detached villas, pleasure grounds, etc. The ground is to be let ...
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Fishermen’s Museum
From the Hastings Chronicle of 09/08/1853
A Fishermen’s Church was to be erected at East Cliff, it was planned [now the Fishermen's Museum]. The foundation stone was laid on 25 August 1853.
Halton House Fete
From the Hastings Chronicle of 16/08/1853
A fete was held at Halton House, Robertsons Hill (off Old London Road), by owner Patrick Robertson MP, with music, dancing and fireworks.
A fete was held in the grounds of Hastings Lodge, Old London Road, by the owner, Frederick North.
Evening School reopened, at the Fishermen’s Club Room and National School House, East Hill.
A new general cemetery was proposed by officers of St Clements.
The result of the municipal elections was a triumph for the Liberal party, with 5 out of 6 candidates winning.
The Town Council heard that Countess Waldegrave was willing to give up the Priory Meadows to the town; a committee was set up to look into it.
The former wooden steps at Claremont had been replaced by wider granite ones, the Council was told.
The first service was held at the new Fishermen’s Church [now the Fishermen's Museum], at Rock-a-Nore.
Death of Musgrave Brisco, aged 63, the MP who had resigned his seat on April 25 due to ill-health. On 10 May 1854 Frederick North was elected as MP and Baron for the Cinque Port of Hastings to replace Brisco.
The Hastings Post Office in George Street was relocated in Wellington Place, part of the move of the heart of Hastings from the Old Town to the Priory Valley.
The boat races in the Hastings Annual Regatta were held.
Dinner at the Swan Hotel for Captain McClure RN, who explored the Arctic seas and North West Passage. The mayor and other dignitaries were present.
The National School for Boys opened in Tackleway.
Death of Mrs North, wife of Frederick North MP, at Hastings Lodge, Old London Road.
Pubs
From the Hastings News of 23/02/1855
A petition was being raised to close pubs and beer houses on Sundays.
Frozen Sea
From the Hastings News of 23/02/1855
The sea was frozen at Hastings, out to 300-400 feet from the shore. Congers were floating on the water. The temperature was 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Priory
From the Hastings News of 16/03/1855
Sale of the Priory Farm; Mr Chapman was leaving.
Ore Cemetery
From the Hastings News of 06/04/1855
An acre and half of land at Ore was purchased from Countess Waldegrave to create Ore Burial Ground (Ore Cemetery), on Winchelsea Road, north of Rock Lane. It was consecrated on 16 December, 1855.
The museum building of the Hastings Literary Institution was sold. The Hastings Mechanics Institute had hired a room at 62 George Street to the museum.
New Fishmarket
From the Hastings News of 11/05/1855
A proposal for erecting a fishmarket was submitted to the Council; the cost would be £660.
The song about Fairlight Glen, Music of the Stream, was published, with words by Arthur Ransom and music by George Lindridge.
The King of Belgium and suite passed through Hastings railway station.
Bathing
From the Hastings News of 10/08/1855
A bye-law was to be made that no person should undress on the seashore or beach except in a bathing machine.
Queen Victoria
From the Hastings News of 10/08/1855
Queen Victoria had passed through Hastings in a train. She stopped at the station for five minutes, and was met by the mayor etc.
A gala day was held at Tivoli Gardens, Silverhill.
Roman coins were found by Mr John Howell's workmen building the west side of Warrior Square.
The Hastings and St Leonards Towns Improvement Association was founded.
New Ragged School
From the Hastings News of 09/11/1855
The new Ragged School opened in Stone Street. It was to be open in evenings.
Death of William Ransom snr, printer and proprietor of the Hastings and St Leonards News. His brother John took over production. William jnr was the editor, as he had been since the start in 1848. Based 42 George Street.
New School
From the Hastings News of 21/12/1855
The foundation stone of St Mary Magdalen School, Magdalen Road, was laid by Dowager Lady St John. The school opened on 6 October 1856.
Surveyor Sacked
From the Hastings News of 28/01/1856
Mr Gant, Hastings Council’s town surveyor, was dismissed. John Laing was appointed in his place in March.
Frewen MP
From the Hastings News of 06/02/1856
Mr CH Frewen MP announced he was not standing for East Sussex, but for North Leicestershire.
Bigger Gas Works
From the Hastings News of 22/02/1856
The Gas Company was to extend its works as demand was so great.
Priory Water
From the Hastings News of 11/04/1856
Land was purchased at the Priory for water supply extension; the Priory meadows were to be drained.
Surveyor Missing
From the Hastings News of 02/05/1856
Mr Gant, the ex-town surveyor, was missing when police tried to serve a warrant on him to give up possession of certain plans in his possession. A week later, the News reported that Mr Gant had given back the plans ...
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New Boys School
From the Hastings News of 30/05/1856
New Boys British School to be opened under Wellington Square Chapel.
Crimean War Ends
From the Hastings News of 06/06/1856
Peace celebrations in Hastings at the end of the Crimean War, with parades, fetes etc.
Swordfish Caught
From the Hastings News of 13/06/1856
A swordfish, 6' 4½" long with a 2' 6" sword, weighing 70 lbs, was taken in kettle nets off Bulverhythe.
The foundation stone of the new Congregational Chapel in Robertson Street was laid.
Railway Land Sold
From the Hastings News of 19/09/1856
A sale of surplus land belonging to South Eastern Railway between York buildings and the Hastings Station was held at the Swan Hotel.
First Drains
From the Hastings News of 19/09/1856
The first stone of Hastings drainage was laid near the East Hill by the Mayor.
Lecture by Italian Patriot, Felice Orsini, at the Swan Hotel Assembly Rooms.
The first sod is turned in starting build the new Church of Holy Trinity. The site is in Cambridge Road, just above Holmesdale Gardens, on land donated by Cornwallis Estate. But there was a landslip and the site was abandoned. ...
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Consecration of the new Borough Cemetery on the Ridge by Dr Gilbert, Bishop of Chichester. This followed the parish cemeteries being closed by the 1847 Act of Parliament. There had then been a strong row in Council (and establishment) circles ...
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New Gasometer
From the Hastings News of 05/12/1856
A new gasometer came into use, capable of holding 150,000 cu ft of gas.
General election: Hastings MPs Patrick Robertson and Frederick North were returned.
Author Charles Kingsley preached a sermon in the Fishermen’s Church.
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