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.
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.
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.
The boat races in the Hastings Annual Regatta were held.
A small collier, en route from Newcastle to Falmouth, is wrecked in a gale on the rocks at Rock-a-Nore. Many people try to rescue the four crewmen, but the sea is too rough and the gale too strong. After an ...
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The new lifeboat was launched. It cost £300, had a crew of 13 and was called Victoria.
The first RNLI lifeboat arrived in Hastings on Easter Monday, the 5th. This followed the tragic loss of a collier on the rocks at Rock-a-Nore on 7 October 1857, when four men drowned. As a result, a local branch of ...
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Fishing Disaster
From the Hastings Mail of 02/06/1860
Ten Hastings fishermen were lost at sea in a heavy gale. Seven drown at Shoreham, when the big lugger Endeavour was driven ashore. Another two died off Newhaven and one at Brighton. This was one of the worst-ever Hastings disasters. ...
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The two-masted trading brig Lambourn was repaired by the shipbuilders Kent and relaunched after lying at the bottom of the High Street as an eyesore for several months.
Boating Regattas
From the Hastings News of 14/06/1861
After failing to agree, Hastings and St Leonards decided to have separate boating regattas: St Leonards on July 25, Hastings August 12.
Hastings Regatta
From the Hastings News of 16/08/1861
The Hastings regatta was held on 10 and 11 August, with a fete in the evening at Halton, with fireworks.
Schooner Repaired
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
The French schooner Louise, wrecked during the summer, had been repaired and re-launched
Lugger Lost
From the Hastings News of 14/03/1862
The Hastings lugger Crystal Palace was lost on 8 March at Plymouth with all hands. The News of 15 March reported that a collection for the widows of the Crystal Palace raised £15 5s. Fishing at Plymouth had met with ...
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Wreck of the dandy (small trading vessel) Milward while unloading on the beach at Warrior Square on 5 July.
The Annual Hastings Regatta took place, with a fete afterwards at the Recreation Ground.
A rough gale caused the wreck of the Lambourn, a collier brig. Messrs Kent, the principal owners, will be heavy losers. She was built more than 30 years ago at a shipwrights, near the Russian Gun, now closed.
The Hastings lugger Swan salvaged a Lowestoft fishing smack, £800.
Shipwreck Rescue
From the Hastings News of 21/02/1868
For getting shipwrecked men ashore from the Liverpool vessel Startled Fawn, in collision 12 miles off Hastings on December 20, ‘Tuppy’ Stonham and his crew on Little Polly were given a £7 reward.
Fishing Boat Burnt
From the Hastings News of 10/04/1868
The fishing boat John and James, owner Mrs Page of Bourne Street, ran ashore at Bulverhythe, accidentally caught fire from the stove, and burned out. It was 10 tons, nearly new, and valued at £150.
There was a south-south-west storm. The schooner Fairy, 110 tons, broke her back on the groyne at the unloading slipway at the bottom of London Road. She was 20 years in the coasting trade. Captain Eastland, who had half shares ...
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Fishermen Drown
From the Hastings News of 05/02/1869
In two days of storms, the fishing boat Dove lost a man overboard at the East Groyne. Power Love lost her entire crew of four off South Foreland: George (Tonser) Adams, George Sutton, John Boreham and a pensioner, Woods. There ...
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Yacht Disaster
From the Hastings News of 10/06/1870
“Terrible gloom” was cast over the town by the drowning of eight people when the pleasure yacht Royal Albert capsized half a mile off the Fishmarket on Whit Monday, 6 June. The ketch set sail from the beach about 4pm, ...
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Sailing Mayor
From the Hastings News of 15/07/1870
William Scrivens, mayor, accompanied clerks of Beeching’s Bank on their annual aquatic outing in the pleasure yacht Albertine to help offset local prejudice against boating after the June 6 disaster.
Death at 7 Castle Hill of James Hutchinson, the well-known local boatbuilder, in his 75th year.
A brig (two-masted sailing ship), the Equator, bound from the West Indies to Scotland with a cargo of molasses, was hit by another sailing vessel 8-10 miles south of Hastings at night. A third of her side was stove in ...
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Trawl Damage
From the Hastings News of 17/02/1871
A trawl warp on the fishing lugger Mayflower had been cut maliciously and lost. £20 reward.
Lugger Damaged
From the Hastings News of 01/09/1871
The Hastings lugger Annie Lousia, David White master, was run down by the Wave of Life, 900 tons of Aberdeen; she was hit at bow and above water level. No help given. A spare spar was rigged and she ...
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Lugger Run Down
From the Hastings News of 24/11/1871
The sailing lugger Fanny was run down off the east coast by a large Norwegian barque. The master, George 'Young Nick' Page, and crew jumped on board. They were landed at Lowestoft "after some harsh treatment". Their vessel, damaged and ...
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Ship Beached
From the Hastings News of 24/05/1872
The ship screw steamship Baltimore, of the North-German Lloyd's line, from Baltimore to Bremen, was in collision off Hastings, and was beached opposite Government House, at the end of George Street. It was 350 feet long, in 8 feet of ...
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The nearly-finished Hastings Pier was used for the first time by a vessel, when Thomas Brassey's large yacht Eothen [?], 325 tons, steam-screw, 78 hp, 9-10 knots, tied up at the end. The pier was open to public inspection.
An inquest on Samuel Carey, formerly one of the crew of the pleasure yacht Albertine, aged 32, heard he was killed while placing the last trough [block of wood] in place for the fishing boat Industry to be launched, and ...
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Mackerel Success
From the Hastings News of 07/02/1873
The mackerel voyage was at Portsmouth. It was very successful, though some boats lost nets through the weight of the fish: Happy Return 80 nets, The Dove (Gallop, master) all excluding 18, The Swan 70. John Breach's boat earned more ...
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Steamer Aground
From the Hastings News of 11/07/1873
The little steamer Rapid, on its first trip from Eastbourne, ran aground alongside the pier as her inexperienced person in command had come in too close to the shore on a falling tide. She sat on a sandbank for two ...
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Salvage Case
From the Hastings News of 26/06/1874
The Hastings salvage case was in court. On 24 January 1874 the Kathleen, a ship carrying cotton, was in collision mid-Channel and the crew abandoned her. French and English fishing boats proceeded to tow the boat to Dover. £1,550 was ...
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Steamers Collide
From the Hastings News of 28/04/1876
A serious collision occurred on 7 April when the steamer Savernake collided with the steamer Vesuvious; the Savernake managed to beach ashore at the Fishmarket whilst the Vesuvious sunk. No loss of life occurred but two Dutchmen were in the ...
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Three Men Rescued
From the Hastings Observer of 25/04/1879
The fishing lugger Favourite, under Captain James Bumstead, rescued three men near Failight.
The well-known sailing coaster the Pelican, a brigantine, came ashore at the Fishmarket on Tuesday 11 November to discharge her coal. In the evening when a stiff breeze was blowing she was being hauled off when the hawser broke. She ...
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Boat Tragedy
From the Hastings News of 20/08/1880
The Hastings pleasure boat the Velocipede sank on 16 August. Two lives were lost.
Terrible Gale
From the Hastings News of 11/02/1881
There was a terrific gale on 7 February. A house being built in Clive Vale was destroyed, and there was further damage to groynes near Denmark Place. The Rye dandy Ann was at the landing place at the bottom of ...
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Hurricane-force winds drove a sailing vessel onto the rocks near the Haddocks Coastguard Station, Fairlight Cove, at 5.30 on the morning of Sunday 18 December. The barque was wrecked and seven men were killed. The German barque Sacitta was outward ...
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RX Saved
From the Hastings News of 19/05/1882
Rye Liberal MP Mr FA Inderwick obtained an Order in Council enabling all Rye and Hastings fishing boats to retain the familiar registration letters 'RX', otherwise they would have come under Folkestone, using 'FE', in which Rye had recently been ...
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New Albertine
From the Hastings News of 08/05/1885
A new pleasure boat called The Albertine was being built.
Pier Landing Stage
From the Hastings News of 28/08/1885
A new landing stage at the pier, costing £1,140, had commenced.
Yacht Dismasted
From the Hastings News of 04/09/1885
The new pleasure yacht Albertine was dismasted with a full compliment of passengers. She was taken in tow by Livonia to BoPeep.
Steamships Sink
From the Hastings Observer of 27/11/1886
Winding up of the Hastings & St Leonards Passenger Steamship Company Ltd.
Severe Storm
From the Hastings Observer of 11/12/1886
A severe storm did considerable damage to the town. The fishing boat James and Elizabeth was lost.
Queen Victoria's Jubilee Day - the 50th anniversary of her coming to the throne - was celebrated around the town. The new pleasure steamer May started making daily trips from the pier on that day.
Pier Steamer
From the Hastings News of 12/08/1887
The pleasure steamer the Nelson was plying from Hastings Pier every weekday.
Lady Brassey, aged 48, had died on board the large family yacht the Sunbeam, between Australia and Mauritius, on 14 September. She was buried at sea.
New Lady Brassey
From the Hastings News of 15/06/1888
The new steamer called the Lady Brassey was launched on Wednesday 13 June.
There was a fatal yachting accident at Bulverhythe, involving the yacht Mischief. Two people died.
Schooner Wrecked
From the Hastings News of 16/08/1890
The Swansea schooner Annie was wrecked at Hastings on 15 August.
Hospital Ship
From the Hastings News of 19/09/1890
The new hospital ship, the Albert, belonging to the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, arrived off Hastings on 15 September.
The Hastings fishing fleet suffered one of its worst-ever disasters in a severe blizzard on Monday 9 March. Two boats, the Linnet and the Henrietta, were wrecked on the beach, and many others were damaged. Three lives were lost.
The large new pleasure yacht the New Albertine was launched. For many years it was to be used to take passengers on short trips from the beach in front of the Queens Hotel, and is seen in many seafront photos.
Schooner Wrecked
From the Hastings News of 25/09/1891
The schooner Esperance was wrecked off St Leonards on 18 September, journeying from Rochester to Guernsey.
During a dramatic storm on 11 November, the large three-masted German barque JC Pfluger, bound from San Francisco to Bremen in Germany, was driven ashore at Bopeep. Her 24 crew were rescued by Coastguards using breeches buoy equipment. The schooner ...
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Steamer Arrives
From the Hastings News of 05/08/1892
The Lynton, a saloon steamer, arrived at Hastings. It was to run between Hastings and nearby parts of the coasts of France and England.
Fishermen Saved
From the Hastings News of 16/12/1892
Two fishermen were washed overboard in a severe gale, which put boats in danger. Richard Berry, one of the crew of Good Intent, and George Mann, of Never Can Tell, were both rescued.
Steamer Sinks
From the Hastings News of 22/09/1893
Two steamers were in collision off Hastings on Thursday 21 September, and one of them, the 300 ton Danish vessel Nifn, sank. Her crew of 13 were rescued and landed at Hastings.
Sunday Drinking
From the Hastings News of 13/10/1893
The Lords Day Observance Society on 9 October condemned the local breaking of the Sabbath, especially by steamboat traffic and trips to Boulogne with "liquor flowing".
Fishermen Rescued
From the Hastings News of 08/12/1893
At the 1 December Council meeting the mayor described the recent rescue of the crew of the Hastings Fishing boat Samson by the captain of the Merlin steamer, with support from Eastbourne lifeboat.
The Hastings pleasure steamer Nelson ran aground on Tuesday 21 August while running between Hastings and Folkestone. On 20 August, the Board of Trade prosecuted the master of the Hastings steamer Seagull for overcrowding.
Boat Damaged
From the Hastings News of 01/03/1895
The fishing smack Fullagar was damaged when it collided with a French boat on Friday 22 February.
Druids
From the Hastings News of 22/03/1895
A new Order of Druids lodge opened at Hastings on 20 March.
New Golf Club
From the Hastings News of 22/03/1895
Two golf competitions were held to mark the opening of the new club house of the newly-formed Hastings and St Leonards Golf Club, at the top of Barley Lane. The house had been built by Mr Lester, of Earl Street, ...
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Brig Aground
From the Hastings News of 17/05/1895
A French brig (two-masted, square-rigged sailing vessel) ran ashore between Ecclesbourne and Fairlight on Thursday 16 May. It was towed off by the pleasure steamer Seagull.
Boating Fatality
From the Hastings News of 04/10/1895
There was a distressing accident when a young couple were drowned off the beach on Friday 27 September, using one of Mr Hawkins' double sculling boats. George Hawker and Elizabeth Fitt drowned off Rock-a-Nore.
Seamen Row Ashore
From the Hastings News of 20/03/1896
Arrival off Rock-a-Nore of a strange rowing boat manned by five seamen from the steam collier the Harlow, disabled near the Sovereign Lightship, on 16 March.
Steamer Wrecked
From the Hastings News of 08/05/1896
The Seagull steamer just sold to a Londonderry firm was wrecked off the Lizard.
New Steamer
From the Hastings News of 15/05/1896
Mr RR Collard's new steamboat for working from Hastings was the Plymouth Belle.
The captain of the Hastings steamer Bonnie Princess, William Hurdman, was charged on 10 September with overloading on 17 August. He sailed from Hastings Pier to Dungeness with 901 passengers, 247 more than allowed. He was fined £10 plus a ...
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Storm Damage
From the Hastings News of 11/12/1896
There was a storm on Saturday 5 December which slightly damaged the harbour work. The sea ran into West Street and reached underground cellars in George Street. The fishing boat William, belonging to William Fullager, sustained serious damage.
A new steamboat company was registered on 19 January: the Brighton, Shanklin, Eastbourne and Hastings Belle Passenger Steamboat Company Ltd.
Piece of Shipwreck
From the Hastings News of 10/09/1897
A long piece of timber was washed ashore at Grosvenor Gardens on 9 September, part of the hull of a wrecked ship.
Ship Sinks
From the Hastings News of 03/12/1897
There was a collision on 28 November in a terriric gale off the Sovereign Lightship between the steamer Noel, of Dunkirk, and a four-masted sailing vessel that sank almost immediately. The Noel ran ashore and grounded off Dungeness.
Sword Fish Landed
From the Hastings News of 08/07/1898
Captain Thomas Gallop captured a sword fish, eight feet long, off Hastings, in the Thomas and Elizabeth, on 1 July. The fish was presented to the museum.
Steamer Disaster
From the Hastings News of 07/04/1899
A German steamer was run down and sank eight miles south of Hastings The 2,710 ton Pontos, 300 feet long, with a cargo of cattle plus several passengers, sank on Friday 31 March. Twenty passengers and crew were brought ashore ...
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The Hastings fishing smack Good Intent (belonging to Messrs Alfred W and James Bumstead) struck a rock opposite Warrior Square on Tuesday 21 November and sank almost immediately. The three hands saved themselves.
Lord Brassey set sail from Melbourne, Australia, for England on his large three-masted yacht Sunbeam.
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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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.
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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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.
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.
Ships Sinks
From the Hastings Mail of 08/11/1902
The Rye smack Quiver brought a body ashore at Hastings on 1 November. It was one of 22 lives lost in the Channel collision between the steamship St Regulus of Liverpool and the Spanish steamer Enero, which foundered, with only ...
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First Regatta
From the Hastings Mail of 27/06/1903
The first boatman's and fishermen’s regatta was held, promoted by Mr GH Gooding.
Fisherman Drowns
From the Hastings Mail of 08/08/1903
William Mann was drowned in a fishing accident on 2 August. The Hastings boat Florence May was discovered off Bexhill.
An open boat, 15 feet long overall, sailed to Boulogne for a wager on Sunday 23 August. Messrs LI Hobbs, E Skinner and O Simpson launched the Maid of Kent without oars. It took about 24 hours.
Motor Boat Trial
From the Hastings Mail of 19/09/1903
A motor boat trial took place in the Harbour on Saturday 12 September. Councillor Blackman and friends engaged in giving a trial to a new petrol motor boat, built by Mr Duffie. The run took place in the smooth water ...
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Boat Engine Wrong
From the Hastings Mail of 30/01/1904
In the county court, Mr Gallop successfully sued Mr Martin for £50 5s for a capstan engine on the fishing boat WEG that did not work properly. Cllr Blackman, ‘the proprietor of Upfield and Sons’ in the High Street, said ...
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Disaster off Hastings: Collision seven miles due south of Hastings between the Japanese mail steamer Bingo Maru and the Welsh schooner Edward Windus, of Port Madoc, which sank with 5 of her 6 crew drowned. There was no stern light ...
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Steamboats Unsold
From the Hastings Mail of 05/03/1904
The local steamboats Britannia and Alexandra were offered for sale in London on March 1, but did not reach the reserves of £5,950 and £975 the mortgagees placed on them.
A new steamboat company had been formed, and had bought the Alexandra. A few townsmen were involved, plus Mr Heckles, one of the managers of the SE Railway. The Mail of 30 April said that the Hastings and St Leonards ...
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Fishing boats in the gale: A number of Hastings mackerel boats were badly damaged. The Britannia and the Dove lost a great many of their nets. Eight boats made a run for Portsmouth, while two others found refuge in Newhaven ...
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Arrival of the steamboat Alexandra on Friday 13 May, after a trip from London in the fog. Passengers witnessed a vessel being run down off Walmer.
Hastings fishing boat wrecked: The William and Maria, owned by John Gallop of Hastings, struck a submerged pile near Hastings Harbour at 4am on Saturday 28 May and foundered. The crew had a very narrow escape and, but for the ...
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The first statutory meeting of the new Steamboat Company took place at Young, Son and Coles office in Bank Buildings. Coles was the chairman. He gave an “encouraging report” but appealed to residents to give more patronage. There had been ...
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