A Mr Jeremiah Skinner takes a 99-year lease on a large plot of land in Western Road, where he builds stables and coach houses. By the end of the century this is a motor business too, with buses and taxis. ...
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Horse Bus
From the Hastings News of 05/03/1869
A handsome three-horse omnibus, after the model introduced in London in 1862, started this week, from the Fishmarket to South Coast at St Leonards.
Early Buses
From the Hastings News of 02/11/1877
A meeting was held to plan starting a horse-drawn omnibus company. Mr Stanley Kerridge said that about 17 years ago he began a service from the Swan Hotel in the High Street to Bopeep, but it did not then pay. ...
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Bus Company Bust
From the Hastings News of 23/02/1883
The Hastings and St Leonards Omnibus Company should be wound up, the adjourned annual meeting decided on Tuesday 20 February. A large gathering of shareholders in the Provincial Hotel, 17 Havelock Road, heard that the company had lost £1,000 of ...
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New Bus Company
From the Hastings News of 01/06/1883
The shareholders of the newly-formed Omnibus Company held a meeting at noon on Thursday 31 May in the observer building in Claremont. The chairman, Henry M Baker, said the meeting was simply a formal one to set up the company, ...
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New Bus
From the Hastings News of 27/06/1884
A new large bus was to ply along the seafront and Queens Road.
Front Line Traffic
From the Hastings News of 14/04/1893
A Town Council meeting on 7 April accepted the report on traffic on the Front Line (seafront) which could see no reason to alter the existing arrangements. The bus agitation had failed.
The first annual dinner of the Hastings Cabmen's Benefit Society took place on 7 February. The Society was formed 12 months ago, and 82 drivers had so far joined. One of its main jobs was ensuring that reasonable fares were ...
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Boy Injured
From the Hastings News of 15/06/1894
Charles Hyland, aged 15, on 8 June lost an arm in a chaff cutting machine while working for the Omnibus Company in Earl Street.
An editorial piece expressed support for the tramcar system against omnibuses, which blocked nearly half the roadway, impeded carriage traffic and were noisy and uncomfortable for passengers. They were also destructive to public roads and a noisy nuisance to Front ...
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Clive Vale Problem
From the Hastings News of 12/02/1897
At a public meeting at Clive Vale to consider the proposed harbour railway schemes as affecting the interest of Clive Vale and Ore, the chairman said the area needed an adequate approach to development. The journey through the High Street ...
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Killed by Bus
From the Hastings News of 28/01/1898
Alexander Masey, of 103 High Street, had been run over and killed by an omnibus near the Roebuck Inn, High Street.
Charabancs Coming
From the Hastings News of 26/05/1899
A proposal to introduce motor charabancs on the seafront was taking definite form.
Bus Overturns
From the Hastings News of 04/08/1899
The last omnibus from Silverhill on the night of Friday 28 July overturned and seven people were injured.
The First Taxis
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1900
Hastings Corporation advertised for people to apply for licences “to run two motor cars to be ready for plying for hire by Easter next”. The cars had to be built in such a way as to comply with the regulations ...
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Death of important local establishment figure Frederick James Parsons, who turned the Hastings Observer into the most influential Hastings-area newspaper from the 1870s onwards. He was born in Rye on 6 October 1844, the eldest son of Isaac Parsons, a ...
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Bus Company Poorer
From the Hastings Observer of 12/05/1900
The Hastings Bus Company had held its AGM. Its spending had gone up, to meet increased demand and run more services on extended routes, later in the day and in winter, but its income had not increased in balance, partly ...
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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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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.
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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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.
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.
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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New Motor Bus
From the Hastings Observer of 02/01/1904
There was a trial run of the new motor bus on 31 December to test its hill-climbing powers. On the 31st it went up Old London Road with a big load, at 6mph, returning down Mount Pleasant Road to the ...
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Motor Bus Success
From the Hastings Mail of 07/05/1904
The AGM of the Omnibus Company was held at the Queens Hotel on 5 May. The directors were Ald Bradnam, Ald LO Glenister and Clarence Freeland (Ald J Bray had resigned). The secretary was ST Weston. The annual report said ...
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At the Council meeting July 1 Cllr Parker (Con) was elected alderman. The Liberals proposed Major Stanley Thomas Weston, who lost his alderman seat on 9 November 1903. Weston had been a councillor/alderman for a quarter of a century before ...
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Council Scandals
From the Hastings Mail of 09/07/1904
A Local Government Board of Inquiry was held in the Town Hall on July 7 to hear evidence in the application to borrow large sums. These included: (1) £17,170 for wood paving the three roads and water mains for them. ...
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Motor omnibuses ran to all parts of the town for the first time on Sunday 28 August. They were on the road between 10 and 11 o'clock in the morning and in some instances ran until half past ten the ...
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Stop Sunday Buses
From the Hastings Mail of 10/09/1904
A petition had been raised against Sunday services of the motor buses, signed by about 6,000 people. On 16 September the Council discussed stopping the Sunday services, with speeches for and against the Bus Company. They agreed to ask the company ...
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Buses to Ore
From the Hastings Mail of 22/10/1904
The motor bus service for Ore was to commence next week.
The Hastings Omnibus Company held it’s AGM at the Queens Hotel. Shareholders heard there had been a good turnover, and a 12% dividend was paid. The president was Ald E Bradnam. Also there were Ald LO Glenister, Major S Weston ...
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The Mail said: There has been a successful trial trip of the tramcars through Hastings. On Saturday 15 July a very large crowd assembled at Silverhill depot, with cameras. The car had a special circular route on its side. It ...
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There was a special meeting of the Hastings Omnibus Company on the 17th. The Mail said there was some confusion about why the meeting had been called and it was “not altogether a happy family party”. Only two directors were ...
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The Mail said: The tramcars were besieged by the public in the early days of the week. The struggle for seats was astonishing in the vicinity of the Memorial. Close on 19,000 people used the tramway system on the opening ...
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The Omnibus Company held an auction in its premises in Earl Street, conducted by ST Weston. Lots of people attended and the sale was very brisk. In addition to many small items, the sale included 20 horses, two carriages and ...
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A meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards Omnibus Co on Wednesday 22 November agreed to sell their team of 11 motor buses at a price of £7,000 to a London man. Alderman Bradnam referred to the great loss the ...
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A special meeting was to be called for winding up the Hastings and St Leonards Omnibus Company after the annual meeting at the Queens Hotel.
The Hastings Omnibus Company should be wound up, an extraordinary general meeting at the Queens Hotel on 14 June decided. Alderman E Bradnam presided, supported by directors Col Blanshard, Ald Glenister and J Prior; plus Cllr Major ST Weston (co ...
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