The Council meeting on 5 August agreed a motion that an East Hill Lift would provide a much needed public improvement. The council invited the Rev Sayer-Milward, the landowner, to give his consent to the construction.
At a Town Council meeting on 7 October, the late owner of the East Hill, the Rev WC Sayer-Milward, declined to sanction the proposal.
The Council meeting on 19 August decided that a passenger lift should be built from Rock-a-Nore to the East Hill. Ald Hutchings proposed that a deputation from the Council should meet the Rev Sayer-Milward to discuss the lift. The Council ...
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Power was given in a new Act of Parliament for the Hastings Corporation to construct a passenger lift to the East Hill. Next summer could see the lift in full working order.
Lift Work Soon
From the Hastings News of 14/02/1901
Alderman Idenden had said that preliminary work on the lift to the East Hill should commence, and that he believed that with the improved state of the money market the necessary finance to complete the Harbour would be forthcoming.
Lift Go-ahead
From the Hastings News of 21/02/1901
The Council meeting on 15 February gave the go-ahead for the construction of the East Hill Lift. It would rise 148 feet vertically, with its rails covering 258 feet, at a gradient of 1 in 1.66. It would be run ...
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Human bones were found during the East Hill Lift excavations.
Problems with Lift
From the Hastings News of 02/08/1901
There were difficulties with the completion of the East Hill lift during excavations. Faulty sand and rock had to be removed while making the “yawning gap”.
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.
A Council meeting on 9 May decided against any Sunday working of the East Hill Lift.
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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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.
"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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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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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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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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A Council meeting on 16 January agreed to publish their official report on the lift accident; the lift staff were to blame. The "rather serious accident" happened about 5pm on Monday 22 September 1902. There were "13 passengers in the ...
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Lift Re-Opens
From the Hastings Mail of 11/04/1903
The East Hill Lift re-opened on Thursday 9 April, the day before Good Friday. Men worked day and night to open before Easter. On Monday and Tuesday all the gearings and brakes were subjected to strong tests. On Wednesday afternoon ...
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Lift Success
From the Hastings Mail of 15/08/1903
The East Hill Lift had been a success: 40,958 passengers in 16 weeks.