A long letter from Charles William Tagg of 17 Ashburnham Road is published as a story, headed “Reducing Officials’ Salaries - Officials being made the scapegoats for mismanagement by councillors”. He spoke of the “gross mismanagement of past and present ...
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New Year’s Eve was “very lively, and there was a spirit abroad which promoted fraternity”. The Gaiety, Pier and Hippodrome were well patronised. There was a heavy snowstorm around 11pm, with the snow soon melting and leaving slush. “The Memorial ...
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Christmas Ball
From the Hastings Mail of 07/01/1905
A Christmas Ball was held at the Royal Concert Hall, Warrior Gardens, last night, Friday 6th. It was cancelled last year because of lack of support. This was a great success, with over 200 people there.
The Salvation Army a few days ago gave a large number of the aged poor a good dinner in the iron fort, St Andrews Square. So great was the success that 270 poor children were entertained to tea on January ...
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Ore’s Poor Dinners
From the Hastings Mail of 07/01/1905
The Mail said: At Ore “the poorer classes have lately – as every winter – been at their wit’s end to provide an ample meal for their children”. A reporter saw that the children gathered daily, numbering over 200, at ...
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The inaugural meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards branch of the Typographical Association was held successfully this evening in the Clarence Hotel, Middle Street. Robert Lafarelle was the president. J Lamb (secretary of the Hastings Trades and Labour Council) ...
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Poor Show
From the Hastings Mail of 21/01/1905
On January 18, from 10am onwards, Mr and Mrs Chatterton, of Chatterton & Co, The Louvre, Royal Victoria Buildings (opposite Royal Victoria Hotel), gave out free garments to children on the stage of the Hippodrome, followed by a music show. ...
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Two thousand children were given teas by Mr and Mrs Delevanti in the Market Hall in George Street, this being the fifth year in which Mrs Delevantl had organised this treat for the poor children “to provide a few hours ...
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Fifty men on the Hollington section of the tramway came out on strike on Wednesday 1 February. They were employees of Messrs Dick, Kerr and Co, discontented with their terms of employment, being paid by piece rate. But because of ...
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The AGM of the Queens Hotel Co was held on Wednesday 1 February. Directors: Ald Langham, Mr Agar, C Hayles, A Knight, FJ Mann. AD Thorpe was secretary and large shareholder. Shareholders present: Mrs J Macer Wright, H Mann, TL ...
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The 14th annual report of the Hastings and St Leonards Association for Organising Charitable Relief was published. There were 2,963 applications for assistance in 1904, up 1,203 (68%) on the 1,760 in 1903. Of these, 2,296 could be assisted, up ...
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The monthly meeting of the Trades and Labour Council in the Clarence Hotel, Middle Street, decided to organise a demonstration of all trades and labour organisations on the advantages of trade unionism. Labour MPs would be invited. Among those present ...
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The annual meeting of the Hastings and East Sussex Hospital was held at the hospital, White Rock, on Tuesday 14th. A large expenditure and reduced subscriptions meant it was now over £1,000 in the red: £5,299 against £4,227. The 65th ...
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The Dentist Rapist
From the Hastings Mail of 18/02/1905
Dr Louis Rhein, the ex-Hastings dentist, was sentenced to two years hard labour on 12 February for attempted rape and indecent assault under anaesthetic, involving several of his patients.
The AGM of the Eversfield Hotel Company on February 14 heard there had been “a falling off in the average business of the company … as the hotel had simply suffered from the prevailing depression in hotel business in general”. ...
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The Workhouse had 349 inmates this week, compared with 314 in the same week in 1904. There were 204 vagrants compared with 150.
Teachers’ Union
From the Hastings Mail of 18/02/1905
The AGM of the Hastings and District Branch of the NUT was held recently in West St Leonards School. There were now 138 members, and increased interest. The president was James E Quaife of that school.
The Amalgamated Friendly Societies held their AGM at the Town Hall on February 14. The chairman was WT Stanley. They had held one parade last year, on Whit Sunday, raising £17 16s for local charities, including £8 given to the ...
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Five hundred tramway workers sat down to a hearty meat tea in the Drill Hall, Middle Street, organised by the Central Wesleyan Church congregationists. It was an amiable gathering, though there was naturally considerable bitterness between the natives and the ...
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The AGM of the Grand Hotel Company on 2 February heard that there had been “depressing times” and for the second time in 20 years no dividend was to be paid. Shareholder Miss Marriott said that “out of £900 invested ...
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The H&SL Amusements Association had a committee meeting on 20 February. It was said to be in a bad way, due to lack of support from the public, for whom it organised amusements benefiting the town.
A week ago the Mail reported the Hastings Workhouse Guardians had decided not to accept any more cigar ends. Since then the Master had said that people had been donating them since the Workhouse’s earliest days. They were not from ...
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Shop assistants had decided to join the Hastings branch of the Trades and Labour Council, its monthly meeting at the Clarence Hotel, Middle Street, was told.
Investors fought shy of buying shares in several Hastings companies at an auction at 12 Claremont. There were no bids for Albany Hotel Co, Hastings Pier Co, Plummer Rodis, Southern Counties Vacuum Cleaner Co, Skinner & Co, the Grand Hotel ...
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A letter from Charity Organisation Society chairman George Randell, of St Pauls School, made “an appeal for funds to enable our relief work to be continued for a few weeks longer”. The unification of the agencies under the COS meant ...
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A letter from WT Stanley, chairman of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies, of 269 Harold Road, said “Honest working men are standing idle by the score at different parts of the borough, hungry and cold, with wives and children at home ...
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A meeting was held in Christ Church parish room, Ore, on March 15 to establish a creche and children's cottage hospital for Ore and Clive Vale. The proposal gained warm support. The meeting was convened by neighbourhood practitioner Dr AH ...
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Depressed Shopping
From the Hastings Mail of 18/03/1905
The AGM of Plummer Roddis Ltd was held in London on March 14. The chairman said that 12 months ago he had hoped that “the depressed condition of trade had almost entirely passé away, and that the company would enter ...
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At the weekly meeting of the local Mutual Improvement Society in Wellington Square, Canadian John Welsh gave a lecture on Canada, using 64 beautiful slides from the Canadian Emigration Department.
The Workhouse Guardians meeting on the 23rd agreed the contract for most of the meat supply should go to Messrs Hickman Bros (£248 for all in-house; outdoor relief supplies mostly to them as well); grocery – EW Rubie £167; flour ...
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The auctioneers Messrs St John & Kent held a property auction at Castle Hotel. Nearly 30 lots were offered in Clive Vale and St Leonards, but not one was sold, all being withdrawn before the reserve was reached. The Mail ...
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The annual meeting of the Clive Vale Mutual Improvement Society was held. President William Ransom (ex-News editor/owner) said there had been very poor attendances at meetings, with only a few interested people. It was agreed to keep the Society running, ...
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Frank Thomas, fruiterer at 55 Cambridge Road and 46 Robertson Street, appeared in the bankruptcy Court, £826 in debt. During the last five years neither shop had been paying – three successive bad seasons.
At the Magistrates Court, William Ford was sentenced to Lewes Prison for seven days hard labour for begging for food in Maze Hill the day before (Thursday 6th). He had walked from Eastbourne and had had nothing to eat.
The new Corporation Band began the summer season on Monday 3rd, playing at the Corporation Bandstand on the White Rock Baths. There were 16 players, increasing to 20 later in the season. A Mail editorial said: “Hopes run high in ...
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At the magistrates on Monday 3rd, Charles Martin was seen begging in Mount Pleasant Road on Sunday morning. He admitted the offence. “He said he was very hungry at the time. He was 18 years of age, and as he ...
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Canada Emigrant
From the Hastings Mail of 08/04/1905
“Lt HC Duke, one of the officers of the Christ Church, Ore, Lads Brigade is leaving the Mother country for Canada.” The Mail had an advert for “GW Pinks Fellows” – emigration to all colonies etc, tickets, clothing etc. 13 ...
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The bi-monthly meeting of the Hastings and St Leonards Ratepayers’ Association was held at 1 Eversfield Place on the 6th. Major Vipan presided. He called on the Council to make the Borough Abstract of Accounts simpler. Expert Prof J Holt ...
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Poor Man’s Hotel
From the Hastings Mail of 22/04/1905
The AGM of the Hastings Mendicity Society was held at the Town Hall on 18 April. This was the 50th birthday. Mayor Cllr Charles Eaton was president. The MS was first suggested in letters in the Hastings News by the ...
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The special committee’s report on the salaries of town officials was presented to the Town Council. Economies were suggested by reductions and abolition of offices. The Council meeting on 7 April had agreed not to give any council officer or ...
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At the magistrates on Wednesday 3 May Ed and Martha Millington were charged with stealing a blouse worth 8s 11d, owned by Polly Bassett of Norman Road. Polly took it into the Warriors Gate Hotel, London Road, the previous afternoon ...
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Hard Labour
From the Hastings Mail of 13/05/1905
The magistrates on Monday 8th jailed Thomas Kelly for 14 days, with hard labour, for begging in Old London Road on Sunday. On Thursday, Thomas Sells was jailed for 14 days, with hard labour, for refusing to work with a ...
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Paine Rogers & Co, the leading wholesale greengrocer and fruiter, held it’s AGM on the 12th in the Queens Hotel. There had been a “good year’s working”. President was Major ST Weston JP; other directors were J Reeves, WE Brown, ...
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A famous Canadian band performed at the Royal Concert Hall, Warrior Gardens. It was the Kilties first and only visit.
The Council on 19 May and on 12th had again debated the salaries of borough officials. There was a close vote on proposed reductions, but they were approved. The 19th May meeting was packed with the public, who clearly opposed ...
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The Mail said “Cycling, as a pastime, seems to be gaining great favour in Hastings and St Leonards.” The several local clubs were attracting more people. They held many evening and weekend trips to places such as Catsfield, Westfield, Pevensey, ...
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Single Mum Jailed
From the Hastings Mail of 20/05/1905
On 9 May, a workman discovered the body of a newly born male child, wrapped in a parcel, in a cupboard in the attic of 41 Vicarage Road. Following stories in last week’s newspapers, a young woman had gone to ...
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Jailing the Poor
From the Hastings Mail of 20/05/1905
Magistrates on Wednesday 17th sent John Brian to Lewes Prison for seven days for begging at White Rock the day before. He had 2½d and some food. On the same day, “Workhouse recalcitrant” James Clark was also sent there for ...
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A letter in the Mail complained that the shelter at the bottom of London Road was occupied by “labouring class loungers”, smoking and lying around, sometimes with their feet up on the benches.
The Mail published an article by Keir Hardie MP on ‘The Citizenship of Women – A Plea for Women’s Suffrage’. “To many people the man Keir Hardie represents violent socialist tendencies bordering on revolution.” But he is a very pleasant ...
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On the evening of Tuesday 20th, Mr and Mrs Harvey du Cros were in their chauffeur-driven large Panhard just south of Sevenoaks when it struck and killed a 74-year old woman by the side of the road, en route from ...
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Outside porters in attendance at the railway station, the cab men and the bus men recently drew attention to the increasing difficulties encountered in earning their daily bread. Next the permanent porters employed by the railway companies protested at the ...
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“Painter and house decorator” Edwin Thomas Gower was killed on Friday July 7 by falling off a ladder while working on the outside of 103 Mount Pleasant Road (opposite Manor Road). He lived at 9 Wellington Square, and was 55. ...
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Albert Clark and John Murphey were charged with sleeping out in an open boat at Rock-a-Nore and having no visible signs of subsistence. They were drunk the previous night. The case was dismissed, on condition they left town.
Suicide of Arthur Valentine, a brewer's labourer, found with his throat cut at 20 Southwater Road.
Drunk With Baby
From the Hastings Mail of 22/07/1905
The magistrates on Monday 17th heard five drunk and disorderly cases from the weekend, one a woman with an 18 month old child.
Workhouse outings: The Mail said that there was one day each year in which the inmates could go out. This was the annual outing, for which funds had to be found from donors, as it was not in the budget. ...
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The Council’s Medical Officer of Health report for the quarter to June 20 said there had been 298 births, of which 28 (9.4%) were illegitimate.
At the magistrates court, Lionel Cooper, aged 11, was sentenced to six strokes of the birch for stealing 2/6d of lead from the roof of Sandown Road School on 6July.
A Council meeting gave planning permission for “new porch to entrance and motor house, etc, at Filsham Lodge, Filsham Road”. The owner was HB Philpot.
At the magistrates court on 3 August, 20-year old Chrissell Swan was remanded for a week, charged with attempted suicide. She was found sitting on a sitting very dazed on a seat in White Rock Road, covered in yellow liquid ...
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Painters Wages
From the Hastings Mail of 10/08/1905
At the weekly Board of Guardians meeting, it was said that the painters employed on painting the new Workhouse had all been paid at least 6½d per hour, and labourers, improvers and apprentices at least 3½d.
In the Chancery Division of the High Court on August 2 Mr Freeman-Thomas MP had a complicated case. It concerned the Ratton Estate, Willingdon, of which he was a life tenant, and other property. “The estate was being developed for ...
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Good Bank Holiday
From the Hastings Mail of 12/08/1905
The bank holiday was Monday August 7. It had now gone, and “people have once more settled down to their occupations, after the 24 hours reprieve”. The weekend had been very busy, with lots of people everywhere. Last year 11,500 ...
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Bad Bank Holiday
From the Hastings Mail of 12/08/1905
The day after the bank holiday, the magistrates had nine cases, and at the end the chief constable said “he thought this was a record sitting, there being no fewer than 18 prisoners. These included a 16-year old girl sent ...
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A&J Outing
From the Hastings Mail of 12/08/1905
“Tradesmen’s Outing: The employees of Messrs Adams & Jarrett, builders and decorators, and of Messrs Wright & Son, furniture removers, St Leonards, had their annual outing last Saturday. Brakes were supplied by Messrs Broadhurst & Co, and after a very ...
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Printer’s Outing
From the Hastings Mail of 19/08/1905
The annual trip of Messrs Burfield & Pennells, owners of the Mail, took place on Monday 14th. The 20 people on a four-horse stage coach set off at 8am. The first stop was at Johns Cross for breakfast. Then went ...
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A letter from Disgusted explained “The reason Hastings is so poor and so unpopular”. After a long railway trip from London, there is only 1¾ hours in Hastings. The cheap half-day fare is 3/6, but if you buy the smallest ...
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The leading figure of the local Salvation Army, Sgt Major Edward Phillips, died suddenly aged 49 at his home, 56 St Marys Road. His funeral procession on 13 September started from the Iron Fort in St Andrews Square. He was ...
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The annual meeting of the Hastings Bonfire Society was held at its headquarters, the Clarence Hotel, Middle Street, on the 11th. Bohemia Bonfire Society held a meeting at the Dripping Spring pub, Tower Road, on the 18th, where the officers ...
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Magistrates Court: On Monday 30th Frederick Clark was charged with intent to kill himself on 25th when he took oxalic acid in Norman Road. He was summonsed by his wife for neglecting to maintain her and their daughter. They were ...
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Hastings lost one of its oldest and best known personalities in George William Veness, who died at Fairmount, St Johns Road, Bexhill. He was a cabinet maker and upholsterer by trade. He started a big furnishing warehouse at the bottom ...
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Last winter no fewer than 18,569 dinners were provided for the poor school children of Ore from the Ore Penny Dinner Fund. The dinners cost £106 18 s, or less than 1½d each. They fed for 18 weeks and three ...
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There were big celebrations of the 300th anniversary of Guy Fawkes on 5 November, despite the heavy rain. The Mail ran a big story, with lots of detail (page 2).
The Council meeting on 17th referred to its Finance Committee a letter from the Ratepayers Association which had an expert opinion on the Council accounts for 1904, saying it was “almost impossible to understand details of receipts and spending”. Local ...
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Miss Garrett, of 25 Baldslow Road, was issuing 2d tickets at the British Workmen's Coffee Tavern, Waterworks Road, for personal distribution amongst the distressed poor. Each ticket provided a meal of good soup and bread, or a cup of tea, ...
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The unemployed: The Distress Committee appealed to the public for funds to enable them to provide or contribute towards the provision of temporary work for the unemployed in the borough. It was proposed to place subscription cards in the banks. ...
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Unemployed Data
From the Hastings Mail of 09/12/1905
An appeal was made by the Hon Mrs Freeman-Thomas for assistance to the fund of the Distress Committee of the Town Council, and she asked for volunteers to make a house to house collection. A meeting of the Committee took ...
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There were 2,000 signatures so far for a petition for a penny tram fare from the Memorial to the top of Mount Pleasant Road.
The total amount subscribed on behalf of the Hastings Distress Fund had reached over £783. Lord Brassey promised the sum of £50. The 30 December Mail had a letter to the editor from “one of the unemployed” protesting at the ...
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Death of Henry Hills at his residence, 6 St James Villas, St James Road. He was manager to Messrs Alderton and Keen, an old Hastings firm. He then started his own business as a plumber and decorator at 1 Middle ...
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General Election Looms
From the Hastings Observer of From the Hastings Mail of 13/01/1906
The general election taking place on Monday 15 January dominated the two main newspapers, the Mail and Observer. The Mail canvassed very strongly for the sitting Liberal MP Freeman-Thomas, calling on the working men of Hastings to support the Liberal ...
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Du Cros Becomes MP
From the Hastings Observer of From the Hastings Mail of 20/01/1906
Tory candidate Harvey Du Cros was elected as Hastings Member of Parliament in a record poll in the general election on Monday 15 January. He had 4,348 votes, the sitting Liberal MP Mr Freeman Freeman-Thomas 3,935, a majority of ...
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Committee Makes Work
From the Hastings Mail of From the Hastings Times of 27/01/1906
Hastings Distress Committee meeting in mid-January: Work on the Elphinstone Road railings would be finished next week. Carpenters working on the Haven bridge were being paid 7d an hour, but this was Corporation work, not that of the Committee. 141 ...
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The start of the Hastings and St Leonards Democratic Association. The Mail said: “For some time past the need of an advanced organisation has been felt by local Democrats and a movement has been started with the object of forming ...
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Councillor Dr Gray on 5 February answered Distress Committee critics. He said they found it difficult to find work. They had appealed to every committee of the Council, the Board of Guardians, the education authority and all the landowners throughout ...
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The Mail said: “Democracy Astir - New Organisation for Hastings – Hopeful Speeches: The movement for the organisation of the democratic forces of Hastings and St Leonards has made a decided advance this week. An association has been formed, officers ...
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The Ore Station extension arbitration case: The brick company claimed £13,000 from the SE Railway. The case concerned the SER’s decision to extend the goods traffic accommodation at Ore, for which it was necessary to acquire four acres of the ...
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Councillor Gray appealed for more funds to the Distress Committee, stating that 382 had received temporary employment but that the balance in hand of £346 would be absorbed in a fortnight, and that the want of employment, especially amongst painters, ...
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A Hastings Distress Committee meeting in the Town Hall on 19 February moved that in future they could pay the trade union rate of wages to all skilled workmen employed on work which required a better class of labour, to ...
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A further meeting was held, on 21 February, to discuss the establishment of a democratic organisation for Hastings and St Leonards, at the Rainbow Hall, Silverhill. The Chairman was happy at the goodly number of working men present, men who ...
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The tramway company was shortly to introduce a morning and evening service of workmen’s trams at reduced fares.
Prosecution and imprisonment for three months with hard labour for shopkeeper Mr Wall, of Queens Road, for the exposure of indecent postcards.
The newly formed association was gaining strength fast. It condemned the separation of old couples at the Workhouse. It hoped that John Ward, the Labour MP for Stoke on Trent, and Mr FU O’Donnell MA, president of the Democratic League, ...
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The Grand Hotel was in an unfortunate financial position. At it’s annual meeting, the Grand Hotel Company was told depression was bringing about a crisis. A fresh start was to be made on reduced shares. About a month later, in ...
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The ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new chapel at the Hastings Union Workhouse performed by the Mayor on Saturday 16th.
A stormy vestry meeting took place in the parish of All Saints over the Magdalen Charity and the alleged political use of that charity fund. Charges were made against the Rev PJ Blakeway, with the overseers and several working men, ...
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Windfall to the Hastings Distress Committee: £100 was received from the Queen Alexandra Fund after the local fund had been entirely dispersed. But distress still prevailed in some quarters, Elford Street, off Queens Road, in particular. The Mail of 31 ...
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There was stormy criticism of the Magdalen and Lasher Cahrity at the annual vestry meeting in the parish of All Saints, held at All Saints Infants School on 22 March. Several working men, mainly fishermen, led by Mr Mann, condemned ...
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Hospital Scandal
From the Hastings Mail of 31/03/1906
Hastings Hospital scandal: An inquiry was held into the death on 24 March of William Beale, of 5 Gloucester Cottages, Croft Road, whose removal from the East Sussex Hospital when in a critical condition was criticized by the Hastings Guardians. ...
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