New Stade dues were fixed by the Council.
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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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.
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.
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.
Chartists
From the Hastings News of 30/08/1850
A Chartist political meeting was held at the fishmarket.
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.
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].
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.
Evening School reopened, at the Fishermen’s Club Room and National School House, East Hill.
The first service was held at the new Fishermen’s Church [now the Fishermen's Museum], at Rock-a-Nore.
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.
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.
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.
Author Charles Kingsley preached a sermon in the Fishermen’s Church.
Meeting of the Special Relief Fund to take some steps to relieve the state of the fishery.
Proposed Harbour
From the Hastings News of 04/05/1860
A harbour was proposed to be laid in Hastings, off the Castle. A bill was now before the Board of Trade on the question of levying tolls on vessels using the harbour. A public meeting was held on 31 August ...
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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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Luggers Set Sail
From the Hastings News of 24/01/1861
The big luggers engaged in mackerel catching had all left for the western fishing grounds in the last few days.
Herring Fishing
From the Hastings News of 13/09/1861
The fishing fleet had sailed for the summer herring fishing. It was hoped that the fishing this season will be prosperous after the bad recent times.
Poor Fishing
From the Hastings News of 11/10/1861
The fishing harvest was very poor.
Herring Success
From the Hastings News of 08/11/1861
Successful herring haul by 20-30 boats.
Poor Herring Catch
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
So far the herring harvest had been as unsuccessful at home as it had been in the North Sea. Although large shoals abounded, bad weather had made fishing difficult.
Gale Warnings
From the Hastings News of 29/11/1861
The following warnings of storms would operate from the flagstaff at the Custom House near the Fishmarket, opposite the bottom of High Street: The Drum - stormy winds; The Cone - gale force winds; Cone/Drum - dangerous winds.
Poor Fishing
From the Hastings News of 27/12/1861
The larger Hastings luggers had returned from the North Sea as herring fishing was entirely suspended. A bad year, with the average earning of fishermen not succeeding 8/- a week.
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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Widows Fund
From the Hastings News of 28/03/1862
A widows fund for the Crystal Palace fishermen had been started by the Church. By the beginning of May it had raised £500.
Herring Season
From the Hastings News of 31/10/1862
The herring luggers off the eastern coast had had an indifferent season.
Old Town Railway
From the Hastings News of 05/12/1862
Plans were out for a railway from Hastings station, under the West Hill, to the Fishmarket. A Parliamentary bill was received later in December.
A meeting of local fishermen and boat owners in the Club Room, Mercers Bank, discussed what steps to take in reference to the agitation against trawl net fishing (emanating from Sunderland). The Royal Commission on trawler fishing took evidence at ...
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Fishing Death
From the Hastings News of 03/07/1863
Many fishing boats displayed colours at half mast due to the death of Mr Richardson, aged 74, keeper of the Hastings Market and secretary of the Fishermans Society.
Mackerel Fishing
From the Hastings News of 01/01/1864
Many fishing boats had left early for mackerel fishing in the western Channel, due to the lack of success last year.
Mackerel Poor
From the Hastings News of 15/04/1864
Mackerel fishing had been bad in the south-west Channel this season.
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.
Fish Catches
From the Hastings News of 05/06/1868
The large fishing boats had returned from the western coasts, but had not paid their working expenses. Mackerel were very plentiful in kettlenets on Bulverhythe beach – ‘Busy’ Foord on June 1 got 17,000 (£100) and 6-7,000 on June 2. ...
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Brewery Burnt Down
From the Hastings News of 18/09/1868
The Eagle Brewery in Courthouse Street, owned by Mills and Sons, was burned down on 15 September. It was next to Burfields Phoenix Brewery. Three engines of the Voluntary Fire Brigade were helped by fishermen and Coastguards.
The annual herring voyage had been successful, with 40 tons despatched by rail today alone.
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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Council meeting approved plans for a new fishmarket and a temporary Iron Church in St Andrews Square (for five years).
Fishing: Nearly all luggers were back from the mackerel voyage to the West Country, with poor results. The best earnings for the whole crew for four months had only been £160. The St Ives boats had done well.
The annual Whitsun Town Fair may be snuffed out by the erection of the new Fishmarket. There were only two or three small stalls on the ground at the fair on Tuesday 7 June.
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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Sturgeon Caught
From the Hastings News of 05/08/1870
Two large sturgeon fish were caught off Hastings, one 5½ feet long, 52 lbs.
The new Fishmarket at the bottom of the High Street officially opened. Stalls were to let at ls to 2s 6d weekly.
The annual Town Fair was held, but it was very restricted, since the ground was occupied by the new Fishmarket and boats hauled onto the roadway out of reach of the gale. The home herring fishery had been good so ...
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Sudden changing weather this morning brought a storm which caught about 40 vessels lying on the sand or at the stones foot, and unable to get hauled up the beach clear of the heavy seas for want of horsepower on ...
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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.
Sturgeon Caught
From the Hastings News of 30/03/1871
A fine sturgeon was caught a few miles off Hastings. It had been bought by Mrs Stace, fishmonger, of Castle Street. Weight 70 lbs, length 6 ft.
There had been the best mackerel catches for years, with T Clark, Mark Swaine, ‘Sole’ Gallop, Spice and Edmunds all landing 5,000 each; ‘Tuppeny’ Stonham 3,700, ‘Cruty’ Mann 2,500, ‘Reefer’ Tassell 3,000.
The Lords of the Admiralty ordered the gunboat Tyrain to Dungeness to protect the local fishery from the French. Anchored off Hastings, "the beautiful-40 pounder Armstrong gun, placed amidships, excited much attention". The 7th Cinque Port Artillery Volunteers practised with ...
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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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Fine Fish
From the Hastings News of 17/11/1871
A fine porpoise, 151 lbs, and a shark 8'4", 305 lbs, were caught in herring nets on 16 November.
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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Big Catches
From the Hastings News of 08/12/1871
There were great herring catches, with 40-50 tons sent off by rail. They laboured till late in the day to pack, using every luggage van and horsebox in the station.
Longevity
From the Hastings News of 16/02/1872
Six local men on Marine Parade near the sundial had total ages of 481. Thomas ('Duncan') White 84, Matthew Phillips 83, John Breeds 80, Henry Phillips 79, John Haste 75, fishermen, and John Oliver 80, old pleasure boat man. All in ...
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Fishery Decline
From the Hastings News of 06/09/1872
The Hastings fishery was in decline. Formerly, August/September saw 30 large luggers off to the North Sea on the herring voyage; this year [1872] it was only seven.
Herring Glut
From the Hastings News of 22/11/1872
There had been a glut of herrings, with just six boats bring in 25-30,000. The price fell to £1 a last, and not less than 40 lasts were landed in four hours.
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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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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Storm damage
From the Hastings News of 17/03/1876
On Sunday morning 13th people were unprepared for the storms that appeared and much damage was done. Net shops were broken in many places, with ropes and nets drifting out to sea. West Street and much of George Street were ...
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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.
Fisherman Jailed
From the Hastings News of 16/01/1880
Hastings fisherman George 'Buffey' Bumstead. of Hill Street, was given two years hard labour by Folkestone Quarter Sessions for wounding a Folkestone fisherman with a knife on 13 November 1879.
Boats Lights
From the Hastings News of 27/02/1880
A memorial was given to the Board of Trade from 300 Hastings fishermen, showing the impossibility of changing the positions of lights on ships.
Mission for Seamen
From the Hastings News of 05/03/1880
A meeting took place in the Castle Assembly Rooms at the Castle Hotel to set up a new Home and Abroad Mission for seamen.
Fishermen Petition
From the Hastings News of 09/09/1881
A petition was sent from the fishermen to the Board of Trade concerning the poor state of the beach and Council interference. A Council meeting discussed extending the parade wall east as far as the Queens Head in East Beach ...
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A new plan was published for the Fishmarket area, opposite the bottom of the High Street.
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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Stade Storm
From the Hastings News of 01/09/1882
There was serious damage to the Stade, caused by a storm, and made worse by the absence of groynes. A relief fund for sufferers was set up on 12 September.
Fishmarket Works
From the Hastings News of 13/10/1882
The Council agreed that works at the Fishmarket should proceed without delay.
The new Fishermen's Institute, at 97 All Saints Street, opened on Tuesday 19 December. It was a new charity hoping to give fishermen an alcohol-free alternative venue for social events, mending nets, etc. [It still exists, mainly as a club ...
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Council voted to accept a scheme for the Fishmarket extension of sea wall and slope for boats.
Mr Mark Breach, the prominent fishmonger and a leading in the local fishing industry, died today
More Stade Damage
From the Hastings News of 19/10/1883
High tides caused more damage to the Stade and the sea defences.
Better Harbour
From the Hastings News of 14/03/1884
Sir Thomas Brassey presented a petition from the fishermen of Hastings to House of Commons, seeking improved harbour accommodation.
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.
Oyster Saloon
From the Hastings News of 12/08/1887
A new oyster saloon opened at one of the town's better shops, 45a Robertson Street, which remained in the fish trade for many years.
Fishermen’s Coffee
From the Hastings News of 08/11/1889
Fishermen's Coffee Rooms were opened under the Fishermen's Institute in All Saints Street on 3 November.
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.
A Town Council meeting on 7 October discussed the local fishing boat owners' objection to the proposed creation of a Sea Fisheries District (proposed by the Brighton Corporation). The town clerk should appear before the Inspector at a Board of ...
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Possible Harbour
From the Hastings News of 14/10/1892
A Town Council meeting on 7 October discussed the harbour question and railway accommodation. It was agreed that a deputation be sent to the directors of the London and North Western, the Midland and the Great Northern Railway Companies about ...
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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.
"Yesterday afternoon [Thursday 1 June], just as the Guardians were leaving the Board Room at the Hastings Workhouse, a touching scene was witnessed in the entrance hall. Four tiny children had been brought to the House by an elder sister, ...
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Severe Gale
From the Hastings News of 24/11/1893
There was a terrific gale, causing much disruption and damage, on Saturday 18 November. The News of 8 December had a letter from the mayor saying that £105 had been collected for a fund to compensate fishing boat owners for ...
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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.
Fish Byelaw
From the Hastings News of 12/01/1894
The stonebeach committee at the Council meeting on 5 January supported having a new byelaw prohibiting the landing of fish, cleaning etc, on the seafront west of the lifeboat house.
The Hastings fishery had many distressed families owing to the severe weather. A petition was given to the trustees to allocate grants from the Death and Illness Fund. The News of 15 February reported that the extensive distress of Hastings ...
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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.
New Loos
From the Hastings News of 30/08/1895
A new public convenience at the fishmarket had been opened.
Horse Kills Man
From the Hastings Observer of 29/02/1896
A horse killed a man outside the stables in Rock-a-Nore Road. Charles Hayward, a 69-year old who worked for a horse cart business, patted one of his horses as he was bringing it out of the stables, but the horse ...
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Initiatory work on the proposed Hastings Harbour was now in progress. Stumps driven into the beach indicate the line of possession the Commissioners intended to enclose. Obtrusive stumps, railway lines and many yards of fencing were necessary, plus the ...
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