Category: Hastings Town

The Nags Head

The Nags Head Gensing Road

By John Hodges

The first reference to the parish of St.Leonard occurs in 1372, it is contained within a return of the parish churches in the liberty of Hastings made by the Bailiff. Although this ancient church appears to have disappeared sometime in the fifteenth century, it can be placed in the present day Norman Road. During the construction of the recently redundant Methodist church the existence of such a building was confirmed when the old graveyard was disturbed. When James Burton first decided to build his new town on part of the old Manor of Gensing, it straddled two parishes. That of St.Leonard was one, whilst the other was St Mary Magdalene named not after an ancient church, but more likely after the old hospital of that name, long since disappeared but the revenues of which continue Continue reading The Nags Head

The Castle Hotel Wellington Square

 

By John Hodges

When all that lay beyond the Castle Cliff was open country and the White Rock projected into the sea, the site of Wellington Square was then known as the Priory Field. Continue reading The Castle Hotel Wellington Square

Pier Disaster

By Ron Fellows

Eugenius Birch designed the 138-year-old Hastings Pier, badly burnt on Monday night, 4th October 2010. The Earl of Granville opened it on the Bank Holiday, 5th.August 1872 and hailed it as the “peerless pier a pier without a pier.” The Pier suffered another fire in 1917, which burnt down a spectacular Pavilion. Continue reading Pier Disaster

Like the Death of an Old Friend

There have been moments in my long life when I have despaired of the human race. The morning of Tuesday 6 October, at the time of hearing the news that Hastings Pier was destroyed and burning, was one of them. Arson was suspected. I thought back to the hundreds of Saturday nights I spent at dances on the Pier with my friends, back in the 1950’s and 60’s, and remembered the great fun we had in that amazing domed ballroom. It was like the death of an old friend. Why should anyone want to kill the Pier? She was old and frail and thanks to years of neglect, in dire need of restoration. Continue reading Like the Death of an Old Friend

Bohemia Farm To Summerfields Estate

A History

A Book by Heather Grief, in aid of the Bohemia Walled Garden Association

Tony May wrote about the Bohemia Walled Garden Association in Hastings Town’s April issue. The Association is making good progress and Hastings Borough Council has repaired a hole in the south wall. St. Mary Star of the Sea school children are tending a plot in the walled garden, and enjoy watching the progress of Ray Grief’s sunflower plants – they are a lot taller than the ones at home because the soil is very fertile through long years of cultivation. Continue reading Bohemia Farm To Summerfields Estate

The Queen’s Head

EAST BEACH STREET

By John Hodges

The first licence to sell beer was granted to the Queens Head around 1830, at a time that was coincidental with the introduction of the new Beerhouse Act. This piece of sweeping legislation permitted any householder assessed to the poor rate, to obtain from the excise on a payment of two guineas, a licence to sell beer by retail from their dwelling house. Continue reading The Queen’s Head

Stock Car Memories

By Tony May5

I have been thinking a lot recently about days gone by and in particular of my days as a boy going to the Stock Car Racing with my Dad. Not quite sure why my memories of dust, dirt, noise, revving engines, screaming tyres and crash bang wallop keep popping back into my consciousness but, as they do, I thought I’d write about them for HT. Continue reading Stock Car Memories

Town Crier

News & Gossip Pages

By Jim Hollands

COACH PARKING PROBLEMSCOACH PARKING PROBLEMS

Several readers have been in contact with us pointing out the problems being caused by the new coach parking arrangements. Continue reading Town Crier