The people of Hastings could not have anticipated the scale of death and destruction, which would span almost six, long years in the borough’s history when the country went to war in 1939, a war which left in its wake 154 civilians dead and more than 14,000 properties damaged or destroyed. Continue reading Hastings a Front Line Town
With 2014 being the 100th anniversary of the beginning of The First World War and having recently watched the ‘The Great War’ boxed-set on DVD, I felt compelled to write something about civilized mans lowest moment in history. Continue reading Hastings & The Great War
By 11am on the 11 November 1918, when the armistice brought silence to the battlefields of France and Flanders, in excess of nine million souls lay dead, many never to be found and placed in a marked grave. Continue reading 100 Years have Passed Since The War To End All Wars Began
Early in the 19th Century, industry in what was to become the new town of Hastings, consisted only of agriculture with its many hop gardens in the Priory Valley and lime burning on the site of Wellington Square. However, one notable exception to this shortage was perhaps the continuing work provided by Continue reading The Carlisle Hotel
George Linney was one of the thousands of soldiers who were sent to France in ever increasing numbers during the Great War of 1914-18. Like many others he was billeted in a South East town while he awaited the dreaded orders to proceed to Folkestone or Dover on the way to the trenches. His story, unlike many others, did have a happy ending, he returned home with his life and had a long and eventful career on the Railways. Continue reading To The Trenches Via Rye and Folkeston
The most noted landlord of this public house was Stephen Gilbert Fryman. He first came to light in 1824 when he purchased the Bridge Inn, Winchelsea for £60, and sold it two years later for £116 making a handsome profit. But whether he held the licence as well as being the owner is unknown. What is known is that around Continue reading The Dial High Street
It seems to me that where the sea lapped the bottom of the cliff at the Green Steps, where Colebrooks stood 400 years later. Continue reading Badding and Ypres
By Arthur Woodgate
On 16 October 1917, I was taken to the Lion Street School and settled in a class taught by a Miss Jordon. Miss Longley was the Headmistress and with a long wooden corridor she could be heard coming with loud creaks all over our infant school. Continue reading Between the Zeppelin and the Doodle Bug
By Arthur Woodgate
The sea until 1300 would have washed the north side of Rye with a causeway across to Rye Hill. Wrecks of ships have been found in streets north of the Town wall and of boats where the town ditch was. Continue reading Arthur’s Cinque Ports Street
It is difficult to recapture the atmosphere of the terrible 1914—18 war years. Ninety-Seven years is a long period in time, and memories fade and soften. Continue reading Rye and the Great War
