The Cinque Ports Arms All Saints Street

 By John Hodges

Over the years many small pubs and beer houses have come and gone in the Old Town of Hastings, none more so than in All Saints Street and the twittens that run in to it from both sides. Some of these premises have a very complete history, of some virtually nothing is known, whilst others never aspired to being identified by a name. Continue reading The Cinque Ports Arms All Saints Street

The Clarence Hotel Silverhill

 CLARENCE HOTEL

By John Hodges

The first reference to the name Silver Hill, it was spelt as two words until about 1865, occurs in 1783 when High Ridge Farm changed its name to that of Silver Hill Farm. The name next occurs in 1813 when the name of Silver Hill Mill first appears on the ordnance survey map, but little more is heard of this mill until 1838 when John Harmer brought to the site one of the mills that had stood on the West Hill. Despite a series of catastrophes and subsequent reconstructions this old mill struggled on until 1966 when the crumbling structure was finally Continue reading The Clarence Hotel Silverhill

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