Heritage Open Days events

 Heritage Open Days events

The national Heritage Open Days (HODs) festival for 2021 runs from 10th to 16th September. 

Hastings & St. Leonards Society has registered four local events for the festival. These are on the national HODs website. 

To book for these events e-mail: hstlsoc@gmail.com

.  Places are limited for three of the events. The events are as follows:

Friday 10 September: The Observer Building Open Morning.
Tours at 9.30 AM and 10.30 AM.  Limited to 10 persons per session. Booking essential.

Your chance to hear and see how this iconic building – the former offices and printing works for the H & St. L Observer – is being converted to bring it into use as a vibrant community hub.

* Note that building work is in progress and visitors must wear stout footwear and trousers (no sorts). Hard hats and PPE will be issued for essential wear during the visit. This event is not suitable forpersons with mobility difficulties.

Saturday 11 September: Hastings Town Hall Tour. Starts 10 AM. Maximum 10 persons. Booking essential
(Meet at the rear entrance to the town hall, opposite the Clarence Public House onStation Road).

 A rare opportunity to see inside the magnificent Town Hall. Tour leader is the knowledgeable Kevin Boorman, major projects officer for HBC, and estimated duration is 1 hour.

 As stairs and narrow passages are likely to be encountered during the full tour, it is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Saturday 11 September: Emmanuel Church Open Day (10 AM to 2 PM).  This event has been popular in previous years and the surprisingly spacious interior must be seen to appreciate the splendour of the building, constructed in 1883/4 and situated to the north of Hastings’ West Hill.

 Hear the history of the church and its people from a local historian during one of the guided tours (untimed).
Booking is not required to visit the church, but number of persons per guided tour may be limited. Tea/coffee available for donation.

* H & St. L Society’s exhibition on the heritage and social history of the West Hill of Hastings will be on display at this event. This comprehensive exhibition was produced as part of the National Heritage Lottery funded project to research and celebrate the substantial heritage of the area.

Thursday 16 September: Hastings Town Centre guided walk.
Starts 2.30 PM. Maximum 10 persons. Booking essential. (Meet outside the Baptist Church at the lower end of Wellington Square gardens.)

Join H & St. L Society’s Alan Jeffries for an informative walk in the town centre. Hear the history of the area and its fine architecture.

It is hoped to include a visit to the former Debenhams store, one of the town’s most distinctive buildings, during the walk. Duration approx. 90 minutes.

* Note that there are some roads to cross on this walk, and signalled crossings will be used where convenient. The walk is mostly on the level and suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs, but the tour of the Debenhams building (optional) may not be suitable for persons with mobility difficulties.

All HODs events are free and subject to any regulations the

government has in force at the time of the festival. If any event

has to be cancelled, we will notify persons with bookings by e-mail as

far in advance as possible.

Noted Hastings Historian

 

£9.99

Available at

Hastings History House

21 Courthouse Street

(and other outlets)

Ecclesbourne Glen Footpath

The coastal footpath into Ecclesbourne Glen is to reopen.

The main footpath into Ecclesbourne Glen from the East Hill has been closed since 2013 after a landslip destroyed the footpath into the glen. The latest report from specialist engineers has concluded the landslip area in the Glen has now stabilised and is in a dormant condition.

East Sussex CC and Hastings BC have agreed that restoration work can start this autumn. The aim is to have the main footpath path in Ecclesbourne Glen open as part of the new England Coastal path for this part of our coastline.

The Friends of Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve are delighted that persistent local community pressure has finally had an effect. 

Cemetery Walks

 Meet in the Cemetery Carpark at 2pm on:the following Sundays

• 4th July
• 18th July
• 5th Septembe
• 19th September at 2pm.

For those who received notifications of posts to this blog by email, please be aware that this service is being discontinued by the provider as from 21st July.

Swan Memorial Service

 HASTINGS OLD TOWN PARISH OF ST CLEMENT AND ALL SAINTS

MEDIA RELEASE

Date: 17th May 2021

Contact: Paul Hunt

E-mail: pic@oldtownparishhastings.org.uk

Tel. 01424 441197

IT WILL BE EXACTLY SEVENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO THIS COMING SUNDAY THAT THE HISTORIC SWAN INN, A HASTINGS LANDMARK SINCE THE EARLY FOURTEENTH CENTURY, WAS DESTROYED BY ENEMY ACTION.  IT WAS AROUND LUNCHTIME ON SUNDAY 23RD MAY 1943 THAT A LUFTWAFFE RAID CAUSED DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES AROUND THE TOWN WITH SIXTEEN PEOPLE BEING KILLED INSIDE THE SWAN INN, NOW THE SITE OF A MEMORIAL GARDEN OPPOSITE ST. CLEMENT’S CHURCH.

THE STEP GREAT GRAND-DAUGHTER OF ONE OF THE CASUALITIES, THOMAS WINBORNE, WILL BE AMONG THOSE ATTENDING A SHORT OUTSIDE SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE CLOSE TO SWAN GARDENS AT 11.15 A.M. THIS SUNDAY LED BY THE REVEREND PAUL HUNT AND MEMBERS OF THE OLD TOWN PARISH CONGREGATION.  CHURCHWARDEN JUDY CUBISON RECALLS THAT TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE FAMILY NEIGHBOURS.  “IT WAS ALL SO TRAGIC.  VIOLET COX AND HER NIECE ANN TESTER HEARD THE SIREN AND SHELTERED in POST OFFICE PASSAGE.  BUT THE SWAN LANDLORD INVITED THEM TO SHELTER IN THE INN WHICH THEN RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT.  ANN WAS NOT MUCH OLDER THAN MY SISTER WHO WAS THEN ONLY FIVE.”

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO ATTEND ARE ASKED TO WEAR MASKS AND BE MINDFUL OF SOCIAL DISTANCING.

ENDS.

Taking a Positive Outlook.....

 

http://www.ohps.org.uk/
http://ohpsupdate.blogspot.co.uk 

Pre-lockdown Publications

 

Available from The Hastings History House
21, Courthouse Street,
Hastings
TN34 3AU
http://www.ohps.org.uk/
http://ohpsupdate.blogspot.co.uk 

Soft Opening as from Last Week!

 Hopefully it will be Thursday - Saturday, 11 - 4.

New volunteers welcomed with open arms!

Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update - 

New Stories

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Absolon, William & grandson, Hackebarth, William H H - We do not know a lot about William Absolon, partly because it was a common name in Wallingford. From whence he came, probably for his health.  Also mentioned is his grandson, William H H Hackebarth, who died aged 10 months.  William was only 39.

Corby, Charles & Desiree Hortense Blanche - He was a London tailor and they lived at lived at Hollybank, Seddlescombe Road South. Currently there is not a lot known of them.

Strickland, Georgiana & Jane, (daughters of George, who built Harpsichord House and started a Hastings dynasty) and their nephew Louis Waghorn

Updated  

Glen, John M Grey, his wife, sister in law, (M A Graham) and step-son - (Thomas Goldsworthy) Lucknow story; some of the mourners at the funerals

Strickland Family - son Herbert; parents, Francis (grandson of George) and Jane - daughter of Mary Ann Slade, and like her an active supporter of women’s emancipation and much more.

                          

We have been advised of free online talks by the Church Monuments Society.

The nexttwo are as below.  We have been assured by a viewer that they were well worth watching and she can’t wait for the next one.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/144062327299

The Cross-Legged Effigy in Context: Myth and Legend

A talk about cross-legged effigies of medieval knights, by Mr Mark Downing, President of the Church Monuments Society.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/144059825817

A Dead Good Job: Gravedigging in Municipal Cemeteries

An in-depth talk about the role of gravediggers, by Dr Helen Frisby and Dr Stuart Prior.

Hastings Pier to reopen 12th April! thanks to Music First Events

After a successful short season last year Music First Events have taken out a three year lease on the Pier.

The first task will be reopening, which is due to happen on April 12, the next stage of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Dreams of a summer of socialising, dancing, events, live gigs, football and fun looks set to be a reality.

The gates to Hastings Pier will open on Monday, April 12 2021, at 12 noon.

https://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/people/hastings-pier-to-reopen-next-month-as-operators-take-on-three-year-lease-3164481

Marianne North: a trailblazing artist

 As we are still not sure when we reopen here is an item that may be of interest.

https://artuk.org/discover/stories/marianne-north-a-trailblazing-artist?ct=t(WEEKLY_NEWSLETTER_2021_01_12)&mc_cid=05a25ab123&mc_eid=5572dec1ba

Forward Planning - HBC

 Consultation starts today and you will be able to view and make comments on the new Draft Hastings Local Plan (Regulation 18) until 24 March 2021.   This is your chance to get involved and tell us what you think. 

How to comment

You can find more information, view the draft Plan and comment online via  www.hastings.gov.uk/localplan 

More Information

The new Draft Plan sets out a strategy to guide and shape development over the next 20 years up to 2039 and includes a development strategy along with Strategic Policies for managing development and identifying the types of uses planned for different parts of the town.

It also includes Focus Area policies for different parts of the Borough where higher levels of development are anticipated and Development Policies covering design and measures required to mitigate potential impacts.

In the light of Covid-19 and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 the consultation materials will not be displayed at Council offices or libraries in the interests of public safety. 

 

For those who would like to get involved but are unable to access the internet there is a dedicated voicemail.  If you or someone you know needs help viewing or commenting on the Local Plan, please leave a message on 01424 451102 and we will get back to you.

All comments must be received by 24 March 2021. 

From Hastings Online Times - Hastings’ Town Deal investment plan

 

Town Deal investment plan shielded from the public

Hastings’ Town Deal investment plan – which could net the town £25m – has to be submitted by the end of January.  In the face of scant communication with the public, however, concerns have emerged about how the process has been managed, if the guidelines have been adhered to and whether the deal will prove, as intended, beneficial to the whole borough.

https://hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk/hot-topics/local-economy/town-deal-investment-plan-shielded-from-the-public