New Book Available at Hastings History House

 

This book is a guide to the purpose-built places of worship in what is now the modern borough of Hastings & St Leonards-on-Sea, from antiquity to the present.  Over seventy churches and chapels of various denominations, many of which are no longer in existence or are now closed, are included.

A brief description and history of each building is provided, with pointers for where to find further information, either in publications or via the Internet.

"A much-needed addition to the local history books catalogue.  The researchers are to be congratulated on their achievement in compiling this fascinating work."

Anne Scott, MBE (Chair, the Old Hastings Preservation Society)

ISBN 978-0-9573030-8-9

£12.50

9780957 303080>

Hastings History House
21 Courthouse Street
Hastings

Open Thursdays and Saturdays (Due to volunteer shortage)
11a.m. - 4p.m

THE MILLS AND MILLERS OF HASTINGS AND ENVIRONS, - New Book

A major new book by amateur historian Bob Wilcock has just been published and is being launched at an illustrated presentation at Hastings Museum at 2pm on Sunday 30 March -https://www.hmag.org.uk/event/mills-and-millers-of-hastings/ . 

The event is free and there is free parking. 

The book will be available to purchase at a significant discount on the recommended retail price, and after the event will be on sale at the Museum, and in Hastings History House in Courthouse Street.

Bob is descended from the Carswell family who were Hastings’ principal millers and bakers in Georgian times.  The dynasty was started by Bob’s 6xgreat-grandfather Richard Carswell . A tailor and Customs Officer, he only became a miller when he retired.  In trying to delve into his story Bob discovered there was no book giving the history of milling in Hastings, .

Previous researchers, including the renowned curator of Hastings Museum, J. Manwaring Baines, acknowledging that Hastings mills history is among the most difficult to tackle, particularly the most prominent site, the West Hill.

The result of 10 years of meticulous research, Bob’s book has risen to the challenge, and, in the words of one reviewer “the book will be the definitive source of mills, millers and owners for Hastings and its environs.” 

Bob’s innovation is to focus on the millers, mill owners and mill workers, their fascinating lives, their families, their milling connections.

The Carswells were followed in Victorian times by the Haywards at Baldslow and the Crisfords at Fairlight, then William Draper and his sons kept traditional milling going well into the twentieth century.

Hastings History House - Exhibition on ....

Make your voice heard - HBC Local Plan

The new Local Plan will cover the period up to 2039 and will set out a vision for the borough and a plan for the development of the town.

We would like to get your early feedback on priority areas for the new plan and have developed a short questionnaire so you can submit your views.

If you wish to complete the questionnaire please do so by 10^th September 2020.  

 

We have also launched a new webpage and there will be more opportunities to comment on our draft plan in the Autumn. 

Dee-Day's Book! Profits to Lillian & Cyril Bishop Trust

Copies may be ordered from Hastings History House21 Courthouse StreetHastings, TN34 3AU
01424 424744or email

£10.00

Dee-Day White and Tush Hamilton are on the verge of bringing (another) lost lifeboat back to Hastings again.

Following their restoration of the Priscilla MacBean lifeboat, which was discovered as a rotting hulk in Eastbourne and is now on permanent show in the Old Town.

Now they are set to bring home a former Hastings lifeboat which earned the legend ‘The Ghost of Dunkirk’

The Cyril and Lilian Bishop lifeboat, which saved 34 lives in Hastings during the 1930’s, spent four days and four nights rescuing British and French soldiers from the beaches during the evacuation of Dunkirk in World War 2.

“She is best known and earned her nickname ‘The Ghost of Dunkirk when in late May 1940 the Dunkirk evacuation needed shallow draught vessels to make their way to Dover and the RNLI was asked to send as many lifeboats as possible and coxswain George Moon quickly called a crew together consisting of Will Martin, Bodger Barton, Jumbo White, Bill Hilder and finally Freddie Button.

“On arrival at Dover George Moon tells us that all the lifeboats were commandeered by the Royal Navy and he and the rest of the crew travelled back to Hastings by train.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/legendary-lifeboat-is-coming-home-1-7420706#ixzz4B0QWuIeP

The statue of Prince Albert will be installed by the town hall

In February 2015, a bid put forward by campaigners was refused planning consent by Hastings Borough Council, going against officers’ recommendations.

Members said the statue’s condition was so poor it would not be suitable for display alongside the town hall, which is a Grade-II listed building.

Campaigners submitted an appeal to have the decision overturned, which was successful.

A new heritage group, the Albert Statue Group, was formed early this year to raise funds for the project.

Hastings Lions Club came forward with a generous donation for buying and installing the new Portland stone pedestal on which the statue is to be erected.

There have also been donations from members of the public who are keen to see the long-neglected statue back in the public domain.

Roger Wilcock, of A. C. Towner Ltd has been advising on the project, and he is doing some of the preparatory work free of charge, with consent from his employer Edward Towner, as this is a community project without financial support from the council.

The life-size statue of Prince Albert, sculpted in Portland stone by Edwin Stirling at his Liverpool studio, was saved for the town by Edith Skelton, who bought it from the demolition firm for £50.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/work-to-start-on-installation-of-hastings-statue-1-7416965#ixzz4AuIcC7Yf

More support needed to keep local treasure afloat

Open 364 days a year and free to enter, the Fishermen’s Museum at Rock-a-Nore is possibly one of the area’s most underrated and fascinating attractions.

It is a treasure trove of exhibits which show the history of the local fishing fleet and our relationship with the sea, having a full sized fishing lugger as its centre piece.

But the volunteer run museum, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month, is in desperate need of financial support if it is to continue opening as it currently does.

“If everyone who came in donated just £1 we would be in a healthy position”

The museum is housed in the former Fishermen’s Church, built on the Stade in 1852, which fell out of use after the Second World War.

Hastings Fishermen’s Museum opened on May 17 1956.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/more-support-needed-to-keep-local-treasure-afloat-1-7397804#ixzz49fyYGw9W

New Exhibition at the History House

A little bit of history .....

• 1875 – Design for Hastings Town Hall, Sussex
• 1875 – Design for Hastings Town Hall, Sussex
• 1875 – Design for Hastings Town Hall, Sussex
• 1875 – Design for Hastings Town Hall, Sussex
• 1875 – Hastings Town Hall, Sussex

Rocklands - Appeal hearing postponed.

A caravan park responsible for building an ‘eyesore’ holiday home has had its appeal hearing postponed.

In March last year Rocklands Private Caravan Park, in Rocklands Lane, was ordered to demolish the building, dubbed ‘the bunker’ by campaigners, after being served with an enforcement notice by Hastings Borough Council.

The council ruled the two-storey site overlooking Ecclesbourne Glen contravened planning regulations.

The park appealed the decision and an enforcement appeal hearing was due to take place at The Stade Hall next Wednesday (January 20).

However, this has been postponed until further notice after the planning inspector appointed to undertake the hearing fell ill earlier this week.
Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/rocklands-appeal-hearing-postponed-1-7159378#ixzz3xF0RpVLO

Developers wanting to convert the old Observer building have unveiled revised plans for the Hastings landmark.

Flint Development Group is aiming to provide accommodation for 230 students, an art-house cinema and a shop/restaurant for Sussex food and produce at the site in Cambridge Road.

Mr Kirby also announced a public park would be added the roof of the proposed building and committed to maintaining the ground floor as a popular community space, with plans for a farmer’s market and restaurant.
He said: “To make this project work economically and be a real success for the town, we have had to go up. But we’ve listened to the community and have dramatically reduced the height from our original plans.
On the roof there will now be mirror panels that reflect the seaside sky line as well a public park which will become a new venue for Hastings, overlooking the sea and town below.

Developers await a decision on the scheme, which will be decided by Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee at a later date

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/revised-plans-for-old-observer-building-unveiled-1-7110162#ixzz3u1TqRzAE

The Observer Building

Final designs - save the date:
Tuesday 8th December, 6pm

Following dialogue with local people, other stakeholders and Hastings Borough Council the design proposals for the Observer Building have been revised.  Flint Development Group are unveiling the new designs on the evening of Tuesday 8th December, at the Observer Building.
Please save the date.

Hastings in top five English ‘heritage assets’–Bring back the Hastings Embroidery and we may rank higher!

The report found Hastings to be in the top one per cent for industrial heritage and parks and open spaces, as well as the top five per cent for landscape and natural heritage and for ‘cultures and memories’.

“The heritage of the town is marked and celebrated through some of the largest number of Heritage Open Days and blue plaques in the country,” the RSA report says.

Hastings ranks in the top nine per cent for museums, archives and artefacts and for ‘historic built environment’, the town is in the top 12 per cent.

Hastings has been named in the top five English ‘heritage assets’ – above Oxford and other historic locations.

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) released a report into the country’s heritage on Wednesday (September 23).

The RSA define heritage as, “anything inherited from the past that helps us, collectively or individually, to understand the present, and create a better future.”

www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/seven-themes-from-the-heritage-index.

New Books at the History House

   £9.50                                    £9.99                                 £6.50

If you want to order by email (ohps@ohps.org.uk) post or telephone, (01424 424744)please state whether you will be collecting from The History House, 21 Courthouse Street, and if not, factor in postage of £3.50.

New Book on sale at Hastings History House - £.799

White Rock - History

For some reason there has been a recent proliferation in queries about "Wherefore is White Rock?"

OHPS has compiled a short document, with illustrations, for those interested. (20p) but here is some brief information.

Alexandra Park - Memories

Do you have photos, postcards, memories of Alexandra Park?  They are needed for an upcoming exhibition.. Please bring into the History House, 21 Courthouse Street, open Thursday - Sunday, 11- 4, or email ohps@ophs.org.uk