Hastings & St Leonards Heritage

Old Hastings Preservation Society was founded in 1952 to promote the permanent preservation of buildings of beauty/historic interest, especially in Hastings & St. Leonards and foster an appreciation of the history of Hastings. We encourage and record research which supports our objectives. Good architecture, design and town planning is encouraged. In 1956 we founded the Hastings Fishermen’s Museum open daily in Rock-a-Nore Road and more recently Hastings History House.

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Talk on Hastings Weather

The re-scheduled talk by Hastings weather recorder, David Powell, about the local weather will take place on Friday 3rd October at 7pm at the History House, 21 Courthouse Street, Old Town, Hastings.

Cost: £2, free to Friends of HCPNR

Monday, 29 September 2014

Two new names added to the 1914 roll call–and help wanted

Does anyone have any more information on Stephen Bumstead, who died aged 16, while enlisted under the alias Barnes?

New -

Bumstead, Stephen J - local, serving with the 5th Royal Sussex, died aged 16. WW1- 1914
Foster, Charles, Edith Susan & Herbert Knollys Foster - local connections, Herbert was KIA, WW1 1914, just a month before his 20th birthday.
Yeates, Victor Maslin - author of 'Winged Victory', died in Fairlight Sanitorium.

Updated -

Arbuthnott, John Campbell, Jeannie and Hugh Hamilton- Hugh killed in action, buried in what is now Iraq, WW1- 1915
Bannister, Sodi, Maud & Fred - local family; Frederick killed in action, WW1 - 1917
Ventris, Francis, Helen Maud, Alan, Edward (E.F.V.), C. Peyton, Mona Goss, Madeline Bount, Patrick Clavell Blount - a Services family - Francis lived in St Leonards after his retirement from the Army. Alan was killed in Action, WW1, 1915, aged 18

A linked list of the people so far recorded who gave their lives as a result of World War One (the Great War) who are recorded in the common wield, not in the CWG areas, (apart from a few exceptions) can be found here

Monday, 1 September 2014

Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update

The next cemetery walk will be on

Sunday - 2 PM,

14th September

World War One Stories
WW1 Cemeteries & Memorials

Rensch, Arthur Charles - lived locally; killed in the Balkans Campaign 1917 WW1
Stroud, George Edward Bracey - local; serving with the Royal Navy on HMS Albemarle when he was accidentally drowned 1915. WW1
Allfrey, Charles Henry & Emily Malden - doctor, lived locally; while practising in Kent signed Charles Darwin's death certificate.
Bradnam, Edwin, Eliza Rosina and Gertrude - lived in Hastings from 1868; Mayor, Captaion, Voluntary Fire Brigade, many other civic activities. Accidental death.
Pritchard, Dr. William Clowes - born in Australia, lived in Hastings for many years, ward named after him at the Buchanan Hospital.

Saturday, 23 August 2014

"the grave's a fine and private place…" exploring Hastings Cemetery

The cemetery was opened on 28th November 1856, the Church of England section being consecrated by Bishop Gilbert of Chichester, followed by a service in All Saints Church. The first burial was that of ‘Yorky’ Smith.

More information:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Deaths in 1914:

Beaney, Charles Arthur and Albert Edward , both in the Navy, lost within six weeks of each other in 1914
Shaw, Cuthbert Frank - born locally; WW1, KIA, 1914 aged 21
Tompkins, Edgar James - Quartermaster Sergeant, regular soldier, served in South Africa and India. Wife’s grave - Edith Mary - KIA, WW1, 1914
The next cemetery walk will be on
Sunday, 14th September
2 PM

Friday, 22 August 2014

Stop Press! Book Sale this long weekend at the History House

Help us clear the shelves, come in and browse, and take away a bagful of esoteric and assorted books.

Friday – Monday
11 – 4
21 Courthouse Street

Friday, 8 August 2014

Prince Albert Statue

HLHG and History House volunteers are endeavouring to get the statue of Prince Albert back into the public domain.

The statue has been stored in an old greenhouse in Alexandra Park for many years.

It is proposed that it should be placed in the vicinity of the Town Hall and Priory Meadow.

The memorial of which the statue formed a part would have been 150 years old this year.

HBC want to know if the public support this proposal so if you do support it, please email blawes[at]talk21.com (replace at with @) and the Subject ‘Albert Statue, or drop a note into the History House for the attention of HLHG.

Thursday, 7 August 2014

This is what you used to see……….

And now you see…..

One of the loveliest coastal views, stolen!

Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Follow the Herring–on The Stade until 12th August–well worth a look!

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Next Cemetery Walks

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

For the past year and more FoHC members, especially Judith Dean, have been recording the stories of those people who gave their lives as a result of World War One (the Great War) who are recorded in the common wield, not in the CWG areas.

Some particularly interesting stories from the CWG areas have however been included.

A linked list of the people so far recorded can be found here.

Where people are buried or remembered in overseas cemeteries, there is a link to photos and basic information. (The idea originally was to see how many people from Hastings were buried in each cemetery, but this has not proved practicable.)

Each listed cemetery is linked to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery information.

If you know of others, or have more to add to a story please let FoHC know at info(at)friendsofhastingscemetery.org.uk [please substitute @ for at - this is to avoid spamming]

The next cemetery walks will be on

Sunday - 2 PM,