Happy New Year from Friends of Hastings Cemetery

We have updated our software, and this may result in some anomalies.  Please let us know of any you may notice at Webmaster

We hope to return to adding research to the site in the near future.  If you have family stories and photos of people buried on The Ridge, we would be very happy to add the information.

Alternatively, if you would like to volunteer to help with the research, taking photos or updating the website please contact Anne Scott

1916 WW1 Deaths from our records  are listed on the Home Page

The Battle of Hastings features on a new 50p coin this year.

The coin commemorates the 950th anniversary of the historic battle in 1066.

Images representing Shakespeare plays and Beatrix Potter tales are also among those featuring on coins in 2016 released by the Royal Mint.

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/battle-of-hastings-commemorated-on-50p-coin-1-7140837#ixzz3w0j6TxuE

Developers given the go-ahead to use the old Observer building as an arts space.

Flint Development Group submitted a retrospective planning application to Hastings Borough Council to use the sub basement, ground floor and first floor as a temporary venue for an art gallery and artist studio spaces, bar, cafe and entertainment and cinema area at the Cambridge Road building.
http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/temporary-use-of-observer-building-as-arts-venue-1-7137688

Annual Carol Service will be Friday 18th December at 7pm

Come and join us with All Saints School Choir and Fr. Featherstone. As usual you will be able to indulge in a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie.

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

Route 1066 - looking for people in Hastings with Norman Ancestry!

See the Blog at https://iamanorman.wordpress.com/

Following are the 18 names of those recorded to have accompanied William into battle at Senlac hill.
Robert De Beaumont                              Eustace, Count of Boulogne
William, Count of Evreaux                       Geoffrey of Mortagne
William FitzOsbern                                 Ameri,Viscount of Thouars
Walter Giffard                                          Hugh De Montfort
Ralph De Tosny                                       Hugh de Grandmesnil
William De Warenne                               William Malet
Odo Bishop of Bayeux                            Turstin FitzRolf
Engenulf De Laigle                                  Geoffrey de Mowbray
Robert, Count of Mortain                       Goubert D’Auffay

These are the understood modern derivations of those names:
Beaumont                                            Boleyn
Devereaux                                          Mort
 Osborne                                              Thairs
 Gifford                                                Montfort
Tosny/Barclay                                    Grandmesnil
 Warren                                               Mallet
 Bayeux                                               FitzRolf
 Daigle                                                Mowbray
 Morton                                              Duffey

We look forward to meeting the modern Normans!

Do you recognise any of these people?

Many years ago a father of a local resident used to take  photos of Old Town Folk.  The resident found these photos and thought that the family may like to have them.  They are being held in Hastings History House 21 Courthouse Street, if anyone would like to claim them.

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.

Action needed to save nationally important gothic revival chapel

Two societies have put their weight behind calls to save a deserted chapel in St Leonards.

The Victorian Society and the Pugin Society want Hastings Borough Council to take action to prevent further damage to St Michael’s chapel in the former convent of the Holy Child Jesus.

The 1868 former Convent of the Holy Child in St Leonards East Sussex is a major work by the Victorian architect Edward Welby Pugin, and also contains work by his two architect brothers Peter-Paul and Cuthbert. It is especially notable for the intactness of its fittings in what English Heritage described as “an intact High Victorian Gothic interior of outstanding quality”. Historic England is currently considering adding the chapel to their Heritage at Risk Register. 

http://www.victoriansociety.org.uk/news/action-needed-to-save-nationally-important-gothic-revival-chapel-in-sussex/

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/fresh-calls-to-save-st-leonards-chapel-1-7092598#ixzz3szfUzTsr

A £300k bid to ‘re-model’ and ‘revitalise’ the promenade at White Rock has been backed by councillors.

Members of Hastings Borough Council’s planning committee gave the proposals unanimous approval at their meeting yesterday (Wednesday, November 25).

Cllr Judy Rogers said: “This is really good to see. With the opening of the skatepark next year, it will liven up the seafront. I have been working very closely with the White Rock business group to bring a whole new lease of life to this area.

“Together with the opening of our wonderful pier in March next year, this will make the whole area lovely and part of the Hastings scene.”

The council first unveiled the proposals, which affect the promenade from Hastings Pier to the Robertson Street junction at White Rock, in June.

They include planting eight mature palm trees along White Rock and revamping the existing water feature.

There will also be a projecting viewing platform, as well as the promenade being re-paved.

At the junction of the promenade and pedestrian crossing from Robertson Street there will be a kiosk and terrace.

A pergola is also included in the proposals, which will be located west of the Grade-II listed Boer War memorial.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/hastings-promenade-plans-are-given-green-light-1-7086442#ixzz3sbooH5mi

Rocklands Private Caravan Park, in Rocklands Lane, will be stating its case at a hearing in January.

The owners of a caravan park are appealing against a council decision ordering them to tear down a controversial holiday home.

Historic England has also written to the council recommending Rocklands’ fresh retrospective application for solar panels be turned down.

It said an offence appeared to have been committed under the Ancient Monuments And Archeological Areas Act when some of the panels were installed. The site is next to and partly overlaps the Iron Age cliff castle on the East Hill.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/public-concern-remains-high-on-rocklands-1-7086630#ixzz3sbn7Bcsi

Robertson Street and White Rock

Council bosses’ plans to re-model and revitalise the promenade at White Rock will come under discussion on Wednesday (November 25).

The authority first unveiled the proposals in June, which include planting mature palm trees along White Rock and revamping the existing water feature with a water cascade and a stage for licensed buskers.

The council said the proposals are designed to make the promenade from the pier to the junction with Robertson Street and White Rock more attractive for visitors, as well as complementing the reopening of Hastings Pier next March and the revamp of the disused White Rock Baths into a BMX and skateboarding park.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/hastings-promenade-plans-on-agenda-1-7071836#ixzz3rr8xcnvw

Developers have submitted proposals for up to 208 dwellings, to be built on land to the south of Holmhurst St Mary, off The Ridge.

The site where the homes would be built is more than 13 hectares in size. Part of the land was formerly part of the Holmhurst St Mary estate.

The land has open fields with densely wooded areas, elements of a former formal garden, old outbuildings and classrooms, old tennis courts, a graveyard and a statue of Queen Anne which is Grade II* listed.

Objectors’ concerns include possible traffic generation and congestion, road safety, insufficient parking, impacts of the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road (BHLR) on The Ridge, impacts on heritage including the gardens and statue, impact on the environment and harm to ancient woodland.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/plans-for-200-new-homes-in-st-leonards-1-7072501#ixzz3rr6KPTao

Hastings Cemetery Update

Updated:

• Devey, George - Architect & unacknowledged Father of the Arts & Crafts Movement - evidence of his connection with William Morris

• Woodruffe, Charles Sheldon Pearce - Captain, Royal Navy, Hastings Coastguard