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.

Monday, 15 August 2016

St Mary in the Castle - EXHIBIT OPENING 1066: A Medieval Mosaic 13th August - 28th October 10am - 5pm

Please note the Cafe is currently open for coffee and drinks

1066: A Medieval Mosaic opens this Saturday in our Crypt Gallery.
Comprised of 3,000,000 pieces of spring steel the Medieval Mosaic holds the Guinness World Record as the largest steel mosaic. The artwork, measuring 64 metres in length and weighing 450 kg, is a complete re-creation of the Bayeux Tapestry and was created over 20 years by Michael Linton. In addition to the original scenes captured in the Bayeux Tapestry, father and daughter team Michael and Rachael Linton have combined their talents to create the untold stories of 1066. An 8 metre 'Finale' section, taking 5 years to research and complete, tells the story from the end of the Battle of Hastings to the crowning of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day 1066. The 22 metre insert, taking a further 8 years to complete, tells the story of the Battle of Fulford Gate and the Battle of Stamford Bridge which preceded the Battle of Hastings. This 33 year artistic odyssey has resulted in a truly unique masterpiece.

The exhibition will hang in our gallery until October 28th.
Entry is by donation.

Tuesday, 12 July 2016

Priory Meadow Cricketer Returns

The Spirit of Cricket statue has been returned to Priory Meadow, eight months after it was damaged by contractors.

The statue was first revealed in Queens Square when the shopping centre opened in 1997 and was put in place to mark the former Central Cricket Ground that the centre was built on.

Monday, 11 July 2016

Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update

Some of the recent stories have been looking at those who have no memorials, whose memorials have been lost, or whose ashes were scattered in The Garden of Remembrance.

Some of these stories have been explored because of an enquiry, sometimes from overseas.

New Stories:

Bonar, Mary J / Chesney, Isabel / Menzies "Lady"Mary Anne nee Bonar - buried together (2 murder victims)
Matters Porter, Muriel - born in South Australia, a suffragist who was the first woman to "speak" in the British Parliament
Zamoyska, Maria - died aged one, prominent Polish family, memorial disappeared
James, Laura Elizabeth - a much decorated New Zealand nurse, whose ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance.

Saturday, 9 July 2016

Bayeux Tapestry as you've never seen it - and related talk (£)

ANNOUNCEMENT
The Battle of Hastings
as the Bayeux Tapestry tells it
SEPTEMBER 29TH 2016
DOORS: 1PM

Tickets here

Celebrate the 950th anniversary of the event that transformed England’s culture and heritage, as told by those that were there at the time. Everyone thinks they know the story of how our Harold (the Good Guy!) was so unfairly felled by an arrow in the eye by the Wicked William! But is that really what happened? And did the battle really take place at Battle?

The Art Fund welcomes Professor Gale Owen-Crocker (“In the field of Anglo-Saxon studies she stands as one of the greats.”) to St Mary in the Castle. She will provide us with an illustrated guide to this most extraordinary record of the founding of our nation. She will show evidence of what life was like in the 11th century and go on to highlight the ambiguities left by the designer in order to please both their new Norman rulers whilst, at the same time, managing to show a residual loyalty to their former Anglo-Saxon ones; and she will describe how they managed to make such a magnificent embroidery.

Tickets holders will also have a chance to view a full size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry (more than 70 yards!) on display in the crypt of the old church. This has been crafted in steel mosaics by New Zealander, Michael Linton, and shipped over from NZ to be displayed here during this 950th anniversary year, entry to see the exhibition is free with your ticket.

Tickets (£15) available here

Friday, 8 July 2016

Second Hand Book Sale - Friday 8th - Sunday 10th July 2016

Who knows what you may find?

Saturday, 2 July 2016

Rocklands controversial holiday home will be allowed to stay, a planning inspector has ruled.

Campaigners from Save Ecclesbourne Glen (SEG) were hoping the building within Rocklands Private Caravan Park, dubbed the ‘bunker’ by objectors, would be torn down.

Chris Hurrell, spokesman for SEG, said: “Despite the massive unpopularity of the bunker with the public, the inspector has allowed the building to remain subject to a few cosmetic changes.

“The height of the roof will be reduced by 400mm and the balconies will be reduced in depth by 1,000mm. The rest of the building will be allowed to remain as is. “This is a very disappointing result.”

SEG said the building has destroyed the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Rocklands appealed against Hastings Borough Council’s enforcement notice to destroy the building overlooking Ecclesbourne Glen more than a year ago.

In March last year it submitted a planning application asking for the retention of the holiday let, which was refused.

In June 2014 the council unanimously threw out Rocklands’ retrospective planning application to make alterations to the controversial building. The original building itself was granted planning permission in 2012.

“Ecclesbourne Glen issues are not just about the bunker. Our objective was to protect the beautiful vistas across the country park and many issues remain unresolved.

“We are still very concerned about the landslip that has shut access from the East Hill and is a visual scar on the glen. We are pressing the council to carry out further investigations.”

http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/mobile/news/local/campaigners-anger-over-decision-on-hastings-holiday-let-1-7443089#ixzz4D9U98rM0

Friday, 1 July 2016

She's Come Home!

Sunday, 12 June 2016

Hastings Borough Council effectively lost their case against Rocklands’ appeal - the inspector’s decision was published this week.

No more news, currently. Will be updated when there is more information.

Wednesday, 8 June 2016

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.

Tuesday, 7 June 2016

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

A mock-up of where the statue will be

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.

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

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.

Fish 4 SUS-160524-081640001

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.

Monday, 23 May 2016

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