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.

Friday, 3 November 2017

Hastings Storytelling Festival : 6th–12th November

http://hastingsstoryfest.org.uk/

Friday, 20 October 2017

Friends of Hastings Cemetery Update

New Stories

Hilder, William Roland - Engineer of the Cyril & Lillian Bishop, killed in the Swan Inn Bombing.
Jempson, Charles - Shipwright, innkeeper, Workouse resident, unmarked grave.
Lewns, Carleton James - Auctioneer, Bailiff etc. Member of the Fire Brigade; vocalist.

The Story of “RX Boy Billie 61” and those lost with her:

Joseph David Coussens
John Edward (Ned) Muggridge – Coxswain, Cyril & Lillian Bishop
Charles Page

Sunday, 8 October 2017

The brothers behind the Source Park have been shortlisted for a national award celebrating those who rescue historic buildings.

Before the Moore brothers took on the renovation project the building had been vacant and was falling in to a state of disrepair. As a result Hastings Borough Council had begun seeking quotes to fill it with concrete to protect the road above from collapse.

See more at https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/angel-awards/best-rescue-of-a-historic-building/source-park/ where you can also cast your vote; scroll down to bottom of article.

Saturday, 7 October 2017

Hastings Week–Free Talk

My Hastings

with

Cllr. Peter Chowney

Leader of Hastings Borough Council

Friday 13th October at 5.30

At Hastings History House

Tickets Free – but please book

Friday, 6 October 2017

Hastings Week Exhibition

Bayeux Tapestry

- and on screen presentation -

from Harold’s point of view

at The Battle of Hastings

on 14th October, 1066

This exhibition will be in place until 19th October, after which

Lost Heritage of Hastings – gone but not forgotten

will return

Friday, 29 September 2017

Hello Albert!

A long-neglected statue of Prince Albert (consort to Queen Victoria) has been installed outside Hastings Town Hall, due to the considerable efforts of a group of local heritage enthusiasts.

The life-size statue of Prince Albert, sculpted in Portland stone by Edwin Stirling (1819–67) at his Liverpool studio, was formerly part of the ‘Albert Memorial Clock Tower’, which was the centrepiece of Hastings Town Centre from when it was erected in 1864 until demolished in 1973.

The statue was saved for the Town by local resident Miss Edith Skelton, who purchased it from the demolition firm for £50. When the original intention to ship the statue out to Canada to a former Hastings resident was aborted, the statue was given a home a greenhouse operating as the ‘mini floral hall’ at Alexandra Park. This attraction closed in the 1990s, and the statue was left neglected in the unused greenhouse.

There had long been calls from the public to have the statue put back on display. In a report to the local Museums Association in 2010, Hastings Borough Council agreed that the statue should be remounted in the public domain, and that it was necessary for a community group to come forward to achieve this objective. A group of local heritage enthusiasts held a public consultation event in July 2014, and there was emphatic support for the proposal to bring the statue back to Hastings’ town centre. It was then agreed with the Council to put in planning applications for installing the statue alongside the Town Hall, behind the ramped access to the Community Contact Centre. There was a surprise when the local authority’s planning
committee refused permission in February 2015. However, the go-ahead for the project came when an appeal to the Government’s planning inspectorate was announced as successful in November 2015.

A new local heritage group, the Albert Statue Group, was formed early in 2016 to raise funds for the project. Hastings Lions Club came forward with a very generous donation for purchasing and installing the new Portland Stone pedestal on which the statue is now erected. There have also been donations from members of the public keen to see the local heritage asset back on display.

Roger Wilcock of A. C. Towner Ltd (monumental masons) advised on the project and did some of the preparatory work free of charge, as this is a community project without financial support of the Local Council. The new Hastings and St. Leonards (Civic) Society has contributed to the project, and
Hastings Local History Group provided £500, which had been bequeathed to the Group by the late Ron Fellows for use in a local heritage project.

Westoaks Builders Ltd. has done the installation work, with the assistance of a specialist lifting contractor (Coppards). Dean Edgeworth of Westoaks stated that he has been pleased to be associated with this community project, as he has lived all his life in the Borough and is well aware of the great affection long-standing residents have for the lost Albert Memorial.

An information board, giving a concise history of the statue, has also been installed. This has been funded by Kelly Stirling, who lives in California and is the great, great grand-daughter of the statue’s sculptor. Kelly has made a couple of visits to Hastings to view the statue, and will be coming over again to see the new installation alongside the Town Hall before too long.

The Albert Statue Group is endeavouring to raise funds for repair work to the Statue. For information on how to donate e-mail: albertstatue@outlook.com

Friday, 1 September 2017

HASTINGS & ST. LEONARDS SOCIETY HERITAGE OPEN DAYS, GUIDED WALKS

(Thursday 7th – Sunday 10th September)
Supported by East Sussex Health Walks (TCV)
Thursday 7 th September: The Stade to the Pier
Architectural walk led by Anne Scott from Old Hastings Preservation Society,
concluding with an introduction to the Pier with volunteer archivist Kevin Atkins.
Start time: 10.30 a.m. Meet at The Stade Open Space.

* * *

Friday 8 th September: The West Hill of Hastings
Join Steven Whitford, from the Hastings & St. Leonards Society, for a
stroll across the West Hill, and hear the history of this interesting location.
Note: Steep walk up to Ladies Parlour, otherwise mainly on level.
Start time: 11.00 a.m. Meet outside the top station of the West
Hill lift.

* * *

Saturday 9 th September: Linton Gardens
Steven Whitford tells the history of this secluded public green space with special
guest, Owen Johnson, identifying the trees.
Note: Steep slope on this walk.
Start time: 11.00 a.m. Meet at lower entrance to Linton Gardens
on Braybrooke Terrace.

* * *

Sunday 10 th September: Burtons’ St. Leonards
Looking at the main points of interest in the conservation areas of Burtons’ St.
Leonards, including St. Leonards Gardens, with Christine Francis (Burtons’ St.
Leonards Society).
Note: Moderate slope in St. Leonards Gardens
Start time: 11.00 a.m. Meet outside front entrance of Royal
Victoria Hotel
The walks last for between 1 and 1½ hours. Walks are free, but
donations to the Societies leading the walks welcome. Booking not
available. For further information e-mail: hstlsoc@gmail.com