No more news, currently. Will be updated when there is more information.
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.
Sunday, 12 June 2016
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
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.
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
Latest Stories from The Cemetery
- Balcombe, Charles Edward local; died WW1, 1917
- Davis, W E; died (Cooden Camp) WW1 1916
- Gale, Frank -
local; died WW1 1917 - Helsdown, James Arthur -
fishermen, drowned off Fairlight (PioneerRX255) - Muggridge, Harry Daniel -
Skipper on the Pioneer RX255, drowned off Fairlight - Russell, George Edward -
died WW1 1918. (Served under alias, Longley) - Samways, Alexander, local; died WW1 1916
- Williams, James Frederick -
fishermen, drowned off Fairlight (PioneerRX255)
- Bennett, Samuel James -
well known in local Nonconformist circles
- Considine, Jane -
died in Hastings / O'Clery, Countess Katharine - married and lived in Hastings
- Ransom, William -
founder and first editor of the Hastings and St Leonards News; lifelong friend of Barbara Bodichon.
Saturday, 21 May 2016
Friday, 20 May 2016
Friends of Hastings Cemetery - Update
- The Cemetery Project has been completed
- The work so far forms a database of names in the older part of the cemetery, sections A -
G. This is available as a CD - We have produced two books available from Hastings History House related to some of the stories we have researched
- The next Cemetery Walk will be on 5th June, 2016. Meet at the Car Park
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Friends of Hastings Cemetery
- Adams, Charles - local fisherman who died of pneumonia while on leave from H.M.S."Island Prince" WW1
- Adams, James & parents Edward & Alice -fishing family; James served in the RAF, WW1
- Jenkins, Peter & Family - local builder
- Thorburn, Charles - hastings resident, died WW1
- Whistler, Anna
- Willis Family
- Lansdell Family: landowners, solicitor, surveyor
- Turner, Thomas - landlord of the Havelock Hotel
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Opening Wednesday 27th April 2016. Hastings Pier Charity is proud to present a new, unique pier for the 21st Century.
VINTAGE FUNFAIR
Presented by: Funtime Rides
Wednesday April 27th - Thursday July 28th
from 10:00am
Come and experience all the fun of the fair on Hastings Pier! Funtime Rides' Vintage Funfair will offer lots of fun and games for adults and children alike. The centrepiece to this event is the beautiful Traditional Carousel.
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Sea Shanty Evening with the RX Shantymen
Date/Time
Date(s) - 21/05/2016
6 PM
Location
Hastings Fishermen's Museum
- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf
The Hastings Fishermen's Museum celebrates 60 years as a museum on 17th May and we would love for you to come and help us celebrate with an evening of shanties, beer and fish rolls!
Food will be available from 6pm and the singing will start at 7pm. Tickets are available from the museum for £8 which includes entry, one
drink (local beer, wine or squash) and a Tush & Pat Fisherman's Roll.
- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf
Sea Shanty Evening with the RX Shantymen
Date/Time
Date(s) - 21/05/2016
6 PM
Location
Hastings Fishermen's Museum
- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf
The Hastings Fishermen's Museum celebrates 60 years as a museum on 17th May and we would love for you to come and help us celebrate with an evening of shanties, beer and fish rolls!
Food will be available from 6pm and the singing will start at 7pm. Tickets are available from the museum for £8 which includes entry, one
drink (local beer, wine or squash) and a Tush & Pat Fisherman's Roll.
- See more at: http://www.ohps.org.uk/events/sea-shanty-evening-with-the-rx-shantymen/#sthash.HnFc1Nbl.dpuf
Thursday, 21 April 2016
Public memorial for Robert Tressell
A St Leonards-based master stone carver and a seafront retailer have brought together their passion for Robert Tressell to launch a project to create a permanent to the author in the town.
The Tribute to Tressell project was conceived after an event in 2014 to mark the centenary of the first version of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists being published.
…………………………………………….
With the block of deep bed Portland stone that will become the bust now delivered and marked up, the project is launching its crowdfunding campaign to complete the commission and then look to tour the piece to other places with a connection with Tressell, such as Liverpool and Dublin, where he was born in 1870,– before finding a permanent public home for it in St Leonards
More information about the project, links to their videos and to the funding campaign can be found at www.tribute2tressell.org.uk from where you can also follow it on Facebook and Twitter.
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
IMPORTANT - Rocklands Caravan Park
The Planning Inspector will be holding a public hearing relating to the unauthorised building at Rocklands Caravan Park this coming Thursday 21st April at 10am in the Sussex Hall, White Rock Theatre.
All are welcome to attend and the more who do so the more the Inspector will be able to see the level of public concern about this case.
The hearing may continue on Friday 22nd if the Inspector deems it necessary. Members of the public, including representatives of the Friends, may be asked to speak at the Inspector’s discretion.
Norman long boat on the beach
Plans to erect a six metre-tall sculpture of a to mark the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings have been submitted to the council
Leigh Dyer is building the sculpture for the Root 1066 Festival later this year and planning permission is now being sought from Hastings Borough Council.
Mr Dyer hopes to place the boat on the shingle opposite Denmark Place.
All the comments are supportive of the ‘beautiful thing with great resonance’, as Val Hunnisett described it.
The project is being done in collaboration with British Artist Blacksmith Association but Leigh is also relying on crowdfunding to make it happen.
To donate and find out more, visit: www.youcaring.com/residents-of-and-visitors-to-hastings-england-54493.