Dickens tours at Highgate Cemetery anyone?

Although Dickens himself is (of course) interred in Westminster Abbey, Highgate holds a number of Dickens relatives including his parents, two of his siblings, his wife and his baby daughter - as well as other people
prominent in his life. The tour is once a week, at 16.30 on Saturdays, costs £10 for adults and £8 for students, and lasts for about an hour and a quarter - slightly longer than the regular cemetery tours. You get to see parts of the cemetery that regular tours don't usually visit - as well as elements, such as the catacombs, well worth a visit in their own right.  At the moment the tour is running on a trial basis dependent on interest.

This would be combined with a trip first to "Abney Park in Stoke Newington, London, formerly one of the ‘magnificent seven’ garden cemeteries of London, is now a woodland memorial park and Local Nature Reserve managed by the Abney Park Trust. We offer free public access, and educational facilities - including a small stone carving workshop, training centre/ classroom, and visitors centre."

Please contact Anne Scott to register your interest."

Hastings Borough Cemetery Trails

OHPS have a Heritage Lottery Grant to produce a trail leaflet or leaflets, information boards, section markers, a seat, web site visits and training and expenses, and an exhibition at Hastings Museum in 2013.

There will be an initial meeting at Friday 27th 6pm at Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street.

To be discussed are dates for a trip to a cemetery in London (more details after the meeting!)

Ways of working towards fulfillment of the project.

George Ford, the current Cemetery Manager, will give an "Introduction" before he retires on 10th May. He will do this at the cemetery on 1st May at 2.30 Please can you let Anne Scott know if you will be coming to this session

Owen Johnson - Alexandra Park and its Trees

Saturday 21 April - 5.30PM

Tickets available at Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street

An Evening of Sea Shanties - 21st April 2012

With the Hastings Sea Shanty Singers

6.30 for a 7PM start

Tickets £7.50 - including a drink and a fish supper

Tickets available from Hastings Fishermen's Museum

St Mary In the Castle - PETITION

A petition to support Barbara Rogers' bid to retain the tenancy is available to sign at St Mary's Cafe, and also at the History House, 21 Courthouse Street.

There doesn't appear to be an online petition.

Closing date is 2PM on Thursday April 19th, when a SMIC-F representative will be available at the cafe.

Hastings Development Management Plan - 12th April, 4PM

Forward Planning Officers will talk and answer your questions on this consultation.

Hastings History House
21 Courthouse Street

Why Muriel Matters

Free Event - Wednesday 11TH April, 2012 - 4 P.M. Muriel Matters Born in South Australia Votes for Women Chained to H of C Grille Balloon Flight Stood as MP for Hastings Lived in Pelham Crescent Hear more about why Muriel matters, about the balloon flight and, if you can, contribute memories. Tea & Talk  By Frances Bedford M.P. (South Australia) Aussie MP reveals remarkable life of Hastings' forgotten suffragette hero Published on: 06 August 2009 An Australian MP has lifted the lid on the life of a remarkable  woman who moved to Hastings to help campaign for women's  right to vote. ... Donations Welcome History House, 21 Courthouse Street Hastings

60th Anniversary of the Founding of Old Hastings Preservation Society

This is our Diamond Jubilee year too.

Throughout the year we are having exhibitions to refelct this, and other local anniversaries, as well as recalling local events of 1952.

Can you contribute? Memories and photos are always welcome.

Exhibition - Alexandra Park - one of the many treasures of Hastings

Come and browse, contribute your memories and photographs.

Going to the Jerwood?  Swing by and visit the Hastings History House

The land stability issue has been inadequately addressed - again!

Homes plan for land behind Barley Lane rejected (as reported in Hastings & St Leonards Observer)
JUBILANT residents scored a victory this week after plans to build two new houses in a flood-prone area were thrown out. 

• Developers from Elevations Designs Ltd wanted to knock down 11 garages and put the homes in their place on land behind Barley Lane.
• Council planning officers recommended approval but councillors were unimpressed at Tuesday’s meeting and refused permission.
• Angry residents signed two petitions and the council received many objection letters.
• Cllr Matthew Beaver won applause from the audience as he slammed the proposals and urged fellow councillors to refuse permission.
• Cllr Beaver said there were concerns over reptiles, dormice and badgers on the site.
• Southern Water wrote to the council saying that the sewerage system in the area is not able to cope with additional surface water.
• Cllr Maureen Charlesworth voiced its fears and said: “........... This application should not have even come before us.”

St Mary's in the Castle - Petition

"I want St Mary in the Castle to be kept as an arts centre" petition"

Voices from the Hastings Stade

A new book , a collection of oral histories from the Hastings Fishing Industry published by the Fishermen's Museum, available from The Fishermen.s Museum, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings, Tel 01424 461446
 and from The History House, 21 Courthouse Street, Hastings, Tel: 01424 424744

White Rock - History

For some reason there has been a recent proliferation in queries about "Wherefore is White Rock?"

OHPS has compiled a short document, with illustrations, for those interested. (20p) but here is some brief information.

Alexandra Park - Memories

Do you have photos, postcards, memories of Alexandra Park?  They are needed for an upcoming exhibition.. Please bring into the History House, 21 Courthouse Street, open Thursday - Sunday, 11- 4, or email ohps@ophs.org.uk