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.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/work-to-start-on-installation-of-hastings-statue-1-7416965#ixzz4AuIcC7Yf

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.

Read more: http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/news/local/more-support-needed-to-keep-local-treasure-afloat-1-7397804#ixzz49fyYGw9W

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.

Three Castle’s and an Ironmaster’s House – New Book

by David Clarke

£9.99 (postage extra) – available from Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street

Hastings in top five English ‘heritage assets’–Bring back the Hastings Embroidery and we may rank higher!

The report found Hastings to be in the top one per cent for industrial heritage and parks and open spaces, as well as the top five per cent for landscape and natural heritage and for ‘cultures and memories’.

“The heritage of the town is marked and celebrated through some of the largest number of Heritage Open Days and blue plaques in the country,” the RSA report says.

Hastings ranks in the top nine per cent for museums, archives and artefacts and for ‘historic built environment’, the town is in the top 12 per cent.

Hastings has been named in the top five English ‘heritage assets’ – above Oxford and other historic locations.

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) released a report into the country’s heritage on Wednesday (September 23).

The RSA define heritage as, “anything inherited from the past that helps us, collectively or individually, to understand the present, and create a better future.”

www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/seven-themes-from-the-heritage-index.

New Books at the History House

   £9.50                                    £9.99                                 £6.50

If you want to order by email (ohps@ohps.org.uk) post or telephone, (01424 424744)please state whether you will be collecting from The History House, 21 Courthouse Street, and if not, factor in postage of £3.50.

St Mary's in the Castle

Despite statements to the contrary, it appears that HBC is not going to honour the commitment to ensuring that St Mary's remains an Arts & Culture Centre.

How can this be so?

 “There’s nowhere with better acoustics in the south east of England. I’ve played in the Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room and they’re not as good.”
Trevor Watts, saxophonist and composer, 2.4.1992

“St Mary-in-the-Castle is a building of national importance, and a unique

historic structure. It is important to the future of Hastings as a visitor focal

point, a resource for the local economy and major tourism project. A range

of uses are possible, but the most appropriate and viable are a combination

of an arena for events and exhibitions to develop ‘cultural tourism’, an

amphitheatre for conferences and meetings, and a memorable visitor

experience… It is rare for major projects of this kind to be viable with just a

single use.”

‘Making St Mary-in-the-Castle Church a Resource for Hastings’ URBED

report, September 1991

“St Mary might be the linchpin’ for raising the profile of Hastings – putting it

on the international map as a centre for cultural, trade and events of all kinds

– enriching the life of the whole town, and (attracting) an increasing number

of visitors and participants from far and near.”

Nicholas Allott, Trustee, Mackintosh Foundation, 18.12.1991

“I have for many years, since I came to Hastings, been concerned about St Mary-in-the Castle, built by Joseph Kaye who lived in my house…It is a fine building – neo, neo classical – and should be used for cultural purposes…For many reasons it should be treasured and not made a mockery of. It could be the focus of Hastings

.John Bratby RA, Chief Editor of Art Quarterly, 13.11.1991

“I am staggered by the beauty of Pelham Crescent…You say you need my signature – if that is all you need you have got it, but I would do anything else I could to save it. Please let me know.”

Sir Roger de Grey, President, Royal Academy of Arts, 28.11.1991

“I support your campaign – it would cater for the cultural needs of the residents and encourage active participation as opposed to passive reception.”

Adrian Heath, Painter, 5.12.1991

“I certainly support the idea of turning the church into an arts centre. If, as I understand, Pelham Crescent is to be restored, such a project would be most timely and would probably be the only rival to the achievements of St George’s in Bristol, an arts centre of enviable qualities in an ideal setting.”

http://www.nickwates.co.uk/reports/r&ppdfs/St%20Mary%20Prospectus.pdf
(For those wondering about the Labels, Keywords, Tags, could them what you will) it is because everyone should be concerned that they may lose the chance to visit this World Treasure.)Peter Katin, pianist, 3.1.1992

“We sincerely hope you manage to persuade Hastings Borough Council to re-think the plans for this splendid church.”

1066 & all that - Hastings Castle at risk. See it now!

CIMG5098, a photo by marijsak on Flickr.