Alexandra
Park
Spanning more than 100 acres, the park began
life as a humble plant nursery during the 1850’s.
By 1859 it fell under the control of Hastings
Corporation, who made it their aim to turn the area into a
public space and originally opened the park as St Andrew’s
Pleasure Grounds.
Over the next 20 years facilities including a refreshment
tent were added and in 1867 the Gas Board Band was given permission
to play in the gardens and the bandstand erected.
In 1877 renowned landscape gardener Robert Marnock began one
of his last works, introducing plants and shrubs to the park
on a budget of £250. Marnock had designed the layout
for Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells, and Sheffield Botanical
Gardens as well as Warwick Castle Rose Garden and Peacock
Garden.
The Prince and Princess of Wales (Princess
Alexandra) officially opened the park on June 26 1882 and
the Park was renamed in honour of the Princess.
The house at the park gates was called Saxonhurst
and was built by Joseph Catt in 1870. Two statues of Norman
knights at one time stood in the garden of the house.
A massive £3.4 million was invested
during the late 90’s/early 00’s to regenerate
Alexandra Park using Robert Marnock’s original plans
from the 1870’s. The park was officially re-opened in
April 2004 by the Mayor of Hastings and TV gardener Charlie
Dimmock.
Bedford Public House
The Bedford pub once stood on the corner of Queens Road and was destroyed by a direct hit by an HE (highly explosive) bomb on the 5th of October 1940.
Breeds
Place
A Georgian terrace built by James Landsell
in 1829 stood where the Job Centre now resides in Breeds Place,
at the bottom of which was Mastin’s, a well-known local
store. The terrace was demolished to make way for the current
building in the 1960’s. The South African war memorial
on the promenade was unveiled in 1903, made of red Peterhead
granite with flags of gunmetal.
Claremont
Claremont forms part of the Trinity Triangle
that encloses Holy Trinity Church. The Brassey Institute in
Claremont is an example of decorative Venetian Gothic architecture
designed by a Mr Vernon for Thomas Brassey and built in 1878.
Lord Brassey gave the building for use as a public library
.
Carlisle
Parade
Originally a very wide part of Hastings promenade.
The underground car park at Carlisle Parade was built in the
1930’s. The imaginative design has ventilation towers
with fans to remove the fumes that are disguised as two matching
public shelters on ground level. The original sea defence
wall is now inside the car park.
Carlisle
Saloon
The Carlisle Saloon was originally called
the Pelham Hotel and built in 1892.
Castle
Hotel
The Castle Hotel stood on the left at the entrance to Wellington Square from
the seafront and was built in 1817. The elegant hotel was demolished 1966 to make way for a supermarket.
Denmark
Place
Denmark Place has always been a popular part of the seafront, near the Queens
Hotel. This was particularly true in the early 1900’s with large pleasure yachts landing on the beach here and offering trips for tourists.
Two of the largest beach launched pleasure yachts were built in Hastings . The New Albertine operated from the beach at Denmark Place and the other worked at Eastbourne. Much like the fishing boats in the Old Town, the pleasure boats were wound up the beach by horse winches called capstans.
Gaiety
Theatre
Built in 1882 in Queens Road; the Gaiety became
a cinema in 1932 and remains as such to this day.
Grand
Hotel / Varulam Hotel
Originally built as the Grand Hotel opposite
Hastings Pier but soon renamed the Varulam Hotel. It was poorly
built and fell into disrepair. Varulam Place was demolished
to make way for Waverly Court in 1989.
Guiness Clock
Guiness made several promotional clocks following the success of the original at the Festival of Britain in 1951/2. The Hastings Guiness Clock was situated on the seafront, opposite the entrance to Robertson Street. The clock soon became fascinating for young and old, featuring music and many moving parts. A rotating sun, bell ringing man, fisherman catching fish from a pond, puppets and monkeys. As a finale the doors would open beneath the clock face to reveal the Guiness Tree and a parade by the famous Guiness Toucans.
Hastings
Castle
After the battle of Hastings in 1066, William ordered the construction of a wooden fortress, the forerunner of the more lasting stone building. The ruins of which dominate the town today.
The castle's original construction was probably
from wood, although the ruins that can be seen today are mostly
medieval.
During
the reign of Henry II, Thomas Becket was Dean of the chapel
inside the castle. Both this original chapel and the later
Collegiate Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary are now just
a ruin.
Numerous
English kings stayed frequently at the castle on their visits
to Hastings. Notably William Rufus held court here in front
of his army while waiting for the chance to slip accross the
channel to normandy. 1201 saw King John declare the English
to be "Masters of the Sea" whilst he was at the
castle.
The Pelham family owned Hastings Castle from the 17th Century until Hastings Corporation bought it in 1949.
Hastings
Pier
Hastings pier marks the seafront boundry between Hastings and St Leonards.
Construction began in December 1869 and was officially opened on August 5th 1872 by Earl
Granville (Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports), this was Britains first ever Bank Holiday.
Design was by Eugenius Birch and cost £22,250. Originally modelled on Brighton West Pier but with the addition of an eastern pavilion that seated 2,000 poeple. The pier was 910ft (275m) long and varied in width from 45ft (13.6m) to 190ft (57.5m).
The Eastern style pavilion was enlarged and re-roofed in February 1899. Desaster struck in July 1917 and the pavilion was destroyed by fire. A replacment structure came in 1922 with the less elaborate ballroom style structure we see at the end of the pier today.
The Art Deco facade and minarets
at the shoreward end were added during the 1940’s. Dobell Bros, a
local watchmaker and jewellers in Robertson Street, commissioned
the clock that still resides in the Art Deco style entrance.
The 1940's to 70's are often percieved as the high point of the piers history with dancing every night, daytime concerts, stunt driving and speedboat trips to the harbour and back.
A Paddle steamer used to depart from the end of the pier with
trips to Eastbourne, Rye Bay and even Boulogne.
During the Second World War the pier was sectioned to prevent German invasion. Despite some bomb damage the pier was re-opened in 1946.
In 1966 the Triadome was erected on the first part of the
pier to house the Hastings Embroidery, which consisted of
27 panels of embroidery depicting the history of Hastings
between 1066 and 1966. The Triadome was later used as an aquarium and
then for an amusement arcade but was eventually removed.
Queen
Elizabeth opened the Triadome in 1966 to commemorate the 900th
anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and Princess Alice,
Countess of Athlone, opened the Hastings Embroidery on 25th
May of the same year.
In the 1960's and 70's Hastings Pier became a magnet for top rock and pop bands of the time.
During the 80's and 90's popularity reduced and the pier ownership changed hands several times, struggling to be financially viable. An application for Millennium funding was refused in 1996 to worsten the situation.
The owners in 1996 went out of business and the pier was subsequently closed to the public. This remained the case until new owners re-opened in May 2001 with a re-vamp of the main walk-through to boot.
In June 2006 the pier was declared unsafe by Hastings Council due to damaged supports and a fear that too many people on the deck could prove dangerous. The further half of the pier remains closed awaiting a decision on it's future today.
Havelock
Road
This road was built soon after Hastings Station
was opened in 1852 as a main access road. The hill was actually
man made from the spoils created when digging the railway
tunnel. Havelock Road was named after a General Havelock,
a hero of the Indian Mutiny.
Hippodrome
What is now the Deluxe Leisure Centre incorporating
amusement arcades, a snooker club and bingo hall started life
in 1900 as a music hall called the Hippodrome. It was believed
to be the first theatre in the country with a cantilever balcony
so as not to need pillars that would block the audience's
view. The Hippodrome later became the Deluxe cinema, and the
balcony survived until the 1960's when the cinema was converted
into today’s leisure complex.
Model
Village
The model village opened on 19th February
1955 and was designed by Mr S Deboo. It featured models of
classic Sussex houses including oast-houses and timber-framed
houses. The village was forced to close in 1972 after vandalism
caused £5,000 worth of damage.
Palace
Hotel
The Palace Hotel replaced the White Rock Brewery
in 1885 and was opened on 7th August 1886. It is now known
as Palace Chambers.
Pelham Crescent
Some of the seafront and a large section of the castle cliff were cut away to build this regency style terrace in 1828 with the Church of St Mary-in-the-Castle standing in the middle. The shops that stand in front of it were originally designed as an arcade with unique wine cellars beneath. They were named the Bodega. |
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Pelham Hall Cinema
Pelham Hall was once advertised as "the towns prettiest and most comfortable bijou picture house" and went through many transformations, including Pelham Hall Electric Theatre and Pelham Palacette.
Plaza Cinema
What is now Yates' Wine Lodge was a Cinema called the Plaza. The cinema was hit by a bomb on the 30th September 1940 causing significant damage to the building and 14 deaths. This is remembered as one of the most tragic incidents of 1940.
Post
Office
The original post office was in Queens Road
and moved to Cambridge Road in 1930 where it now adjoins Hastings
Railway Station and sorting office. The original Queens Road
site was taken over by Ward’s outfitters and opened
in 1933.
Prince
Albert Memorial Clocktower
Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert,
died on 14 December 1861 and a meeting of subscribers decided
to build a memorial to him in the form of a Gothic clock tower
on 10th March 1862. Prince Albert’s statue arrived from
Liverpool on 3rd July 1963. The memorial was completed when
the clock arrived on 10th June 1864 from Messrs Thwaites &
Reed of Clerkenwell. The clock tower was demolished in the
1970’s due to continued vandalism but the area where
it stood is still known to local people as “The Memorial”
Priory
Meadow Cricket Ground
Priory Meadow was first suggested as a cricket
ground in 1863, it was levelled and drained in April 1864.
The ditch was filled up and the stream diverted at a cost
of £500. The tenants of Priory Farm received notice
to quit so that the land could be sold for building in 1865.
The cricket ground was often used for other sporting events
such as tennis and the start of the marathon. Over the years,
many famous cricketers played here, Don Bradman, Dennis Compton
and Jack Hobbs to name but a few. The last county cricket
match was played in 1989 prior to development into the Shopping
Centre which stands on the grounds today.
Public
Hall Cinema
What
was once the Public Hall Cinema is now The Crypt nightclub
Queens
Hotel
The prominent Queens Hotel on Hastings seafront was built in 1862 on the site of the America Ground. Originally the building had two cupolas on the roof of the Eastern side, but these no longer grace the building. The
hotel originally had a large forecourt to the front but this was much reduced to make way for seafront widening.
The Queens Hotel was badly damaged during the 1987 hurricane
and was subsequently closed. Remaining derelict for many years and passing through several owners, the future of the building was doubtful. Now restored, the building has been developed into luxury flats.
Queens
Road
Originally named Meadow Road after the Priory
Meadow Cricket Ground that stood alongside. Renamed Queens
Road in 1876.
Ritz
Cinema
Now
ESK Warehouse, the Ritz was originally owned by Union Cinemas. Unfortunately
before building was completed Union went bankrupt and ownership
was transferred to Associated British Cinemas or ABC as they
are better known. The Wurlitzer organ was a special feature
of the Ritz and played every Saturday morning at the ABC Minors
Club, which ran for 25 years.
Robertson Street
Originally built as a residential terrace,
Robertson Street was gradually converted into a row of shops
during its first 30 years. P.F. Robertson, MP for Hastings,
built the street. What is now the United Reformed Church was
enlarged in 1885 and originally called Robertson Street Congregational
Church.
Robertson
Terrace
Robertson Terrace is the row of houses that
now includes Debenhams overlooking Carlisle Parade to the
sea. It has a Lion and a Unicorn statue at either end, said
to have been acquired by P.F. Robertson from Buckingham Palace.
St
Andrews Arch
The original bridge at the top of Queens Road
carries the railway line to Ore and beyond eastward. It became
dangerous over the years due to sinking and was finally demolished
in 1896. An iron girder bridge was built in its place, and
that remains today.
St
Andrews Church
The Bishop of Chichester opened St Andrews
Church in Queens Road 30th November 1870. Robert Tressell,
author of the “Ragged Trousered Philanthropists”,
painted a huge mural inside the church in 1904.
Demolition
of the church began in August 1970. It had become dangerous
and a group of people trying to save the Robert Tressell mural
were threatened with eviction for being uninsured. Only one
panel of the mural was saved and it is now on show at the
Hastings Museum along with other mementoes of Robert Tressell.
Demolition of St Andrews Church was completed in September
1970.
St
Clements Curch
Originally the parish church stood nearer
the sea but was destroyed by rough tides in 1236. It's replacement
was also destroyed during a French raid in 1378. The current
St Clements church dates back to 1380.
St
Mary in the Castle
The centre point of Pelham Crescent, St Mary in the Castle was built between 1824 and 1828 to a design by Joseph Kay. Last used as a church in 1970, the building became derelict soon after until the Friends of St Mary in the Castle saved the building from the threat of demolition. It was lovingly restored and re-opened as an arts centre.
The interior of St Mary in the Castle has a large auditorium with seating for 500 people and a huge domed roof. Other features of the church included a natural spring which rises up inside, an emersion font and catacombs.
Town
Centre
Most of the current town centre was built
in the 19th Century. Carlisle Parade was built in 1850 and
embellished with a lion and unicorn from Buckingham Palace.
White
Rock
Named White Rock Place on 7th October 1881,
this area was previously named Stratford Place and Precursor
Place before that. The area had a brewery that was built in
1831 and demolished when the Palace Hotel was built in 1885.
The White Rock Hotel was named the Yelton Hotel until 2005,
the family name of its original owner, Mr F.J. Notley, spelt
backwards. An infirmary once stood where the Spanish Colonial
style White Rock Theatre is today. The same architect who
designed the theatre designed the offices of Judges Postcards
on Bexhill Road, and the style is instantly recognisable.
Marriot's photographic shop opened in 1910 and still remains
as such today.
White
Rock Baths
Originally opened in 1874 when the promenade
was only 10 feet wide, the roof of the underground public
baths formed part of the parade extension. There were two
baths, and the bath furthest from the pier was originally
intended as an aquarium but due to lack of funds it was opened
as a small bath for ladies. It possessed steps down into the
bath rather than the usual side steps and was popular amongst
younger swimmers. The Hastings water polo team played their
matches in the larger pool. Both pools were of salt water. White Rock Baths was transformed into The Baths Cinema during
1912 and opened in 1913 with seating for over 1,600 people.
Wellington
Square
Wellington Square was the first part of the modern town centre to be built. The gardens in the centre were originally restricted to residents use only. In the 1930s the square became used as a terminus for country buses. Railings from around the garden in the centre of
Wellington Square were taken for scrap metal in the Second
World War.
West
Hill Cafe
The West Hill Cafe was constructed in 1955
and subsequently has become very popular due to its amazing
sea views.
West
Hill Lift
The West Hill Lift was the first of two funicular railways to be built in Hastings and was opened in 1891. This lift takes passengers up the West Hill Cliffs to the castle.
West
Hill Mill
A steam mill was situated at the beginning
of Priory Road on the West Hill. Built in 1849 by Mr Ward
of Ore, it became the last remaining mill in the area before
it was demolished in 1874. |
