Ore Place
| [[File:{{{image}}}|300x375px]] | |||
| General information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address |
| ||
| Location | |||
The seat of the Lady Dowager Elphinstone and Sir Howard Elphinstone who died in the house on the 28th of April, 1846[1]. Horsfield records that it was originally constructed by John of Gaunt (1340-1399), Duke of Lancaster and later converted to a religious house[2], then becoming the residence of Richard Sackwell and Crispe family[3] The building was re-constructed in the early 1800s by Thomas Spalding, featuring the coat of arms of John of Gaunt[4]. Many archaeological relics have been found in the grounds.[2]
Religious Retreat[edit]
With the building falling into disuse following the ownership of the eccentric Mr. Farmer Atkinson[5], it was converted and extended by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - joining Jesuits to set up a retreat & study centre there in 1906. Hastings had already had a significant French Jesuit presence - this lasting between 1883 until 1926, although Teilhard only was present until 1912. In total, there were 20,000 books weighing 60 tons moved into the buildings during its usage as a learning retreat and accommodation for up to 100 students[5][6]. The Jesuits maintained the building as a study centre until circa 1926[5].
Military usage[edit]
The building was requisitioned for army usage during WW2 as the Royal Army Service Corps records office.[7] Post-war, it was utilised by the military as a records office with staff from the Army Catering Corps and RASC with the ACC records and staff moving in on the 25th April 1947[8], this continuing until circa 1976.
Archaeological Finds[edit]
A Roman hoard of 92 Bronze and 52 silver coins were found at the junction of Centurion Road and Ore Place (Road) in 1989. An associated hand-made grog tempered-ware pot dating to the 1st to mid-2nd century was discovered at the same time.
Images[edit]
- Images
Ore Place c1900 01
Ore Place c1906
Ore Place c1906 1
Ore Place c1910
Ore Place c1910 1
Ore-Place.-1913.
Ore Place c1930
Ore Place c1950
Ore Place c1950 1
Ore Place c1998
References & Notes
- ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 3 Chap. 36 Pg. 289
- ↑ a b A Guide to Hastings & St Leonards (Thomas Ross 1835) Google Books
- ↑ Osborne's Visitor's Guide to Hastings and St Leonards c1854 3rd ed. Pg. 75 Google Books
- ↑ Hastings of Bygone days and the Present (Henry Cousins 1911 ed.) pg.206 ISBN: 9789332862449 ESCC Library Google Books " Amazon
- ↑ a b c British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 24 July 1926 Pg. 0009
- ↑ Grumett, David. “Teilhard at Ore Place, Hastings, 1908-1912.” New Blackfriars, vol. 90, no. 1030, 2009, pp. 687–700. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43251348. Accessed 16 Dec. 2020
- ↑ BBC Peoples War
- ↑ Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 26 April 1947
