Powell's Hastings and St. Leonards Guide Eighth edition

This is the text of Powell's Hastings & St. Leonards Guide 8th Edition circa 1830.

[ 1 ]

HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF HASTINGS.

The town of HASTINGS, in Sussex, which is the chiefof the Cinque Ports, is most delightfully situated in a valley upon the sea-coast, sixty four miles from LONDON, near the eastern extremity of the county , and surrounded on all sides except the south , with high cliffs and hills ; which afford a shelter that renders it, particularly to invalids, one of the most healthy places in the kingdom . It formerly principally consisted of two parallel streets, High - street and All -saints -street, divided by a small stream called the Bourne, which runs into the sea ; but HASTINGS having of late years become one the most favorite places of resort, a number of new houses have been built in the most [ 2 ]eligible situations, for the accommodation of the visitors ; particularly the Marine Parade, Pelham Place and Crescent, Breeds Place, Wellington Square, Russell Street, Bedford Place, York Build ings, the Croft, Gloucester Place, Coburg Place, &c. &c. The town has been greatly improved, by paving and lighting the principal parts of it, and further improvements are contemplated , by supply ing each house with water, the erection of a Market House , &c. &c. The number of inhabitants has greatly increased and are now above 10,000 . Respecting its name and antiquity, it appears from SHARON TURNER'S History of the Anglo Saxons, that Offa, King of Mercia , an ambitious Prince, wishing to extend his dominions, invaded Kent and a great slaughter ensued at Otford, in which Offa triumphed, and Kent submitted to the power of Mercia. It is also stated that he attacked the Hestingi -- the situation of these people has been doubted by various authors ; but the most prevalent opinion is that they were from Hastings, one of the Cinque Ports ; and this presumption is sul4orted by Alford, who states in his annals that a charter in Dublet fixes them in Sussex, by which charter Offa confirms a grant of land in the [ 3 ]neighbourhood of Hastings to the Abbey of St. Dennis, and styles Bertwald, the proprietor of Hastings and PEVENSEY, his Fidelis. Offa reigned from the year 755 to 794, it fol lows therefore that historians have been mistaken in supposing that the town derived its name from Hastings, the celebrated Danish pirate, who in vaded England in the reign of Alfred, about the year 879, which was more than a century after the grants above mentioned . From the different records which have been pull lished relative to this town we learn that as early as the reign of Athelstan, Anno Dom . 924 , it will of sufficient importance to have a mint, from which circumstance an inference may be drawn, that it must have been in a flourishing condition : HAS TINGS too was bound, on receiving legal notice of forty days, to provide and equip twenty -one ships, to co -operate with those furnished by the Ports, to suppress the daring enterprizes of Danish pirates. During the early part of the reign of Henry the Third , the Cinque Ports fitted out forty ships, wi der the command of Hubert de Burgho, (Warden of those Ports, and Governor of Dover Castle ,) which putting to sea , came up with and engaged [ 4 ]eighty sail of French ships, which were coming to aid Louis, the French king's son , when after a furious engagement on both sides, several of the enemy's ships were captured , and the remainder sunk or dispersed.

It was this, and other important services ren dered by the ports' fleet, which no doubt procured them the many honors and privileges they did at that time, and still enjoy ; among others, the bar ons of the Cinque Ports have the honor of support ing the canopies over the King and Queen , at their coronation, which afterwards became the property of the Ports, and of dining with their Majesties on that occasion .

During the reign of Richard the Third , A. D. 1377, Hastings was burned by the French ; and when rebuilt, was separated into three parishes, St. Clement, All Saints, and St. Mary in the Castle.

RELIGIOUS EDIFICES.

The present Churches, St. Clement and All Saints, are both very ancient fabrics, though it is uncertain when they were built [ 5 ]

SAINT CLEMENT

( Commonly called the Lower Church ,) appears to have undergone but little alteration since it was first erected . It contains several curious inscriptions on brass and marble; and on the north side of the chancel, within a large gilt frame, an inscription is recorded by the corporation, dated 20 Jan. anno dom . 1721, acknowledging many great and generous benefactions received from the late Hon . Archibald Hutchenson, esq. one of their barons in parliament, in the reign of Queen Anne. On the south side of the chancel is a very handsome monument to the memory of the John Collier, esq. of this town ; and on the north side is another recently erected to the memory of Edward Milward, esq. The Altar- piece to this church which is very neat, was executed by that distinguished artist the late Mr Mortimer, who, from his peculier skill in delienating the human figure, was pre-eminently qualified to paint such subjects. On the ceiling is a representation of the heavenly regions, and underneath , at the corners , are the figures of Faith , Hope, and Charity. The [ 6 ]Font, although a curious piece of antiquity, has been so much disfigured by imprudent repairs and whitewash , that it is scarcely possible to trace the workmanship on it: it is said to bear representations of our Saviour's passion .

ALL SAINTS,

( Ususally styled the Upper Church ,) stands near the entrance of the town, and is supposed to be about 700 years old . It contains not any sepul charal memorials deserving of particular notice ; the pulpit cloth was part of the canopy held over Queen Anne at her coronation, and on the roof of the belfrey are still the twelve signs of the zodiac, in tolerable preservation .

ST . MARY'S.

The parish of Saint Mary's, which contains the principal houses for the accommodation of visitors, and a population of 1900 persons, was without any place of public worship, until the late Rt. Hon . the Earl of Chichester procured an Act of Parliament, and by his munificence, erected at his sole cost, an elegant edifice called [ 7 ]

ST. MARY'S CHAPEL ,

Situated in the centre of Pelham Crescent, capable of containing 1200 persons, including free sitting for one hundred and fifty.

DISSENTING CHAPELS .

Till within thelast thirty years there was neither chapel nor meeting- house, in Hastiugs, for dissen ters of any denomination. There are now five. The first was erected in 1805, in the Croft. It is called the

CROFT CHAPEL,

It will accommodate about 500 persons, including children, The church government is independent. The Rev. W. Davis, formerly of Hoxton College, has been minister of this place of worship since the close of 1818. The next in size and importance is the Wesleyan , erected in 1822 , situated in Waterloo -passage, near the north end of the town . There is a small chapel on the east-hill, called Ebenezer, the minister of which , a Mr Fenner , resides at Peckham , where he has also a chapel. His [ 8 ]visits to Hastings are only occasional. The congregation is therefore generally left destitute of an officiating minister. The friends of this place are of the baptist denomination , but their sentiments are not very dissimilar from those of the late Mr Huntington .

In addition to the above, there are two small places of worship at the bottom of Court-house street. One is called Zoar. The preacher is a tradesman in the town . The other is a school room , in which some Wesleyans of the new connexion , or Bryanites, meet for public worship.

TOWN HALL.

The old Town Hall or Court House , under which is the Market- place, was erected in the year 1700 , at the expense of John Pultney and Peter Gott, esqs., then representatives in parliament for 1 Hastings; but a more commodious Hall was built in 1823, at the expense of the corporation. In it is a shield bearing the arms of France; brought from Quebec, and which was presented to the corporation by General James Murray, who spent the latter days of his life at his seat called Beauport, near Hastings, after having endured the hardships [ 9 ]and fatigue of many years active service.

CASTLE .

The first object which attracts the attention of a stranger, is the remains of a very large and ancient Castle, on the summit of the west hill.

The walls, which are now fast mouldering to decay, are composed chiefly of flint and stone, and in thickness near eight feet.

Hastings Castle is first mentioned in the Chancery roll 25th and 26 Hen. VI. restoring to the bishop of Chichester his right of jurisdiction over Hastings College; which document distinctly mentions a parish church of St. Mary within the Castle of Hastings in the Saxon times.

The additions made to this fortress by William the conqueror before the Battle of Hastings, consisted in cutting the great moat on the east side, which separated the Castle hill into two ; raising the Castle mount from the soil dug out of it, and forming the various earthworks still to be traced on the east and north . This is proved to be the fact from the Bayeux Tapestry, which represents person digging and another giving orders : the inscription underneath, literally translated is, " He [ 10 ]ordered that a Castle should be dug at Hastings ;" plainly implying, as Mr King observes, that this camp or castle was a mere earth -work ; for there is representation of a castle or building here as in other parts of the tapestry. After his victory there is no doubt but William enlarged the castle with buildings, both from remains of them still in being, and from what he did at Dover and other places of strength on the sea coast, as well as the Tower of London .

The next mention of it is in Doomsday Book , under the head " Bexlei Hundred ;" which it is said " Osbert held conjointly with bishop Ailric in the time of King Edward and afterwards, until King William gave to the earl the castelry of Hastings," The earl here alluded to, was Robert Earl of Eu, the first grantee of the Castle after its finishing.

Earl Robert on receiving possession " erected and established ," says the record just quoted, " the parish church of St. Mary within the same castle , into a collegiate church ." The foundation as we learn from subsequent records, was for a Dean , eight canons or prebendaries, a certain number of Chaplains, Clerks, or Ministers, six vicars choral, [ 11 ]a sacrist, two school-masters, who presided over a music and grammar school attached , and several subordinate officers. He died some years after wards and left the Castle of Hastings to his son . William de Auco succeeded ; who having been in conspiracy with Melbray earl of Northumber land , his earldom of Eu and barony of Tickill escheated to the crown . He died 1096. The military custody of the castle had before his death been seized for William Rufus by Erdo de Rye one of his officers, whom he dispatched from Normandy for that purpose. The same monarch also in 1090 , assembled most part of the nobles and bishops at the Castle to do him homage on his ascending the throne, an event which shews its high importance at this period. The estate of this William de Auco was probably granted to his son as well as his earldom , if either really escheated , as the editor of Magna Britainnia asserts, for Dugdale says, Hen ry earl of Eu succeeded him . He confirmed his grandfathers charter to Hastings College, and dy ing 4th of Stephen was succeeded by his eldest son and heir, John earl of Eu ; who married Alice daughter of William de Albrini earl of Arundell. This John died 17th Hen. 2nd, leaving her a [ 12 ]widow ; and was succeeded by Henry 5th earl of Eu , who confirmed , and added several new gifts to Hastings College. He left one. daughter and heir named Alice. This Alice married Ralph de Yesuenden , who succeeded to the earldom of Eu and Castle of Hastings in her right. He certified 13th of John , as to Hastings CastlTe hat all the principal landholders of the Rape under him , were bound to keep ward there monthly with fifteen knights, as wellas to keep the castle bridges. He died 3rd Hen . 3rd , leaving issue one son and one daughter. William 7th earl of Eu, held the castle jointly with the widow Alice until 9th Hen . 3rd , when it became forfeited to the crown, by whom it was afterwards granted to various persons. In 1245 Peter de Savoy earl of Richmond held the custody of it. 1248 a grant of it was made by the King to his son Prince Edward . 1254 , an exchange hav ing been agreed on between the Prince and the said Peter, the Castle was resigned into the King's hands for the use of the latter, and a grant there of was made to him by the King in lieu of certain lands part of the earldom of Richmond, which were transferred to the Prince. 1269 the Castle [ 13 ]and Rape were bequeathed by the said Peter to Queen Eleanor, from whom the King subsequently obtained them for an annuity of 800 marks and they again returned to the crown. John de Dreux grandson of Peter succeeding to the earldom of Richmond, and a compact having before existed between his fat and the King for an exchange, but which did not then take place, a new agreement was entered into. By this Henry consented to grant to the said John, the Rape but not the Castle, which latter was to be severed from it, together with the town of Hastings, the advowson of the castle church, and the advowsons of the prebends. 2d Ed. 1st, this arrangement again not having been completed , an inquisition in order thereto was taken, when it was returned, " that the castle of Hastings, with the herbage within and without the castle, namely, in the ward, was worth by the year half a mark ; and the church within the castle worth in tithes four marks, in rents 100s. and in offerings at the cross ten marks."

The following year we find the King altering the constitution of Hastings college, which from being known as the collegiate church of St. Mary, was [ 14 ]thenceforward called " the King's Royal Free Chapel of Hastings." The bishop of Chichester was deprived of his right of ordinary jurisdietion which he had before exercised as diocesan, and the whole was subjected to the visitation of the King's conn missioners. These encroachments produced a contest with the crown which lasted all that reign , and which constitutes the principal feature in the his tory of the castle. The particulars which have been several times before given, will be found in Prynne. We learn from them that the King successively appointed two presiding officers over the castle at this time. John de Wichco, in his 27th year who is called in the writ " Keeper," and Stephen Sprott, who is styled " Constable." 4th Ed. 3rd, the King in consequence of a peti lion from the chapter - stating the dilapidated state of the chapel and a number of evils which arose therefrom and from the ruined condition ofthe castle walls, which latter had been suffered so to re main ever since its forfeiture by the earls of Eu granted them the herbage around the castle mentioned in the above inquisition, that they might keep the same in repair and rebuild the deanery and prebendary houses ; together with the custody of [ 15 ]the castle during peace or until the appointment of a warden , which officer it appears the Castle was then without. 1340, the French landed at Hastings and plundered the castle , which occasioned the King to command an enquiry to be made as to the keeping of castle guard ; when the jury returned several curious particulars as to the castle, viz ., that Hen . 3rd ,did grant the same castle to John de Britannia , with the castle guard rents that he and his descendants had ever since received the same, without applying any part towards the guarding of -the castle ; and that in consequence no guard bad been kept there since his time that King Henry had committed the custody of the castle sometimes to one and sometimes to another, without any interference on the part of the Duke but whether he, the Duke, was bound to apply the rents to keep the castle guard, they the jurors, knew not. 19th Ed. 3rd on a visitation of the college it was -returned that although 10s. a year had been received by the dean for the profits of the castle herbage, -nothing had been done towards the castle repairs, as required by the Kings grant several enormities were reported as to the college at the same time. These enormities and the increasing dilapidations [ 16 ]of the college and castle were again set forth in the return to another visitation , 11th Hen. 4th . 23rd Hen . 6th , the castle, which had continued in the crown from the time of Hen . 3rd , was granted by the King with the Rape to Sir Thomas Hoo. The executors of Sir Thomas Hoo at his death sold the same to Lord William Hastings for £600. From Lord Hastings they descended to the earls of Huntington , and continued with them until 33 Eliz . when the castle and rape were sold by Henry earl of Huntingdon for £2800 , and a reserved rent of £13. 6s. 8d , to Sir Thomas Pelham ; whose descendant the earl of Chichester is the present proprietor. From the time of Hen. 4th, we hear nothing of the castle or college as buildings, great part of the castle being carried away by the sea ; its walls and defences ruined , and neglected by the crown in consequence, it appears to have fell gradually to decay , and at length to have served little other purpose than as gardens and pasturage for the dean and those to whom he let parts of the site. The dissolution , which annihilated the college, completed its destruction , In certain interrogatories in chancery taken 40 years after this event, the ground [ 17 ]within the castle is described to have been successively let to different tenants, one of whom ploughed it up and sowed it with hemp, and another with corn . The interior for more than a century past had been occupied as pasturage for sheep, the ruins of the few buildings which remained were covered with mould and grass, rising in the form of hills in various parts , and the walls only displayed a quantity of misshapen fragments, which , to use the language of Grove, who surveyed them 70 years ago, " appeared to have been plain , and without towers or any other means of defence." The excavation of the castle which took place 6 years ago by order of the late Lord Chichester, is will known. It began from the accidental discovery of somestone steps which belonged to the circular tower in the north wall, and has been the means of bringing to view a variety of interesting remains, none of which were supposed to exist. Among them is the College Church 110 feet long, the chapter house, deanery and prebendal houses ; part of the flooring of the keep ; the whole of the castle mount ; the entire line of east wall, with a seini-circular tower and towered gateway ; the [ 18 ]foundations of the great gate -house and guard room attached, and without, the remains of the drawbridge and wall communicating from it with the castle mount. In fact, all of this once extensive CE and royal fortress which has survived. Several coins, remains of pottery , sculptured capitals of pillars, mouldings and other architectural fragments were discovered during this excavation, together with an ancient cross and other curiosities, now in the possession of Lord Chichester.

THE HARBOUR .

The town of Hastings had formerly a good Harbour, formed by a wooden pier, which projected from the centre of the Marine Parade in a south east direction, below where the Fort now stands; but, in the early part of queen Elizabeth's reign, the pier was destroyed by a violent storm ; since which time it has remained in its present state, and is called the Stade. Camden says , " that queen Elizabeth granted a contribution towards the making a new harbour at Hastings, which was begun; 10 but the contribution was quickly converted into private purses, and the public good neglected." [ 19 ]Large pieces of timber, and enormous fragments of rocks, the remains of the pier, are to be seen at low water. The following is an extract from one of the Record Books of the Corporation of Has tings, relative to the destruction of the Pier, writ ten in the subsequent year. " Memorand that about the 1st ofMarch , 1595, The Peere of Hasting was begonne to be redefied by certein westerne.Men ,sent for of purpose from the Cobb. of Lyme. And by them was built a huge woorke wth out th ' old Pere full south all of huge rock artificially pyled edglong one close loy another of a great hight but wth out any Tym ber yet to mans iudgment unremoveable, it grew to so huge a pile, but notwthstanding the first wynter flaw overthrew it in a moment and dispers ed the huge rock lyke thin Plank and so that cost was lost." " But the next year after other Workmen of bet ter knowledge (as was thought) were called thence and by genrall consent the lyke pere of woorke was begon to be againe built wth the lik huge rock . And for more suerty by advise of the Mr Workman it was thought best (because they iudg ed the decay of the former was for want of some [ 20 ] tymber) to lay the foundacon of this new woorke wth in the tymber woorke of the old Peere and so to contynue wth tymber braces and barres crosse dogys and such like up to the top. And this woorke was with singular industry and arte brought above the full and by all Hollantyde 1597 well nere fin ished viz. XXX foote high and C foote long at least bewtyfull to behold huge invincible and unre moveable in the iudgment of all the beholders amounting to a great charge whereunto the whole Shire and div's beholders were contributaryes of 7 benevolence besides the Townes great expences. But behold when Men were most secure and thought the woorke to be perpetual on All Saints daie 1597 appeared the mighty force of God who vith the finger of his hand at once great and ex eeeding high spring tyde wth a South -east wynd overthrew this huge woorke in lesse then an hower to the great terror and abasm of all beholders to the great discredit of the lyke woorke hereafter with the Contry and to the manifest undoing of the Town ved'by reason thereof was left greatly indetted ." " By this president let the posterity (howsome I record this) beware they never attempt to build [ 21 ]them a Pere wth rock only w^th out a mighty frame of Tymber to be soled and then balasted wth rock , alwayes remembring that about such woorke Tymber must not be spared &c. cavete." "Per exempla piculosa successoru caveat Posteritas. "

METHOD OF SECURING VESSELS

The method now adopted for securing vessels from the fury of the waves is surprising to those who have never seen anything of the kind : they are drawn up on the beach by a capstan with three or four horses, and the facility and expedition with which vessels from fifty to one hundred tons burthen are lowered , after being loaded, is astonishing : pieces of wood well greased, are laid at the vessel's keel and side to run on : a large screw is then applied to her bows, by which she is set in motion ; when she has run as far as is necessary , she is easily stopped by cables round the capstan , and left to float when the tide returns. [ 22 ]

THE FORT .

At the west end of the Stade is a Fort, mounting six twenty -four- pounders (during war,) built about forty years ago, and which not only serves to defend the town against an enemy, but is a most excellent barrier against the encroachments of the sea in boisterous weather. Adjoining the Fort is the Parade, which, being seven hundred feet in length, and commanding a most extensive prospect of the ocean , Beachy Head , and Pevensey Bay, ' is considered one of the best promenades of any watering place on the coast.

CHARTERS.

Hastings received CHARTERS from Eduard the Confessor, William the First, and several other monarchs, who reigned over the kingdom prior to the year 1688. The corporation is composed of a mayor, jurats, and about 200 freemen , is exempted from toll, and is empowered to hold courts of judicature, in cases of a capital nature; and also in all civil cases and for the recovery of debts to an unlimited extent. [ 23 ]The corporal punishment of Females is now abolished by the Legislature, but it was formerly used in Hastings with no very sparing hand, as the following extract from the Records of the Town will shew . "11th January, 1776, at the Sessions, Ann Colbran indicted for Petit Larcery - verdict guil ty - sentence that on Saturday 13th Inst., at noon she should be striped from the waist upwards and tied to the common wipping post, and wipped till her back was bloody ."

Since the 43rd of Edward the Third, Hastings has returned two members to serve in parliament, who are elected by the jurats and freemen .

BATTLE OF HASTINGS.

Few persons conversant with English history can fail remembering Hastings, as the place signalized by the battle which terminated in subjecting the dominion of England to William the First, and by which event he acquired the appellation of the Conqueror. It is therefore only necessary on the present occasion to state, that the battle was fought on the [ 24 ]14th of October, in the year 1066, between Harold and William Duke of Normandy, who, in consequence of a pretended right to the throne of ENGLAND , landed at Pevensey Bay, a few days prior to the battle, with a well appointed army, consisting of near 60,000 men , including a fine body of cavalry. The news of the arrival of the invaders soon reached Harold , who, elated with his recent success in defeating the Norwegians at STAMFORD, lost no time in collecting his troops, and marching to attack them , notwithstanding the entreaties of his brothers to postpone a general engagement, and endeavour to harass the enemy with skirmishes. Harold , although unequal to his rival in point of numbers, particularly in cavalry, having made a happy choice of ground, and the most skilful disposition of his army, was enabled to maintain the best of the engagement for the greater part of the day, until the artful Norman , almost despairing of victory, adopted the stratagem of ordering his troops to make a false retreat, with the view of inducing the English to, quit their favorable position : a snare into which they unhappily fell, thereby giving the enemy an opportunity of bringing their cavalry into action, [ 25 ]and which very soon committed dreadful slaughter among them , during which the brave Harold and his two brothers were killed, also many noblemen and gentlemen of the first distinction.

Both armies fought with desperation : the conflict began at sunrise and was not terminated till night had enveloped all in darkness, when the number of slain was immense, particularly on the side of the English. In commemoration of the event, William the Conqueror shortly afterwards founded an ABBEY on the spot where the battle is said to have raged most fiercely, and filled it with Benedictine monks from MARMONTIER in NORMANDY, that continual prayers might be offered to the Almighty for the victory he had obtained, and for the souls of the brave men who were slain. A particular description of this abbey is given in another part of this work.

PRIORY.

At a short distance westward of the cliffs on which the Castle stands is a farm -house, built with the remains and on the scite of a Priory of [ 26 ]black canons formerly existed at Hastings, which was founded in the reign of Richard the First, by Sir Walter Bricet, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. At the dissolution, the annual revenues of this edifice were estimated at £57. The estate now belongs to Earl Cornwallis. Adjoining the farm-yard was a piece of water, which being drained off a few years back, a hole near thirty feet deep, ( with the remains of a sluice, gates and timbers of large dimensions,) was discovered most probably the relics of some works, formed by the monks, as a protection to their dwelling from the ravages of the sea. It is now filled with sand.

MARKET DAYS.

The Market days at HASTINGS are on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and are well supplied with South -down mutton and other butchers' meat. Poultry, Butter, Eggs, Vegetables, &c., are supplied in great plenty by the country people. Fish at all times in abundance and cheap. [ 27 ]

FAIRS .

There are also Fairs annually on Whit-Tuesday, 26th July, and 23rd November ; that called Rock Fair, held on the 26th of July is most frequented .

FREE SCHOOLS.

There are several Charity Schools in the town, for the education of the children of the Inhabitants. The principal of which are those founded by the Rev. William Parker, and Mr Saunders, formerly of Hastings, under the direction and management of the Mayor and Corporation. An Infant School has also been recently established, where the parents pay two pence per week for the care and education of their children , but as such weekly payments do not amount to the sum required for the salary of the mistress and other contingent expences, the deficiency is supplied by the occasional voluntary donations of the inhabitants and visitants, who are desirous of promoting the success of this useful institution . [ 28 ]

CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

The most prominent are the Lying-in Society, and the Benevolent Society, which have been established for many years, under the patronage and superintendence of the Ladies of Hastings, sup ported by the voluntary contribution of the Visitors and Inhabitants.

The Committee of Subscribers meet once in every month, at the House of the Treasurer, for the purpose of making a strict enquiry into the character and circumstances of every person who applies for relief, in order that the funds of the society may not be misapplied. A Dispensary is also established and supported by voluntary contributions.

HOTELS .

The Castle Hotel, near Wellington Square, commands extensive views of the sea and adjacent hill ; is superiorly fitted up by Mr Emary, who is desirous that every part of his establishment, should be worthy of the company that frequent Hastings. [ 29 ]

THE ROYAL SWAN HOTEL.

This is a very commodious House, in the High Street, kept by Mr Emary ; it contains the Assembly Rooms, which are most fashionably attended by the Winter Visitors, and the proprietor deservedly merits the patronage of strangers.

THE MARINE HOTEL,

On the Marine Parade, under the Castle Cliff, is extremely well secured from the north wind, has a fine view of the sea , and all the arrangements required to make it a desirable residence for the Nobility and Gentry, who have for many years favored Mr Deudney , the present proprietor with their patronage and support.

THE ALBION HOTEL ,

On the centre of the Marine Parade, commanding the most extensive views of the Sea, St. Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey Bay and Beachy Head, is com[ 30 ]pletely sheltered from the east and north winds, and also a free circulation of air on every side.

The proprietor has spared no expence to render this establishment deserving the patronage of the Nobility and Gentry visiting Hastings, and he is determined every attention shall be offered with moderate charges, to ensure a continuance of their support and the kind recommendation of their friends.

THE ROYAL OAK INN,

Is pleasantly situated on the beach in Castle Street; it commands an excellent view of the sea , is fitted up in a neat and commodious manner .

THE ROYAL PELHAM COFFEE, DINING ROOMS AND CIGAR DIVAN,

At the west end of the Pelham Arcade, are fitted up in a neat commodious style, and the Proprietor has spared no expence, to render his rooms replete with comfort, for the gentry and commercial gentlemen who favor him with their support - there is a Public Ordinary daily at half-past two, with [ 31 ]wines & c. of the best quality , which will be charged on the most moderate terms, so as to merit a continuance of patronage.

There are also the Cutter Inn , on the beach , close to the sea . The Anchor Inn, George Street. The Hastings Arms Inn, George Street. The King's Head Inn, Court House Street. The Pelo ham Arms Inn, Priory. The Crown Inn, All Saints Street.

At any of which, company will find attention and accommodation, either for a long or short period.

BOARDING HOUSES

Visitors will at all times, find most respectable society, at either of the following establishments , who vie with each other, to render every comfort to those who give them support.

Misses CAREY & WOOLEY, No. 5 , Pelham Place.
Mrs SAVAGE, No. 4, Breeds Place.

LIBRARIES.

No amusement is so cheap in Hastings as that [ 32 ]procured at the Public Libraries, and the lovers of Literature will find a constant variety at

POWELL'S READING ROOM ,

Delightfully situated at the east end of the Marine Parade, commanding an entire view of the Promenade, St. Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey Bay, East Bourne, and Beachy Head ; is supplied twice every day with London Newspapers. Several county Papers, Magazines, Reviews, and a succession of new and interesting Publications. The establishment forms an agreeable lounge and has experienced the patronage of the Nobility and Gentry above twenty years.

THE ROYAL MARINE LIBRARY ,

Is situated at the west end of the Marine Parade, commanding a most extensive sea view . In it will be found every accommodation of a pub lic Room , with an ample supply of Newspapers, Re views, and new Works ; and no pains are spared to render it a fashionable resort. There are also Mr Janes's Library, in Pelham [ 33 ]Arcade, and the Wellington Library. A Literary and Scientific Society, has lately been formed, but at present the members who give it support are very limited .

BILLIARDS .

The admirers of this delightful game, will find every opportunity of amusing themselves, over the Royal Marine Library , Mr Tydeman's, Castle Street ; at the Swan Hotel, and in Corrt House Street.

THEATRE.

There is a neat Theatre, in Court House Street, which was built in 1825 ; before which , the The theatre was near the Hare and Hounds, on the road to Battle .

BANK .

.

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