Since the first edition was issued, the Author has discovered the exact site of the Hare and Hounds Theatre at Ore, from a plan in the Corporation archives, and a tablet has been placed on the site, which was unveiled in June, 1914, by Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree during the Pageant of Heroes.
Assemblies are mentioned in the "Collier Letters" as taking place every Sunday evening, with much tea drinking, at the Swan Inn, as early as 1745. A gentlemen's Club was held here for many years, where all the political and social news was discussed. Whist and cribbage parties, balls, and dinner parties were frequently arranged by the fashionable visitors and residents. Billiards and musical assemblies were provided at the Swan, Barry's and Powell's Libraries, and later on at the Pelham Arcade, which was opened on August 18th, 1824. From this period until the present Gaiety Theatre in Queen's Road was erected by Mr. George Gaze, the Hastings and St. Leonards public had to be content with the performances provided by the late Mr. Charles Lockey in the old Music Hall, Robertson Street, opened in 1858, followed in 1872 by the Hastings Pier and the St. Leonards Pier in 1891. At the present time, who can say the Borough is not amply provided with places of amusement.
Cricket. The following note was found too late to be inserted in proper order, but is worthy of recording here. On July 14-15-16, 1902, a match was played on the Central Cricket Ground between Sussex and Surrey, when all records in scoring were broken. Sussex made 703 for 8 wickets in 1st innings, and declared closed, and 170 for 4 wickets, 2nd innings, and declared. Total, 873. Fry, 159 ; "Ranji," 234 not out ; Vine, 93. Surrey made 552 runs Abel, 179; Hayward, 144; Capt. Bask, 122. Total runs for the match 1427, beating all records on the Central Ground.
