The vehicle seen is entering the Bourne Walk going towards the Creek, and the circular fronted house on the left represents the King's Head Inn, and is the last house in Courthouse Street (see next page).
It must be remembered that the gardens of houses both in High Street and All Saints' Street abutted on the Stream, and many of those now standing in Bourne Walk were non-existent, as shewn by the title deeds of houses since built along The Walk. The old timbered house with gables on the right of the picture, on page 145, is still standing (No. 29, Bourne Street), a view of which is given on page 153.
Bourne Street contained the only Theatre proper within the Corporation limits until the present Gaiety Theatre was erected by the late Mr. George Gaze, in Queen's Road. The Hare and Hounds Theatre has already claimed attention. Moss in his work published 1824, says : " It has probably been with a view to prevent the demoralisation of the lower classes of society, that no theatre has been hitherto sanctioned or permitted in Hastings. How far the conduct of the Magistracy, in this particular, may be thought worthy of approval is not our business to discuss. One ground of objection to such a place of public amusement has been stated to be the frequent riots and disturbances which took place between the sailors and soldiers, and more especially at the time Hastings was a naval and military station, as was the case in the late war. There is, however, a small theatre about a mile-and-a-half from the town, on the left hand in the London Road. And we believe it is at length in contemplation to erect one (in Bourne Street), and from the increasing resort of visitants, there can be no reason to doubt why an establishment for so rational and intellectual a species of entertainment should not be equally patronised and encouraged here, as in other watering places in the kingdom." Moss's account was a forecast of what was then about to take place, for in 1825 a Mr. Brookes erected and opened the Theatre in Bourne Street. There are several old play bills in the Museum announcing the performances at this theatre. It was carried on for several years, but it proved an unsuccessful venture, and a disastrous one for the proprietor.
What is Union Street was then a mere alley when the theatre was built, and was closed at the top by one or two old houses in All Saints' Street, opposite the Crown Inn, such houses having a back outlet to the Bourne. At the north side of the alley, where the grocer's shop now is, at the entrance to Bourne Walk, then called the Creek, were opposite the pit and gallery entrance to the Theatre, which entrance may still be traced in the stone work of the outer wall . The Corporation, or Commissioners, as they were then designated, purchased the old property, and then made Union Street. In 1747 a bridge or road way was made across the Bourne Stream, into East Bourne Street, just within the Town Wall, depicted on page 148, thus connecting the lower part of Market Street (High Street) with Fish Street (All -
