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A jail ordered to be built - Royal Challenge Archery Prizes

As a kindred subject, it may be mentioned that the founder of St. Leonards was made a magistrate in the same year that the borough-police-system was established, although he did not live long to enjoy the honour thus conferred. It was in the month of March that Government sanctioned his appointment, together with that of Major Jeffries, Musgave Brisco, Wastel Bisco, F. North and W. Duke, senr. Another subject connected with the police and the magistracy was that of the jail. On the 22nd of June a letter was received from Lord John Ruseell to the effect that the Quarter Sessions were not to be held at Hastings in future unless a jail were built for the use of the Cinque Ports; it being urged by his lordship that it would effect a great saving of expense if all prisoners were sent to Lewes, Maidstone or Dover. I have no record to show when the county prison was built, nor do I remember the precise date, but as it was just before the end of 1836 that the St. Leonards overseers made their first contribution (£1 17s 6d) to the "Lewes House of Correction rate," I assume that the mandate of Lord John Russell was at once obeyed.

It was only in the preceding year that the same parish contributed precisely the same sum for the enlargement of the Hastings jail, whose erection, in 1820, I very well remember. But the enlargement of that (ig)noble edifice is still more indelibly fixed on my memory in consequence of it having been the only occasion in which I have been locked up in a prison. The story is a short one, and the telling of it will but slightly delay the more important items of the general narrative. I was sent by my employer with some articles of bedclothing, and being invited in by the jail-keeper to see the alteration, the door was locked behind me and with a feigned expression of regret for my unfortunate position, I was made to believe that the intention had succeeded admirably, and that I must consider myself a prisoner until I could prove my innocence. I could not call to mind any crime of which I could possibly be suspected, much less accused, for I could never boast, as did once a very young acquaintance of mine, that I liked to be wicked because it was pretty; yet I could not, for the life of me, get rid of an uncomfortable feeling. I shouldn't like to say that I did not look paler than usual, and I wouldn't swear that one or other of my peepers didn't drop a little - a very little tear. The jailor saw that his words and gestures had made a great impression on my timid nature, and he at once exclaimed, "No, no! my boy; it's only a joke of mine!" Whether this fright ever had the after effect of improving my morals I cannot now say, but I can vouch for it that if every person had as much dread of a prison as I had, I don't believe that there would have been any necessity for prisons or policemen from that time to this.

Paradoxical as it may appear, the year 1836 was both a year of commercial activity and depression. Money was cheap, trade was brisk, speculation was rife, and manufacturers were doing well; but as regards the agricultural interest of the tide of its affairs was at a very low ebb. The weather, by which it was so much affected, was almost as conspicuous for its ungeniality as was the year 1879. There was a cold, wet and unsettled spring, with a great deal of frost and snow, the latter material lying on the ground a foot thick on Good Friday and during Easter week. This was followed by rains and floods; and although the summer was comparatively fine, the autumn again set in wet followed by a heavy fall of snow, as a prelude to the unprecedented fall at Christmas and the destructive hurricane of November 29th. Farmers at that time were doing badly; a fact which, doubtless, could have been attested by Mr. Alderman Deudney, the then tenant of the Gensing lands at St. Leonards, whose brother Chas., together with Messrs. Edward Farncombe and Chas. Overy (two other local farmers) discussed the "situation" when they constituted the vestry meeting which, on the 25th of April, was held at the "New England Bank."

It may be imagined that additional zest was imparted to the discussion in consequence of the news received that morning of the defeat of Lord Chandos's motion. The said motion was, "That in the application of any surplus revenues towards the relief of the burthens of the country, due regard should be had to the necessity of a portion being applied to the agricultural interest." The debate on this motion took place on the 27th of April, but the majority of 36 by which it was rejected was not known in St. Leonards, until the morning of the 20th, as just intimated.

We had no railways nor telegraphs in those days, and it never entered into the imagination of the two overseers and one parishioner who formed the meeting at that humble-looking hostelry, "The New England Bank," that, in nine years time that very site would be occupied by the West-Marina station of the South-Coast Railway. Equally unconscious that St. Leonardensis that during the next two years it would be his duty to furnish returns from the Hastings and St. Leonards post-office to assist Mr. (afterwards Sir) Rowland Hill in his calculations for a scheme of Penny Postage. Even newspapers in those days were expensive luxuries, and were almost exclusively enjoyed by those who could afford a London daily at 3s 6d per week, or a subscription for a larger amount at Southall's Library. But a great change in all these matters was on the eve of being effected.

In the month of May, 1836, Mr. W. M. Eldridge, who had been proprietor of the Saxon Hotel for about four years, removed to the Swan Hotel, at Hastings, he having purchased the latter ancient hostelry for £5,000. Being a coach proprietor, Mr. Eldridge set about ​building​ some new coach-houses on an improved plan, whilst he expended a considerable sum of money in fitting up the hotel in a luxurious manner. For this latter purpose the furnishing department of Messrs. Clement and Inskipp's establishment was largely patronized. Mr. Eldridge was accompanied from the Saxon to the Swan by his faithful servant, Mr. George Potten; who, some years later returned to St. Leonards to become the landlord of the Horse-and-Groom Inn; where, during the long subsequent period, his industry, orderly management, genial nature and good attention gained for him a host of friends and patrons. Mr. Potten was twice married, and in 1884, died at the age of 73. Mr. Eldridge's successor at the Saxon Hotel was Mr. H. P. Hutchings - the tenant, I believe, of Mr. Wood, a brewer of Lewes. Mr. Hutchings had barely got settled in his new house when the news arrived of General Evans's gallant achievement at San Sebastian. The General was so well known in this neighbourhood, that the news of his success was received with lively satisfaction; and it was additional welcome to those who were intimate with Dr. MacCabe, of Hastings, in consequence of the promotion of that gentleman's relative (Major MacCabe), who, being wounded in action, was made a Brevet Lieut.-Colonel. In a letter to the Globe newspaper, it was stated that, for the first time, the principle of rewarding merit had been acknowledged in a British force.

It was in the same month (May 24th) that the Princess Victoria's birthday anniversary was celebrated by a meeting of the "Society of St. Leonards Archers" to shoot for prizes. The society was then in its fourth year of existence and as its royal patroness had not yet ascended the throne the more distinguished appellation which by royal authority the society adopted, could not of course have been applied. Two new challenge prizes were on this occasion presented by the Princess and her mother, in addition to those already described as having presented in the previous year; and as these were deemed of higher value, they were degreed to take precedence of the others. One of these was a jewelled tortoise-shell comb and ear-rings for ladies; and the other was a large silver winding-horn for gentlemen. The winners of these prizes on that occasion were Miss Ellen Wood and C. G. Eversfield, Esq. The meeting was attended by a very numerous company of nobility and gentry; and the event was further signalized by a sumptuous repast in the evening, the viands being supplied by Mr. Edlin, of the Victoria Hotel. Among the "arrivals" of that day were four Parliamentary Representatives, namely, Howard Elphinstone, M. Phillips, Richard Potter and J. T. Leader.

The autumn and winter seasons of 1836 were marked by great commercial activity and a tendency of over-trading. This, unfortunately led to several failures, and in the category of bankrupts was Mr. B. H. -, a builder, of St. Leonards, whose creditors met at the Swan Hotel on the 17th of Nov. The accounts showed that although the immediate claims on the estate did not exceed eleven-hundred pounds, the property was mortgaged in first and second securities of £14,000 and £7,000, respectively, and that it would not realise sufficient to clear even the first. This, be it remembered, as a condition which existed 60 years ago; and although the value of the bankrupt's property still further declined a few years later, until some of the houses were purchasable (subject to ground rent) for a few pounds only, the subsequent rise in the value of all kinds of house property has been so considerable that what was formerly one man's misfortune must have been latterly another man's benefit.

When Mr. Eldridge was negociating (sic) for the purchase of the Swan Hotel he was the colleague of Mr. W. Waghorne as overseer for St. Mary Magdalen, whilst at the same time the latter was busily engaged in rearing the mansion at Seymour place, afterwards occupied by the Dowager-Queen Adelaide. Thus intent upon their own private affairs, it would appear that both gentlemen found it inconvenient to attend to their parochial duties. They were consequently summoned before the magistrates with Mr. Peerless (the collector) to show cause why their balance-sheet for St. Mary Magdalen had not been duly delivered to Mr. T. B. Baker, an auditor, for his approval. Mr. Waghorne was adjudged to be the principal defaulter, and on his promise - a promise which was observed- to produce the accounts in a week's time, the matter was brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

I have said that Mr. Waghorne was busily engaged in erecting his mansion at Seymour place. This house which is now 23 Grand parade, and still known as Adelaide house, was at that period the largest private dwelling in St. Leonards. In common with numerous other houses, it had many squares of glass blown in by the destructive hurricane of Nov. 29th, which to repair was a less expense to its owner than it might have been to others, in consequence of his being by trade a painter and glazier. When this house was receiving its furniture it was the privilege or the duty of St. Leonardensis (whichever you please, good patrons!) to cut out and assist in laying down the Brussels carpet in the immense drawing room which by arrangement could, if necessary, be separated into three rooms. It happened to be a white-ground carpet; and the seeming puerility of this description, together with the incidental details and personal allusions which follow may be accepted without too severe a criticism, if only for the domestic hint which they are intended to convey. A few years after this occurrence, Mr. J. Austin, who had also built a house in Seymour place, sent for the present writer to advise him in the choice of a carpet. I recommended the selection of a white ground from among several others, but the recommendation was at once scouted as an ill-conditioned one; and although my advice was ultimately acted upon, it was taken with reluctance, and with the terrible threat that if it proved to be wanting in wisdom, I should "never hear the last of it." Years rolled on, and I had the satisfaction of receiving from Mr. Austin a special "vote of thanks" for what he was pleased to call my "judicious recommendation." But to return to the Mansion - the Marine Mansion as it was first called - one of its earliest tenants was Lady Elizabeth Dutton and her family, who made a stay of six weeks previously to the occupation of it by the widowed Queen. This occupancy is well-remembered from the fact that - shy as I have always been of all sorts of speculative hazards on my own account - I was deputed to take a chance in a raffle for a valuable gold watch which Lady Dutton's butler had arranged to dispose of in that manner. I was to have had a half sovereign if I carried back the watch; but alas! I neither got the watch nor the money; for of all the chances - good, bad and indifferent - mine was quite the worst.

Archway to York Buildings in 1836 - Destructive Hurricane

I will now give my readers an idea of -