the foundation stone of the Hotel, the first building completed was what is now 57 Marina, the timber framing of which was brought from London ready prepared. As Mr and Mrs Burton were wanting it for their own residence, a contract was made with Mr Lansdell, of Battle and Mr Smith, of Hastings, to erect the said house. The latter builder, commonly known as "Yorky" Smith, at his death, was the first that was interred at the Borough Cemetery. The first-named builder, being engaged on his own range of mansions at Breeds Place greatly displeased Mr Burton with the slowness of his work at the Villa, now 57 Marina.
On the southern side of the main road were ridges of shingle so prodigious as at places to preclude a view of the sea, even to those who might be passengers to Eastbourne, Lewes, or Brighton, per Elgar's Van or the "Hero" coach. There used to be another - a private - road which led over the hill, through what is now a brickyard, and round by Filsham, it being necessary at times to make this long detour in consequence of the lower road being underwater from the sea. It was not, as already shown, from a deficiency of protective beach, but simply because the road being below the level of high-water mark, the water at full spring tides percolated through the high ridges of shingle. This road was, however, heightened, widened and straightened; and the stone which was hewn out of the cliffs and quarries was used in the construction of the hotel and the property-erections which followed.
Perhaps I ought to have said ere this that the land on which St Leonards is built was once possessed by a family named Levett, was Bailiff of Hastings in 1483 and whose residence was at The Grove, a mansion at the junction of and St Leonards parishes, the great-grandson of the said Richard Levett died in 1585 when the estate passed to the sister of the last-named deceased, and she having afterwards married Thomas Eversfield, the present site of St Leonards, with other lands in the manors of Gensing and Yielding have ever since been associated with the name of Eversfield. In 1827, the trustees of the will of Mr Charles Eversfield obtained an Act of Parliament which gave them power to grant leases of the trust lands in the parishes of St Leonards, St Mary Magdalen, St Michaels and St Mary in the Castle. That was the year in which the late James Burton was looking about for a suitable site whereon to build a town that would answer the conditions of his dreamt-of designs and he ultimately fixed on nearly equal portions in the parishes of St Leonards and St Mary Magdalen, taking for the centre of his designs the dividing line which ran through the valley, where are now the Public Gardens in rear of the Victoria Hotel. It will thus be understood that the originator was the late James Burton, Esq, the sole architect and reputed proprietor, who at that time (1828) in his 67th year, but who, nevertheless, exhibited a remarkable activity in the execution of his designs.
Whilst the St Leonards Hotel was in course of erection, nine of the Marina houses on each side of that edifice were proceeded with, the numbers on the east side being 36 to 44, and on the west, 48 to 56. The last named numbers made good the space between the Hotel and West Villa, which has already shown was the first to receive its completion. Nos. 45 and 47 - intermediary of the east and west blocks of buildings - formed the wings of the hotel until 1876, when one was incorporated with that building.
This range of superb residences, together with the Assembly Rooms and some other buildings, were reared before the end of 1829, and on the 28th of October in that year the event was celebrated by a sumptuous dinner, partaken of by upwards of 200 gentry and visitors of the town and neighbourhood, very few of whom could I recall to memory as being in existence when this account was first written in 1878, and not any while it was being reprinted in 1896. The two Members of Parliament - Mr. F. North and Sir Joseph Planta - were present, the former gentleman presiding, and being supported by Mr Milward, Mr. James Burton (founder of the town), other members of the Burton family and numerous persons of position and influence. In the after proceedings, encomicums were passed on to Mr. Burton for his spirited enterprise, and thanks were conveyed to Mr. Hodson for providing a repast of so superb a character. At night there was a brilliant display of fireworks in front of the Hotel of which the fête was designed to celebrate. The concluding piece of this pyrotechnic display exhibited a beautiful device, with "Success to the St. Leonards Hotel", and as it lighted up the whole place from its position on the Library and Baths, the Hastings Band played the National Anthem. A large bonfire, constructed with tar-barrels in the centre, was also ignited, and this, with the firing of cannon and a general burst of applause, presented a scene of joyous animation. Then went their way the thousands of persons who had witnessed a fête the equal of which some had not seen since the coronation of George IV. It is worthy of note that either from this event or from some other cause, the people of Hastings and its neighbourhood have crowded to St Leonards in increasing numbers on every later occasion when a display of fireworks has been pre-announced. On the night following the opening of the hotel, there was a grand ball attended by nearly 250 persons.
I have said that the Hotel, the Assembly Rooms, the Baths and the houses 36 to 56 Marina were completed in 1829. So also in that year or the next were erected Nos. 33 to 22 (going eastward) including the Conqueror Hotel; 21 to 15 Marina including the Harold Hotel; four houses at the West Marina, by Mr. Deudney and Mr. Carey; Nos. 2 and 3 East Ascent, by Mr. How; East and West Villas, now respectively 1 East and West Ascent, by Mr. How; North Lodge; North Villa, now Winterbourne; Castellated Villa (since Gloucester Lodge, a name thus given to it after its occupancy by the Princess Sophia of Gloucester); the Horse and Groom inn, by Mr. Milstead; and eight houses in Lavatoria -- two by Edward Smith, two by Thomas Towner, and four by Thos. Thorne. Thus the town grew with surprising rapidity, the several builders and contractors vieing with each other in celerity, but not always with equal regard to stability. A sad proof of this was afforded by the fall of five houses out of the block which formed 27 to 33 Marina, and which the builder, Joseph Wells, was under the necessity of re-constructing. He afterwards resided in one of these and advertised himself as a surveyor.
More fortunate was Mr. Benjamin Homan in the construction of 15 to 21 Marina, and of the houses at the Undercliff, in No. 8 of which latter he for a considerable time resided. There was, however, an unhappy occurrence in one of these houses while in course of erection. A man there hanged himself, and his lifeless body was cut down by another workman, named Stephen Roberts. The death of a workman also happened during the building of Glo'ster Lodge, but that was by accident. Several other accidents , but of a less serious character, took place during the earlier progression of the work, and when one calls to mind the chaotic condition of the place at the period under review, the wonder is that the injuries to life and limb were not numerous.
There was a stack of bricks in one place, a quarry of stone in another, a load of timber in a third, road cuttings and makings in various directions, mounds of mortar and beds of slaked lime into which people were frequently stepping or falling, and scaffolding to obstruct locomotion everywhere.
As the said Hotel, after an existence of 65 years was taken over by a company and considerably altered, a view of the structure in its original form is here presented.
