Hastings Wiki

[edit] History For the history and etymology of the place name see Hastings in Wiktionary. Excavations in local caves have revealed flint arrowheads and Bronze Age artifacts, and excavations of Iron Age forts on both the East and West Hills have shown that the area has been settled for thousands of years. It is possible that the settlement was already a port when the Romans arrived in Britain. The main interest in Hastings for the Romans was the presence in Wealden rocks of iron ore which was worked at many sites. The largest of these, at Beauport Park, employed up to one thousand men and is considered to have been one of the largest in the Roman Empire. Little now remains of the industry, which may well have been the victim of coastal erosion. The town of Haestingas (referring to the Anglo-Saxon tribe called the Haestingas) is mentioned in documents from the eighth century that refer to "Hastingacaestre", showing that a castle existed here under their time. A royal mint was established there in AD 928 during the reign of Athelstan. Their port was possibly situated at what is now the western end of the town at Bulverhythe. A key work is Historic Hastings

[1] by a former curator of Hastings Museum.

[edit] The Norman invasion Main article: Battle of Hastings William the Conqueror made his headquarters in the castle on his arrival in England. The Battle of Hastings was fought eight miles north at Senlac Hill, now in the town of Battle. The battle took place on the 14th of October after William had landed on the coast between Hastings and Eastbourne at a site now known as Norman's Bay. During the battle William defeated and killed Harold Godwinson, the last Saxon King of England, and destroyed his army thus opening England to the Norman conquest. After the conquest, William built a castle at Hastings, as depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry, probably using the earthworks of the existing Saxon castle.

[edit] Hastings as a port By the end of the Saxon period, Hastings had moved eastward near the present town centre in the Priory Stream valley, whose entrance was protected by the White Rock headland (since demolished). It was to be a short stay: Danish attacks and huge floods in 1011 and 1014 motivated the townspeople to relocate to the New Burg in what is now the Hastings Old Town valley, founded in 1069. In the Middle Ages Hastings became one of the Cinque Ports; Sandwich, Dover, and New Romney being the first, Hastings, and Hythe followed, all finally being joined by Rye and Winchelsea, at one point 42 towns were directly or indirectly affiliated to the group. In the 13th century much of the town was washed away by the sea. In 1339 and 1377 the town was raided and burnt by the French, and seems then to have gone into a decline. As a port, Hastings suffered over the years from the lack of a natural harbour. There were many attempts to create a sheltered harbour, and while in 1897 the foundation stone was laid of a large concrete structure, there was insufficient money to complete the work and the "Harbour arm" remains uncompleted. It was partially blown up to discourage possible use by German invasion forces during World War II. The fishing boats are still stored on and launched from the beach.

[edit] Geography Hastings town centre and the Memorial from an old postcard Hastings town centre in 2005 Hastings is situated where the sandstone beds, at the heart of the Weald, known geologically as the Hastings Sands, meet the English Channel, forming tall cliffs to the east of the town. Hastings Old Town is in a sheltered valley between the East Hill and West Hill (on which the remains of the Castle stand). In Victorian times and later the town has spread westwards and northwards, and now forms a single urban centre with the more suburban area of St Leonards-on-Sea to the west. Roads from the Old Town valley lead towards the Victorian area of Clive Vale and the former village of Ore, from which "The Ridge", marking the effective boundary of Hastings, extends north-westwards towards Battle. Beyond Bulverhythe, the western end of Hastings is marked by low-lying land known as Glyne Gap, separating it from Bexhill-on-Sea. The sandstone cliffs have been the subject of considerable erosion in relatively recent times: much of the Castle was lost to the sea before the present sea defences and promenade were built, and a number of cliff-top houses are in danger of disappearing around the nearby village of Fairlight. The beach is mainly shingle, although wide areas of sand are uncovered at low tide. The town is generally built upon a series of low hills rising to 500 feet above sea level at "The Ridge" before falling back in the river valley further to the north. The town also has a large Victorian park, Alexandra Park. Like many coastal towns, the population of Hastings grew significantly as a result of the construction of railway links and the fashionable growth of seaside holidays during the Victorian era. In 1801 its population was a mere 3,175; by 1831 it had reached over ten thousand; by 1891 it was almost sixty thousand, and the 2001 census reported over 85,000 inhabitants.

[edit] Local government Hastings was a borough by 1086, and gave its name to the Rape of Hastings, one of the six Rapes or administrative districts of Sussex. As a borough, Hastings had a corporation consisting of a "bailiff, jurats, and commonalty". By a Charter of Elizabeth I in 1589 the bailiff was replaced by a mayor. With the reform of English local government in 1888, Hastings became a County Borough, in other words responsible for all its local services, independent of the surrounding county, and long had its own police force. County borough status was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in 1974, and it became a district within the non-metropolitan county of East Sussex. Hastings returned two Members of Parliament from the 14th century to 1885 since when it has returned one.

[edit] Electoral wards The town is split into 16 electoral wards

[2], which are in four areas: Central Castle, Braybrooke, Silverhill, St Helens East Hastings Old Hastings, Ore, Tressell, Baird South St Leonards Central St Leonards, Gensing, Maze Hill, West St Leonards North St Leonards Ashdown, Conquest, Hollington, Wishing Tree

[edit] Buildings "Net shops" The most important buildings from the late medieval period are the two churches in Hastings Old Town, St Clement's (probably built after 1377) and All Saints (early 15th century).

[3] On the beach near the Old Town are the so-called "net shops", said to be unique to Hastings, but similar huts can be found in Whitby €“ these are wooden constructions, weatherboarded and tarred, of various shapes and sizes, used for storage. The buildings were built tall and narrow to avoid payment of ground tax. The huts were never used for net drying; this is a popular misconception: nets were dried on the beach or on the piece of land known as the Minnis. Pelham Crescent and St Mary in the Castle, with the castle ruins above Not much remains of Hastings Castle due to cliff erosion, apart from an arch of the chapel, some walls, and underground dungeons. In Medieval times the town featured a Priory, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Remains of this were found when the old cinema was demolished and a supermarket built on the corner of Cambridge Gardens; these remains have been preserved and buried under the site. The area that was Priory Meadow Cricket Ground and latterly Priory Meadow Shopping Centre is the location of the Medieval Harbour, which was "lost" after several storms blocked the entrance. The area is still below sea level and prone to flooding. In front of the castle is an elegant Georgian terrace, Pelham Crescent, at the centre of which is the classical church of St Mary in the Castle (its name recalling the old chapel in the castle above) now in use as an arts centre. The building of the crescent and the church necessitated further cutting away of the castle hill cliffs. For many years the traffic intersection at the town centre was marked by "The Memorial", a clock tower commemorating Albert the Prince Consort, subsequently demolished, following an arson attack in the 1970s. The commercial centre of the town was previously divided by concrete barriers separating pedestrians from vehicles. The 1990s saw pedestrianisation of significant parts of the commercial heart of the town, restricting vehicle access to service vehicles only at all times. The bathing pool at St Leonards-on-Sea was regarded in its day as one of the best open-air swimming and diving complexes in Europe, but it closed some years ago, having become part of a holiday camp. The area is still known by locals as "The Bathing Pool", which confuses some visitors as no pool exists. The most notable recent architectural changes have been; Demolition of the 1930s railway station and its replacement by a glass and steel structure opened in 2004 Construction of the University Centre Hastings.

[1] Demolition of the Marlborough Hotel, Warrior Square and its sympathetic replacement with a new health centre and sheltered housing.

[edit] Fishing Two of Hastings' beach-launched fishing fleet with part of Old Town and East Cliff Railway in background Until the development of tourism, fishing was Hastings' major industry. The beach launched fishing fleet, based at the Stade, remains Europe's largest and has recently won accreditation for its sustainable methods. Steve Peak's book on the fishing fleet, is a work of scholarship and affection, available from the town's museums. The opening paragraph gives a flavour of the subject: "The Hastings fishing industry has a long and unusual history. Fishing boats similar to those used at Hastings today have worked from almost the same beach under the Hastings cliffs for at least 400, and quite probably 600 or more years. Despite the exposed landing site the Hastings fleet has survived many difficult times because the town lies next to one of Britain's most prolific fishing grounds, Rye Bay."

[4] Hastings being no longer a port, fishing vessels have to be registered at Rye, and thus bear the letters "RX".

[edit] Visitor attractions Hastings Pier and beach in the Winter Hastings Pier at sunset Opposite the pier is the White Rock Theatre which mainly stages traditional seaside light entertainment shows. North of this and a little way inland are a 25m public swimming pool and leisure centre at Summerfields. This also has the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, law courts, police and fire stations nearby. Many of Hastings attractions are based in Hastings Old Town and which includes The Stade and Winkle Island. Near the castle ruins, on the West Hill, are "St Clement's Caves", partly natural, but mainly excavated by hand from the soft sandstone. The East Hill Lift: one of the two funicular railways in Hastings Marine Court There are a miniature railway, fairground rides and amusement arcades catering for tourists near the Fishmarket. The Fishmarket includes the striking net shops, fisherman's museum and Hastings Sea Life Centre. Fishing boats are likely to be drawn up on the beach and there is a lifeboat station. Nearby is Hastings Old Town with a number of buildings dating from the earliest days of the town

[citation needed]. There are two funicular railways, known locally as the West Hill and East Hill Lifts respectively. Slightly inland is the small Stables Theatre, which shows mainly local productions and acts as an arts exhibition centre. To the east of the town is the Hastings Country Park. This is an area of 2.67 km² of lightly wooded and open land extending from Hastings approximately 3 miles (5 km) along the cliff tops to Fairlight. Another family pool with wave machine and water slide is situated at Glyne Gap, on the coast mid-way between Bexhill and Hastings. Glyne Gap also sports a bowling alley and shopping centre. There is a small Odeon cinema in Hastings, however there are plans to renovate an area known as the 'Priory Quarter' in the town centre, plans include large office spaces, retail units and a new large multi screen cinema. There is also a yearly carnival, and Old Town Week during August, a beer festival in Alexandra Park, a Seafood and Wine Festival in the Old Town and the Hastings International Chess Congress. During Hastings week held each year around the 14th October the Hastings Boroughs Bonfire Society stages a torchlight procession through the streets, beach bonfire and spectacular firework display. In 2007 the World Crazy Golf Championship was held at the Adventure Crazy Golf Course. The Saxon Shore Way starts at Gravesend, Kent and traces the coast as it was in Roman times as far as Hastings, 163 miles (262 km) in total.

[edit] Transport links Hastings is linked to London by two railway lines. The shorter is the former South Eastern Railway (SER) route to Charing Cross via Battle and Tunbridge Wells, opened 1852, and the longer is the former London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) route to Victoria via Bexhill, Eastbourne and Lewes. There is also the Marshlink Line via Rye to Ashford where a connection can be made with Eurostar services to France and Belgium. The town currently has four railway stations: from west to east they are West St Leonards station, St Leonards Warrior Square, Hastings, and Ore. West Marina station (on the LBSCR line) was very near West St Leonards (on the SER line) and was closed some years ago. New stations have been proposed. Hastings is linked to London by the A21 trunk road. There have been improvements in this road over the years, notably bypasses for Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Pembury and Lamberhurst, but the dual carriageway stops well short of Hastings. Long-term plans for a much improved east€“west route and a Hastings bypass were abandoned in the 1990s, but a new road to Bexhill-on-Sea was announced in 2004 to relieve the congested coastal route (A259). Hastings is also linked to Battle via the A2100. The Ring road includes parts of most of the main roads. Hastings had a network of trams from 1905 to 1929. The trams ran as far as Bexhill, and were worked by overhead electric wires, except for the stretch along the sea-front from Bo-Peep to the Memorial, which was initially worked by the Dolter stud contact system. The Dolter system was replaced by petrol electric trams in 1914, but overhead electrification was extended to this section in 1921. Trolleybuses rather than trams were used in the section that included the very narrow High Street, and the entire tram system was replaced by trolleybuses in 1928€“1929.

[5] Maidstone and District bought the Hastings Tramway Company in 1935, but the trolleybuses still carried the "Hastings Tramways" logo until shortly before they were replaced by diesel buses in 1959, following the failure of the "Save our trolleys" campaign. The town is now served by Stagecoach buses on routes that cover Hastings and extend to Bexhill, Eastbourne and even Dover.

[edit] Economy and culture View of houses from the East Hill Lift top entrance View of houses from the East Hill Lift top entrance at night Hastings has long been known as a retreat for artists and painters. For example, the pre-Raphaelite painters including Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Holman Hunt admired the town for its light and clear air. In the 19th century the towns became prosperous on the basis of the tourist trade from London and the Midlands. With the rise of international tourism away from traditional English holiday resorts its prosperity has declined substantially. There is no immediately clear reason why Hastings should suffer from disadvantage when compared to, for example, its large neighbour to the west, Brighton. It has a very attractive setting, many very fine houses and a remarkably conserved Old Town, and contains within its Borough boundaries a major cliff top country park. It has a well documented depth of history. Its principal drawbacks are the considerably longer commuting times by rail to London, poor roads and a lack of local employment. Hastings is officially regarded as a deprived area, with high unemployment rates, and as such has qualified for redevelopment grants from central government and EU sources. Hastings railway station has been rebuilt and further development on the original railway yard site is now in progress. This was originally intended to include a new building to bring together further educational services in Hastings. The University Centre Hastings (UCH) has been created to provide higher education in the town for the first time. (Hastings College of Arts and Technology and University Centre Hastings). Redevelopment of the area is hampered by the split administration of the combined Hastings and Bexhill economic region between Hastings and Rother councils. It is thought by some that the relatively poor road and rail infrastructure surrounding Hastings has ensured its ongoing isolation and has long been thought to be a major factor in its economic downturn since the 1970s.

[edit] Sport The Hastings Half Marathon is becoming well-known around the country, being voted the best race of its kind three years running, and has become known as the unofficial 'Great South Run'. With numbers increasing every year, in 2007 the race had around 4,500 entries. Hastings is home to one senior football club, Hastings United, formerly Hastings Town, who play in the Isthmian League Premier Division and use The Pilot Field as their home ground. Hastings used to be home to St. Leonards and Hastings United, both folding due to financial problems. There are also many other football clubs in Hastings that play in the East Sussex Football League, such as Hollington United and Hastings Rangers. Motorcycle speedway racing was staged at The Pilot Field in 1948 and 1949. The team, known as the Hastings Saxons, raced in the National League Division Three. The team race jacket featured a capital H but the mascot was a gentleman dressed as a Saxon complete with sword and shield. The team featured many riders who had raced at Eastbourne in 1947. Notable 'Saxons' were Wally Green, who went on to race for West Ham in the First Division and be runner up in the 1950 World Final, Jock Grierson and Ken Middleditch. The track faced vociferous local objection and was closed following a court case. Most of the track has been covered by concrete to allow football fans to get closer to the football pitch used by Hastings United, however some of the track still exists around the pitch. The Central Cricket Ground, where Priory Meadow Shopping Centre now stands, was Hastings' centre of cricket. The ground frequently hosted Sussex county cricket matches. The last Sussex match to be held on Priory Meadow was against Kent in 1989, which Sussex lost, prior to the development of the new shopping center. The old cricket ground also hosted tennis tournaments, and was the start of the Hastings marathon when the race first started. The town's premier cricket venue is now Horntye Park Sports Complex, home of Hastings Priory. Hastings is home to two rugby clubs, Hastings &Bexhill and Cinque Ports Rugby Club. Hastings & Bexhill play their home matches at William Parker Sports College and play in Division Four of the London Rugby Union League. Cinque Ports play in the Sussex Rugby Union League and play at The Grove School. Hastings' only hockey club is South Saxons, who play and train on the towns only Astroturf surface at Horntye Park Sports Complex. The Astroturf is also used for other sports such as football. Hastings Athletics Club is the only athletics club in the Hastings & Rother Area, and uses the running track at William Parker Sports College, the only running track in the area.

[edit] Noted residents

[edit] Former residents John Logie Baird, pioneer of television Kevin Ball, ex-footballer and now coach at Sunderland A.F.C. Gareth Barry, footballer for Aston Villa (1997€“) and England (2000€“) Elizabeth Blackwell (1821-1910), first woman to qualify as a doctor Barbara Bodichon (1827-1890), advocate of women's rights, painter and founder of Girton College Elsie Bowerman, 1889-1973; Suffragette and Titanic survivor. One of the first women called to the Bar and the first to appear at the Old Bailey. Jo Brand, comedienne Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey (1836€“1918) politician Thomas Brassey (1805€“1870) railway pioneer John Bratby, painter George Bristow, the taxidermist at the centre of the Hastings Rarities affair Edward Burra, painter James Burton (1761-1837), architect, founder of St Leonards-on-Sea Decimus Burton (1800-1881), son of James, continued his father's work Richard D'Oyly Carte, (1844-1901) impressario and opera company founder Catherine Cookson, popular novelist Harry H. Corbett, actor Aleister Crowley, occultist John Digweed world famous DJ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), French theologian, writer and philosopher Eugénie de Montijo, Empress of France Harry Furniss (1854€“1925), cartoonist Simon Fuller, pop-music manager (most famously of The Spice Girls) David Gemmell, (1946€“2006), novelist Grey Owl (Archibald Belaney), author, nature conservation pioneer, and Canadian icon Rider Haggard (1865-1936), writer Andrew Jefford, wine writer and poet Billie-Jo Jenkins, murdered schoolgirl Sophia Jex-Blake, feminist and founder of the London School of Medicine for Women. Sheila Kaye-Smith, (1881-1956), local author Steve Kinch, bass guitarist with Manfred Mann and formerly with Hazel O'Connor. Barry Dransfield, folk musician Desmond Llewelyn, seen as 'Q' in the James Bond movie series Geoff Love, band leader George MacDonald (1824€”1905), writer of children's stories John Martyn, singer-songwriter Anna McNeill Whistler,((1831?-1881) Whistler's Mother. Graham McPherson, aka 'Suggs' of Madness, a singer who was born in Hastings though didn't live there long. Paul Merton, TV presenter/comic Spike Milligan, comedian and writer George Monger, who at 17 won a Victoria Cross at Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny Marianne North, 1830-1890, botanical painter with permanent gallery at Kew Gardens, London General Sir James Murray (1721€”1794), Governor of Quebec Titus Oates, instigator of the "Popish Plot" Jane Omorogbe, more commonly known as 'Rio' on Gladiators. Coventry Patmore, (1823-1896), Roman Catholic poet and Pre-Raphaelite Fiona Pitt-Kethley, writer Henry Handel Richardson, Australian born author (d. 1946) Alex Sanders, King of the Witches Screaming Lord Sutch, founder of the Monster Raving Loony Party Robert Tressell, socialist novelist Tony Tyler, (October, 1943 €“ 28 October 2006) was a British writer who authored several books and wrote for Macworld, MacUser, PC Pro and Computer Shopper. Winifred Wagner, leader of the Bayreuth Festival Thomas Attwood Walmisley, (1814-1856) Professor of Music at Cambridge. Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, (1791-1868) Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington William Hale White, novelist also known as "Mark Rutherford" Michael Yardy, England and Sussex cricket player. Paula Yates, former TV Presenter.

[edit] Current residents Shayne Burgess, Professional PDC darts player Mark Davis, Professional snooker player. Maya Evans, political activist Steve Furst, comedian and actor on Little Britain Jaine Green, (Jaine Harmston-Green) documentary maker Claire Hamill, singer songwriter Alex Lester, BBC Radio 2 presenter Jonathan Mendenhall, Meridian TV news presenter Christopher Priest, novelist Milan Rai, political activist Neil Ruddock, Ex-footballer SilverSpirit, Tommy and Daniel Bailey-Graham, electro-pop duo and dance remixers David Tibet, poet, artist and musician Laetitia Yhap, artist.

[edit] Hastings in film and television Foyle's War. See also here (TV, 2002 onwards). Also here. Grey Owl (1999) I Want You (1998)

[edit] Town twinning Dordrecht, Netherlands

[2] Schwerte, Germany

[3] Oudenaarde, Belgium

[4] Béthune, France

[5]

[edit] See also Hastings Embroidery Hastings Half Marathon Hastings United FC Hastings Writers' Group Helenswood School William Parker Sports College Hastings Open Bowls Tournament Hastings old town Winkle Island

[edit] External links Hastings at the Open Directory Project Hastings Borough Council official website Hastings and 1066 Country tourist information

[edit] References ^ John Manwaring Baines FSA, Historic Hastings. F J Parsons Ltd, Hastings, 1955 and 1963 ^ Hastings Online - ward information ^ Nairn, Bryan, and Pevsner, Nikolaus, The Buildings of England: Sussex, Page 119. Penguin, 1965 ^ Peak, Steve, Fishermen of Hastings - 200 years of the Hastings Fishing Community. 1985 ^ Robert J Harley, Hastings Tramways. Middleton Press 1993. ISBN 1 873793 18 9. v €¢ d €¢ e Districts of South East England Adur €¢ Arun €¢ Ashford €¢ Aylesbury Vale €¢ Basingstoke and Deane €¢ Bracknell Forest €¢ Brighton &Hove  €¢ Canterbury €¢ Cherwell €¢ Chichester €¢ Chiltern €¢ Crawley €¢ Dartford €¢ Dover €¢ Eastbourne €¢ East Hampshire €¢ Eastleigh €¢ Elmbridge €¢ Epsom and Ewell €¢ Fareham €¢ Gosport €¢ Gravesham €¢ Guildford €¢ Hart €¢ Hastings €¢ Havant €¢ Horsham €¢ Isle of Wight €¢ Lewes €¢ Maidstone €¢ Medway €¢ Mid Sussex €¢ Milton Keynes €¢ Mole Valley €¢ New Forest €¢ Oxford €¢ Portsmouth €¢ Reading €¢ Reigate and Banstead €¢ Rother €¢ Runnymede €¢ Rushmoor €¢ Sevenoaks €¢ Shepway €¢ Slough €¢ Southampton €¢ South Bucks €¢ South Oxfordshire €¢ Spelthorne €¢ Surrey Heath €¢ Swale €¢ Tandridge €¢ Test Valley €¢ Thanet €¢ Tonbridge and Malling €¢ Tunbridge Wells €¢ Vale of White Horse €¢ Waverley €¢ Wealden €¢ West Berkshire €¢ West Oxfordshire €¢ Winchester €¢ Windsor and Maidenhead €¢ Woking €¢ Wokingham €¢ Worthing €¢ Wycombe Counties with multiple districts: Berkshire €¢ Buckinghamshire €¢ East Sussex €¢ Hampshire €¢ Kent €¢ Oxfordshire €¢ Surrey €¢ West Sussex Counties without multiple districts: Isle of Wight v €¢ d €¢ e Ceremonial county of East Sussex East Sussex Portal Boroughs or districts District of Lewes €¢ Borough of Hastings €¢ District of Wealden €¢ Borough of Eastbourne €¢ Brighton &Hove  €¢ Rother Cities and towns Brighton and Hove (Brighton, Hove, Saltdean, Rottingdean), Eastbourne, Hastings (Silverhill, St Leonards, West St Leonards, Conquest, Ore), Bexhill-on-Sea, Crowborough, Uckfield, Rye, Lewes, Winchelsea, Battle, Pevensey, Whatlington, Westham, Fairlight See also: List of civil parishes in East Sussex Rivers Cuckmere, Rother, River Tillingham Topics History €¢ Geography €¢ Parliamentary constituencies €¢ People €¢ Places €¢ Transport €¢ South Downs €¢ Sussex Downs €¢ North Downs €¢ Weald €¢ High Weald Coordinates: 50.85634° N 0.58589° E Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings" Categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since September 2007 | Local government in East Sussex | Seaside resorts in England | Shire districts | Towns in East Sussex | Hastings | Cinque ports