A letter was published in the Hastings and St Leonards Observer in its 23 December 1911 issue. It included this passage: Many more visitors come to the town now than did during what we call the palmy days, but they come at a different part of the year, and mainly do not occupy the same […]
Author Archives: Stephen van Dulken
The Bird-in-Hand beerhouse was at 1, often numbered 1 and 2, South Street from before 1855 until 1921. Its exact location is however something of a mystery. It is well established that the Plasterers’ Arms, later the Prince Alfred, was at the corner of South and Cross streets, as 12 South Street. In other words, […]
Hastings and St Leonards News, 23 April 1852: DEPARTURES. Lady Wallscourt, 42, Marina, on Monday. Lady Williams, Upland Views, on Monday, after six weeks sojourn. Lady Hay, 25, Marina, on Tuesday. Hon. Mrs Edgcumbe and family, 16, Grand Parade, on Monday. Mr Hollond, M.P., and Mrs Hollond, Allegria, for London, on Monday. A SERIOUS CHARGE […]
This post is a summary of a talk which I have just given at the exhibition ‘A journey through time: the development of West St Leonards’, organised by the WSL Community Team. To encourage those who listened to the talk to read this post I have added some extra material. Peter Jenkins was at the time […]
Humphrey Charles Holman – almost invariably cited in newspapers as H.C. Holman — was a very active auctioneer and estate agent, and also an important hotel proprietor. He was an energetic booster for St Leonards on Sea, and was particularly protective of Warrior Square Gardens. This was perhaps due to his company owning two hotels […]
I recently watched on YouTube ‘The flirtatious Regency balls of Pride and Prejudice: having a ball’, an amusing attempt to recreate Mr Bingley’s private ball at Netherfield in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Balls provided a rare way for young people to flirt, chat, and touch each other without close supervision while dancing. It made […]
The former Anchor pub is almost hidden up an alley from East Ascent, and is now numbered 5a East Ascent. As with the other buildings on the road, it is almost certainly a James Burton designed house. Access is either from an alley leading up from East Ascent or from its continuation, going forward from […]
Much on begging and efforts to stamp it out in this post. Also a letter of complaint about the high cost of bathing machines. 1 April 1851, Sussex Advertiser: John Mooney, late of the 36th Regiment, was brought up for begging. Constable Barnes deposed that on the previous day he found prisoner in the back […]
It is unusual for an Anglican minister to be a hotel keeper. Thanks to his going bankrupt there are many details of this man’s finances, which is unusual, both as a bankrupt and, especially, as a clergyman. He was later imprisoned for assaulting a French footman at Folkestone ! Robert Richard Duke was baptised at […]
This post is about the delicate matter of the master’s son taking advantage of a household servant, and his attempt to wriggle out of paying for his behaviour. If you are easily shocked, please read no further. The Sussex Advertiser of the 24 March 1863 has a detailed account of the proceedings before the Bench. […]