This post consists of a lengthy extract from the 25 December 1875 issue of the Hastings and St Leonards Observer. A long article titled ‘Our shops at Christmastide’ consisted of descriptions of their seasonal decorations, and what goods they offered, street by street. The shops must have been quite a sight.
South Colonnade no longer exists – it was a row of shops on the sea side of the road, opposite Undercliff, where Grand Parade meets Marina. Gensing Station Road was renamed King’s Road a few years later.
THE MARINA
Commencing at the extreme west, the first shop which came under our notice was that of Mr Addison, confectioner in the Marina. Here the decorations were of a most elaborate character, and the window presented a most attractive appearance. The chief feature here was a beautiful representation of a grotto in sugar. The workmanship was most elaborate, and the design evidently must have entailed a vast amount of labour in its construction. At the basement was a cavern, the mouth of which was supported by a graceful, rugged column, and here boats were floating on the bosom of a deep and slow stream. Above was another cave, and at the summit of the mount a pavilion had been placed, from which a flag fluttered in the breeze. A spiral staircase ran from the basement to the top, and there were other objects of interest, including a church, &c., &c. … At the Italian warehouse, of which Mr Beck is the proprietor, there was a capital display of the fruits forming the chief ingredients of plum pudding, and also of bon-bons, figs, muscatels, and almonds, crystalized fruits, and numerous other delicacies to be found in an establishment of this kind. Passing on to
THE SOUTH COLONNADE,
The first thing that attracted our notice was Mr Whittaker’s shop, the widnow of which was most tastefully arranged with Christmas cards, and articles well suited for Christmas presents. At Messrs. N. and A. Park’s shop there was a really splendid display of meat, every available nook and corner being piled up with meat as far as the ceiling. No less than forty-six prime quarters were exposed for sale, as well as some splendid Southdown mutton. The Southdowns were fatted and bred by Mr Robert Deudney at Pevensey Marsh, and some of the bullocks were also fatted by the same gentleman. Mr W. Austin’s shop presented the usual attractive appearance, the whole front of the building being covered with rows of game and poultry, in splendid condition. The vast preparations that have been made by Mr Austin for the Christmas week will at once be seen when we mention that he had no less than 360 turkeys, 110 geese, 100 ducks, between 200 and 300 fowls, in addition to innumerable pheasants, partridges, woodcocks, snipes, plovers, widgeons, wild ducks, teals, hares, rabbits, &c. Here also we saw twelve of the finest capons we have ever seen. At Messrs. Gilson and Allen’s establishment equally extensive preparations had been made. Here, too, the entire frontage of the house was covered with game, &c., and when illuminated at night-time by gas-light the scene presented was a striking one. The stock consisted of between 200 and 300 turkeys, from 80 to 100 geese, 100 ducks, 100 partridges, 200 or 300 pheasants, 100 hares, capons, poulards, snipes, woodcocks, widgeons, wild ducks, teals, capercullies, black cocks &c. Mr Bovis, the fruiterer, had arranged his window to great advantage, a splendid collection of fruit of every description being exhibited. One novelty to be seen here was a quaint-looking head, cleverly carved from a cocoanut, with moustache, by some natives of a more southern clime. The establishment of Messrs. Hein and Co. (late Vidler), confectioners, next claimed our attention. The window was very tastefully laid out, and the shop was filled with good things, such as plum-cakes, jellies, bonbons, sweetmeats, dressed hams and tongues, game pies. At the back of the window was a candelabra with candles, and these, when lit up, considerably heightened the effect of the display. Mr H. Parks had a wonderfully good show of meat, including prime beef, and Southdown mutton, and the meat was piled up in the same manner as at the other shop. At Mr Davis’s (grocer) shop there was another excellent display. One window was filled up with York hams, tongues, and Stilton and Cheddar cheeses, whilst in the other we noticed three solid masses of currants turned out of the casks, and decorated with flags. Then there were figs, crystalized fruits, French and Imperial plums, muscatels, bon-bons, and other eatibles too numerous to mention… Coming to
GRAND PARADE
We noticed a modest but tastefully arranged show in Mr Lock’s, the confectioner. Messrs. Jackson and Co. (grocers), had also a first-rate display. As people passed they could not fail to notice the attractive and admirable manner in which the windows had been set out. The articles had been arranged with such taste and nicety that the effect was exceedingly pleasing. The window was piled up with heaps of luscious-looking fruit, bon-bons, chrystalized fruits, figs, plums, and other Christmas luxuries too numerous to mention. Messrs. Talbot and Prior (fruiterers), and Mr Notcutt, at the china and glass warehouse, had neither of them spared any pains to set out their shops to full advantage.
EAST ASCENT
Mr Chester’s (grocer) shop cannot be passed by without a notice. The shop was one of the best decorated in the town, and it was enough to make one’s mouth water as one gazed in the window on the piles of delicacies to be seen, and which had been displayed with so much taste and judgment.
NORMAN ROAD
The shops in this thoroughfare were, of course, the scene of considerable ornamentation and display. Mr Offen had certainly the best show of pork in the borough. In his shop were to be seen no less than 50 of the best Sussex dairy fed pugs, weighing from 75 to 6 stones. Hundreds of pounds of sausages on the premises were also on view for sale. The display altogether was a very fine one. Mr Brett and Mrs Green (stationers’), offered some very pretty Christmas cards for sale, and also some nice books suitable for Christmas gifts. Mr Tunbridge (greengrocer), Mr Palmer (confectioner), Mr Carley (baker), Mr Field and Mr Broadhurst (grocers), Mr Sparks (fruiterer), Mr Willison (toy repository), and Mr Dale (grocer), were all more or less decorated. In this road, Mr Waghorne (butcher) had an excellent show of meat.
LONDON ROAD
Messrs. Sheather and Munn showed a splendid display of game and poultry, including turkeys, geese, ducks, fowls, pheasants, partridges, hares, wild fowls, capons, teals, woodcocks, widgeons, &c. There was also a good show of pork. At the R.M. Stores, the windows were noticeable for the taste displayed in their ornamentation, and delicacies of every description were to be seen. Mr Trayton Talbot had a very fine show of meat – indeed, one of the best displays in the borough – the beef in particular being in remarkably good condition. Mr Elphick in his shop showed some prize meat from the Hailsham Cattle Show, bred by Mr John Paxton, of Willingdon. Altogether he had a very creditable display. Mr Verrall (greengrocer), Mr J.W. Smith (general stores), Mr Simmonds (greengrocer), Mr Davis (grocer), Mr Ranger, Mr Whatman, and Mr Clark (greengrocers), and Mr Chambers (baker), also decorated their shops, and made their windows look quite gay.
GENSING STATION ROAD
Here the decorations were not so profuse, only several of the shops being ornamented – Mr Colbran’s (greengrocer), and Messrs. Oliver and Austin’s (grocers). Mr John Stuart (bookseller) had his usual attractive Christmas stock, whilst Mr Kerridge had a very fine show of meat.
VERULAM PLACE
Here the shop of Mr H.M. Baker (grocer and house agent) was the principal attraction. The windows were decorated in a superb manner, and with excellent taste. Every delicacy to be found in a grocer’s establishment was to be seen here, whilst on small but gorgeous banners Mr Baker wished his customers a “merry Christmas and a happy New Year.” [the article continues with Hastings shops]