3 May 1841, Sussex Advertiser:
HASTINGS AND ST LEONARD’S. ACCIDENT – On Saturday, as a boy about nine years old named Eldridge, was digging sand under the cliff, near St Leonard’s Caves, a large piece of rock, of about 100 weight, became detached from the rest, and fell upon the poor fellow, who was heard crying for assistance by some person passing, who immediately went to his assistance, and after some time succeeded in extricating the boy, who was quite insensible and much bruised. He now lies in a very precarious state.
27 May 1841, Brighton Gazette:
Hastings. At the Town Clerk’s office, on Saturday, James Mills Southurst was sentenced to five weeks’ imprisonment in Lewes House of Correction, for having been found with an unlawful purpose on the roof of 60, Marina, occupied by Lady Mansfield [In the 1851 census he was a married bricklayer, 36, with 8 children at Lennox Street, St Clement’s, Hastings].
10 July 1841, The Morning Herald:
HASTINGS and ST LEONARD’S ON SEA. – The attention of Visitors to the above fashionable Watering-places is respectfully directed to the PARAGON, very superior fast Coach, which leaves the BELLE SAUVAGE, Ludgate-hill, and NELSON’S OFFICE, 53, Piccadilly, Morning, at Nine o’clock.
J. NELSON and co., Proprietors.
Tonbridge Wells fast Coaches, Morning, at Nine; and Afternoon, at One and Three o’clock, from the above offices [Clearly a rival service to the advert for the Regulator. The same newspaper, 2 February 1842, states that fares had been reduced to 20s inside, and 10s outside].
19 July 1841, Brighton Patriot:
July 16, at St Leonard’s on Sea, Sir Thomas Andrew Strange, Knight, D.C.L., formerly Chief Justice at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature, at Madras, aged 85 [There is a portrait of Sir Thomas Andrew Strange online. Born Aberdeen. 6 June 1841 census shows the family at an unnumbered address on Marina. 5 Dec 1839, Brighton Gazette: Sir Thomas Strange has removed from Gloucester Lodge to 51, Marina, for eight months. In the 17 February 1840, Sussex Advertiser: [still residing at St Leonards were] Sir Thomas and Lady Strange, 61, Marina. 16 July 1840, Brighton Gazette: Subscribers to Southall’s Library included the same, from 61 Marina].
27 July 1841, Evening Standard:
ST LEONARD’S ON SEA. – The Queen’s St Leonard’s Archers are to hold their annual grand target day, on the 17th August, in honour of the birth-day of their Royal patroness the Duchess of Kent. The handsome prize annually given by her Majesty will then be shot for, besides various other prizes; and if we may judge from the excellence of the shooting at former meetings, the competition on this occasion is likely to be very great.
28 July 1841, Morning Chronicle:
Hastings, Sussex. – Leasehold Houses and convenient business Premises facing the Sea, at St Leonard’s.
MR MUSGROVE is directed by the executors of the late Wm. Neal, Esq. to SELL by AUCTION, at the Auction Mart, on Friday, August 6, at Twelve, in One Lot, without reserve, an improvable LEASEHOLD PROPERTY, consisting of two private Residences in the Marina at St Leonard’s, commanding an uninterrupted view of the sea, and fronting the road to Bexhill, with a gateway entrance to a large yard, excellent workshops, stabling, and premises in the rear, formerly in the occupation of Mr John Carey, builder, and of which immediate possession may be had. The property is held for seventy-seven years unexpired, at a ground rent. – To be viewed: printed particulars on the premises; at the Castle, Hastings; the Conqueror Hotel, St Leonards; of Mr Nicholas, builder, No. 14, Mercatoria-place, St Leonard’s; of James Morris, Esq., solicitor, 12, Crescent, Minories; at the Auction Mart; and at Mr Musgrove’s offices, 5, Austin-friars, Old Broad Street [77 years unexpired suggests a 90-year term from 1828, a term typical of the Burtons at that time].
11 September 1841, Evening Standard:
PUBLIC SALES.
ST LEONARD’S ON SEA. – TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT.
A VALUABLE LEASEHOLD RESIDENCE, No. 12, UNDERCLIFF, containing a dining room with folding-doors, drawing-room, six bed-rooms, water-closets, convenient kitchen, yard, and offices; held for about 90 years at a ground-rent of 15l. the Premises are highly desirable, and well let to Lady Day, 1842.
Refer for every particular to Henry Bishop, Esq., High-street, Hastings.
18 October 1841, Sussex Advertiser:
HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS. On Tuesday night Mrs Hollond, the lady of our respected and popular member, gave a quadrille party at the Allegria, which was most fashionably attended… Mr and Mrs Pigeon arrived at 44, Marina, on Monday. Mrs Phipps has apartments at 17, Marina. Mr and Mrs Fraser and family arrived at 37, Marina, on Wednesday. Mr and Mrs Robinson have taken apartments at 3, West Ascent. Mr W.D. Cooper is staying at 4, Seymour Place. Sir Andrew Pilkington has taken 12, Grand Parade. Mrs Colonel Morgan arrived at 6, Maize Hill, on Monday. Mr Clutterbuck has taken 61, Marina, for the winter. Mrs Mount has taken 55, Marina. Captain Muskett has taken 15, Undercliffe, for the winter.
23 October 1841, Dover Telegraph:
[Insolvent debtor’s hearing to be held, Dover, 12 November]. STEPHEN PILCHER, formerly of Lion Inn, in the parish of St Mary in the Castle, in the Borough of Hastings, in the County of Sussex, licensed victualler; and late of the Warrior’s Gate Inn, situate on the London Road, Saint Leonards on the Sea, in the said County, licensed victualler [The Warrior’s Gate was located at what is now the post office, London Road]29 October 1841, Coventry Herald:
STONELEIGH. Lord and Lady Leigh and family left Stoneleigh Abbey last week for St Leonard’s on Sea, where the mansion on the Marine Parade, formerly occupied by Queen Adelaide and the Princess Augusta, has been engaged for their accommodation [This is thought to be 23 Marina. Queen Adelaide was wife to King William IV].
4 November 1841, Brighton Gazette:
ST LEONARDS. The election to supply the place of two Town Councillors in the West Ward took place on Monday last, when Mr A. Burton and Mr Southall were elected without opposition, — a very numerously signed requisition having been presented to the former gentleman to allow himself to be put in nomination [These were Alfred Burton, son of James, and Charles Heywood Southall the librarian and factotum of St Leonards. West Ward was basically St Leonards without, that is, outside the core of St Leonards that was administered by the Commissioners].
30 December 1841 Brighton Gazette:
ST LEONARDS. The Christmas ball, on Monday night, was very numerously and fashionably attended, and went off with its usual eclat. Mr Hart and his excellent band played with, if possible, more spirit than ever [Almost certainly at the Assembly Rooms, where it normally occurred].
15 January 1842, St James’s Chronicle:
Jan. 12, at St Leonard’s on Sea, Mrs James Eleanora Blanshard, relict of the late John Blanshard, Esq., formerly of the Hon. East India Company’s Service [She was buried at St Leonard’s parish church, 20 January, age 54. Her husband had died 26 August 1828, Cheltenham, age 46. He had been Commander of the East Indiamen Carnatic and Marquis Wellington. On the death of John Blanshard of Chittore, India, bachelor, on the 6 September 1833, administration of his goods was made to James Eleanora Blanshard of Seymour Place, St Leonards, Sussex, widow, the mother. She was still at Seymour Place [now Grand Parade] with two presumed daughters in the 1841 census].
2 April 1842, Oxford University and City Herald:
A poor woman named Prendergast, at St Leonard’s on Sea, was brought to bed a month ago of three children; the mother is nursing them all, and they are fine children.
5 May 1842, Brighton Gazette:
Hastings Borough Quarter Sessions, April 27, before William Wakeford Attree, Esq., the Recorder, and a full bench of magistrates…. HENRY HANCOCK also pleaded Guilty to an indictment charging him with stealing, on the 27th January, in the parish of St Leonards, one spy glass, value 5s, one cannon, value 6d, and a quantity of envelopes, whereon were affixed penny postage stamps, the property of R. Clutterbuck, Esq. – One month’s imprisonment in Hastings Gaol, the last week in solitary confinement, and to be once whipped.
2 June 1842, Brighton Gazette:
ST LEONARDS. We congratulate the inhabitants of this neighbourhood on the opening of the South-Eastern Railway to Tunbridge; it has effected a most material saving in time in performing the journey to London. The distance from St Leonards is now performed in five hours and a half; and the coaches are so arranged that persons may leave St Leonards at seven in the morning, and return by eight o’clock the same evening, having two hours to spare in London. A still greater saving in time will soon be effected, when the railroad is opened to Staplehurst in August next; and as the new turnpike-road by Hawkhurst to the above station is about to be immediately commenced, there will not be much longer any good grounds for complaint in regard to the length of the journey to this place.
30 June 1842, Brighton Gazette:
HASTINGS. The towns of Hastings and St Leonards are beginning to feel the advantages of the new Railway, which is now opened as far as Tunbridge. It makes a great saving of time between London and those towns, the journey being performed now in five, instead of eight hours. The best proof of its good management is to be found in the fact that not a single parcel or package has gone wrong, nor has any mistake occurred.
JAMES CHENEY was charged by Police Constable Jessop with having, on the 9th instant, ridden on the shafts of his cart without reins, in the parish of St Mary Magdalen. – Defendant, who admitted that he had sometimes done so, in consequence of having bad feet, was dismissed with a caution.