13 May 1853, Hastings and St Leonards News:
BATHING.
Mr DEUDNEY spoke [at a Council meeting] of the nuisance to the bathers near Warrior square, in consequence of the sea being thickened by the earth carried down on to the shore from the adjacent building ground. He finally moved that a notice board should be erected near the spot, warning parties not to discharge the earth so as for it to prove a nuisance.
The motion having been seconded was carried, and the attention of the Inspector was called to the subject, he having already taken some steps to check the nuisance, though hitherto doubtful as to his powers.
Mr ROSS spoke of the advisability of the Council’s taking that part of the stade more immediately under their jurisdiction, and promised to put the subject on the agenda for the next meeting.
7 June 1853, Sussex Advertiser:
[Hastings town council meeting]… Mr Deudney called attention to the great inconvenience arising from the great variety of names and numbers of houses along the front line between Hastings and St Leonards. He advocated an uniform name, and Mr Eversfield desiring that his name should be attached, he (Mr D.) would move that the houses from the East end of Warrior-square to the West end of Verulam-place, be called Eversfield-place, and numbered consecutively.Mr Beck seconded.
Mr Ross was sorry to hear that Mr Eversfield was so desirous to have his name attached to so important a part of the town. If he had done any great service to his country – were Mr Eversfield a Nelson or a Wellington, then he might have some claim to this distinction; but here was a person having no concern.
Mr Deudney – He is very much concerned…
Mr Alderman Clift argued that as the towns of Hastings and St Leonards were soon likely to be joined, this line should be called “St Leonards Road.” He moved this as an amendment.
Mr Ross seconded.
After some further conversation, Mr Deudney’s motion was carried by 6 to 3.
29 July 1853, Hastings and St Leonards News:
ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA. DEPARTURES.
Marquis Ormond and family, 6, Eversfield place, yesterday.
Lady Louisa de Spaen and Mrs Cleaver, Wilton House, Eversfield place.
ACCIDENT. — On the morning of yesterday week, as Mr G.F. Jarman was leaving the residence of Mr Wagner, 77, Marina, he by some means tripped and fell down the stone steps, severely injuring his forehead and spraining his wrist. But for the protection afforded by a stout brim to his hat, Mr Jarman’s injuries would in all probability have been much more serious. Mr Norwood was promptly in attendance, and the injured gentleman is now recovering from the effects of the accident.
VAGRANCY. — Jonathan Gilbert and William Scott, “turnpike sailors,” were brought up by police-constables Brazier and Jones, charged with begging at St Leonards on the previous afternoon.
The prisoners were part of a gang of three who had for some time made themselves very troublesome by their importunity. On the day in question they were begging along the Marina, and by the complaints made to the police-constables by various parties, it seemed that the vagrants “would not take ‘no’ for an answer.” Some parties were even frightened by their impudence.
The first was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, the second to twenty days.
5 August 1853, Hastings and St Leonards News:
ON FRIDAY afternoon, at three o’clock, as Samuel Boorman, a carpenter living at 109, High street, was at work at a house in course of erection for Mr Cooper at Warrior square, a brick, or a part of one, fell on his head from a height of three or four storeys and levelled him at once. By some means he regained his footing, crossed the joists, gained a ladder which was at a very awkward distance, and reached the ground, when he was conducted to the surgery of Dr Marks, who at once attended to his injuries, which were happily not so serious as might have been expected, though the head was laid bare to the bone, and the blood flowed considerably. The wound having been dressed, the sufferer was assisted home, and, though after suffering considerable pain, has since pretty well recovered the effects of the accident. A little more reasonable care on the part of the bricklayers, it is stated, might have prevented this accident.
IMPOSTERS. – James and Martha Thomas, a married couple, were charged with begging.
Police-constable Adams stated that on the previous afternoon he was at St Leonards in plain clothes, when the male prisoner came and begged of him. Police-constable Adams stated that on the previous afternoon he was at St Leonards in plain clothes, when the male prisoner came and begged of him. Complaints had been made to him that the prisoners had been very troublesome at various places in St Leonards. He therefore took them into custody.
The woman appeared with her eyes closed, pretending to be blind; but one of the magistrates examined her eye, forcing her eyelids open for her (as she would not open them herself), and, by the aid of a lighted lamp, proved that she could see as well as he could; consequently that her pretence to being blind was a gross impudence. In the possession of the prisoners was found a regular list of towns through which they had to pass in their “circuit,” and embracing nearly all the principal provincial towns and large villages in this part of the kingdom.
As the woman had not begged, the Vagrant Act would not reach her, she was therefore discharged, and the man was sent to prison for fourteen days.
William Poole, a middle-aged man with a wooden leg, was summoned for using abusive language to William Sutton, a young working-man, at St Leonards, on Saturday evening.
The case was proved, and the defendant was fined 1s and 18s costs, or, in default, to fourteen days imprisonment,
Allowed fourteen days to pay the money.
ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA. ARRIVALS.
The Neapolitan Ambassador, the Prince Carini, with the Princess and family, 44, Eversfield place, on Saturday last.
Part of Sir Woodbine Parish’s family, 5, Maze hill, till their residence, Quarry Castle, is ready to receive them.
9 August 1853, Sussex Advertiser:
Advert below for houses being built, 117 and 118 Marina. In 1862 house numbers on Marina from no. 100 began to be numbered 111, etc., hence these were the present 128-129 Marina. An 8% return at a time of very low inflation was excellent.
This being the adjourned meeting for granting game licenses, Mr T. Price, of 6, South Colonnade, and Mr James Ball, of 9, South Colonnade, St Leonards, attended, and obtained renewal of their licenses.
… The [Roads] Committee also recommended that a temporary cesspool be made opposite the Saxon Hotel, until the proposed drainage be carried out. That the General Board be applied to to sanction the construction of a large culvert, as proposed in the drainage plan, for the draining of the Priory; that the footpath from Norman Road East, passing the new church, be covered with gas-tar, and to have a curb placed… and that the Commissioners of St Leonards be applied to to state the sum for which they would allow the Local Board to drain through their sewers [The Saxon Hotel’s site is now the rebuilt Bonjour. The new church was St Mary Magdalen].
16 August 1853, Sussex Advertiser:
An interesting account reproduced below of theft by a young boy at 52 Eversfield Place. I liked the details about the servants. I could not find anything more on him.
19 August 1853, London Gazette:
30 August 1853, Sussex Advertiser:
[Annual Licensing Day]. George Bennett applied for a license for a house situated at the top of the road approaching the South-Eastern Railway Company’s St Leonards station.Mr W.B. Young supported the application, and read a memorial from the inhabitants.
This has also been twice before refused [Apparently the Old England].
PLASTERERS’ ARMS. William Wright applied for a license for a house in Cross-street.
Mr Langham supported.
This house is situated close to the house applied for above, only a narrow street separating them.
Some amusement was afforded in reading a memorial signed by several of the same persons who appended their names in support of the former one. The churchwarden (Mr Deudney), signed both memorials [The Plasterers’ Arms was at the corner of Cross and South streets, and is now part of Crystal Square car park].
THE NAG’S HEAD. Thomas Winter, supported by Mr Langham, applied for a license for this house, which is situated in the Gensing Road, and at some distance from any other licensed house.
A memorial was put in. This memorial contained the names of Mr Deudney, Mr Pain, and Mr Neve, who has signed for the two former applications [Licenses granted to Winter and Wright, but not Bennett].
[The Bench]. Martha Sabina Veness was charged with using obscene and abusive language in front of Eversfield Place, to Henry Veness. This is an unfortunate matter, and has been many times before the Magistrates and the public. A quarrel and separation has occurred, and defendant has been various times convicted of annoying her husband… defendant denied the charge…. [The Bench dismissed the case].1 September 1853, Brighton Gazette:
ST LEONARDS ON SEA. Building operations on a large scale are contemplated on the Eversfield estate, the whole of which, comprising about 400 acres, is about to be laid out by Mr William J. Gant, architect, for terraces, detached villas, pleasure grounds, &c. The ground is to be let on long building leases. This project, taken in connection with another lately alluded to in a note on Hastings, points to the probability of the whole of the high grounds at the back of the present populated district being ultimately (though perhaps at a distant period) more or less covered with houses, till at length the united towns of Hastings and St Leonards resemble Brighton for extent.—Builder.
16 September 1853, Hastings and St Leonards News:
ON FRIDAY EVENING, a special general meeting of the members of the St Leonards Mechanics’ Institution was held in the society’s rooms, Mr S. Putland in the chair, when a discussion took place as to the propriety of purchasing an unfinished house, No. 41, Norman road west, for the purpose of converting it into an institution building. An offer of a piece of building ground came also before the meeting. Considerable discussion took place, and ultimately an adjournment for a week was agreed to [Stephen Putland was a coal merchant on London Road. The house number would now be different].
25 October 1853, London Gazette:
Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors. On their own petitions. James Smith, late of St Leonard’s, on Sea, Sussex, Cabinet Maker and Upholsterer. – In the Gaol of Dover.
19 December 1853, The Morning Post:
On the 13th inst., at St Leonard’s on Sea, the Dowager Lady Howden, aged 80 [She was the widow of John Francis Cradock (1759-1839), 1st Baron Howden, army officer and colonial administrator].
4 April 1854, London Gazette:
Insolvent debtor. Dover, 19 Apr 1854. Felix Jarrett, late of 9 Robertson Street, Hastings, builder and lodging house keeper, formerly of 16 London Road, St Leonards, same trades, previously of 16 White Rock Place, same trades, formerly of 16 East Ascent, and of 16 White Rock Place, same trades, before then of 16 East Ascent only, same trades [In the 1851 census he was of 16 London Road, age 45, builder, born Rye, married to Mercy].