10 April 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
[Summary of news clipping below. Advert for sale of freehold of 8.5 acres on Warrior Square, plus 6.5 leasehold land in the direction of the railway station. The reason for the sale was James Troup’s insolvency. He had suddenly been asked to make a large payment and he could only pay by selling his land. In 1857 Troup was of 23 Portsea Place, Connaught Square, gentleman. Dividend was paid of 20s in the pound, which meant that his creditors were, very unusually, paid in full].
1 May 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
Mary Ann Simmonds, a regular “cadger,” was brought up by P.C. Cox, charged with being drunk, and using abusive and obscene language.
The P.C. deposed to finding the prisoner that morning, about 9, opposite the South Saxon Hotel, very drunk. On attempting to take her in custody she abused him very “foully.”
Fined 5s and costs 7s 6d, and in default, committed to Lewes Gaol for 14 days [The South Saxon Hotel was located at 13 Grand Parade, the site of the Bonjour café].
SMASHING. – A young man giving the name of Terry Sullivan was brought up, charged with uttering a counterfeit half-crown.
John Brown Langford deposed – I am assistant to Mr Johnson, chemist, St Leonards. Yesterday evening the prisoner came into my master’s shop, and asked for two pennyworth of Friar’s balsam, and tendered in payment what appeared a half crown. On examining the coin I found it to be counterfeit, and also identified the prisoner as the same person who had 7 weeks previous, passed off to me a counterfeit five shilling piece, having at that time two pennyworth of arrowroot. I called Mr Johnson, who gave the prisoner into custody.
The prisoner was remanded till next day (Friday) [In the 1851 census, Doncaster, John Brown Langford was 23, born Somerset, assistant to a chemist. In the 1861 census, Wellington, Somerset, 30, single, he was a chemist and druggist, with an assistant and an apprentice. Johnson was not living in St Leonards in the 1851 census].
4 May 1855, Hastings & St Leonards News:
BEGGING. – Frederic Hill, a sailor from Hanover, was brought up by police-constable Fryman, for begging at Maze Hill, that morning. Prisoner had been lodged at the Mendicity Society’s house the previous night.
Prisoner said he was on his road to Portsmouth, to get in the navy; and as he thought it would be a long walk from Hastings to Eastbourne, he was anxious to get a trifle before he left the town.
Discharged with a caution.
10 May 1855, Brighton Gazette:
BURIAL GROUND. — The parishes of St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen have agreed to provide a burial ground, for which purpose twelve acres have been selected on the Magdalen Charity Land.
WARRIOR SQUARE. – Mr Troup’s property in Warrior Square realized £16000 at the auction sale on Thursday.
11 May 1855, Hastings & St Leonards News:
PAVEMENTS… In the case of certain parties in Shepherd street, Gensing street, and Norman road, whose pavements had been put down at the public expense, after due notice given, it was ordered that the cost should be levied as Private Improvement expenses.
DRAINS. A recommendation of the Roads Committee, for rectifying the drainage of two houses on the Grand parade, complained of by the occupier, was ordered to be carried out.
25 May 1855, Hastings & St Leonards News:
BEGGING. – Ann Harris, aged 24, who had a little child with her, was brought up by police-constable Senior, for begging at Eversfield place.
Discharged with a caution.
DRUNKENNESS. – Elizabeth Jeffery, aged 48, was brought up by police-constable Jones for being drunk and disturbing the peace, at a quarter before twelve o’clock on Saturday night. Jones, who was on duty at St Leonards, heard a great noise, and on going in the direction from which it came, he found prisoner in Gensing-road, using very obscene language and crying “Murder !” He tried to persuade her to go home, but she refused; and he therefore took her into custody. The noise she made caused the people to run out of their houses to see what was the matter.
Prisoner said she was very sorry. She had lived in St Leonards for twenty years, and had never been in such circumstances before. She had met a friend who treated her; and what she drunk took great effect; because she had had scarcely anything to eat for a day or two.
Fined 5s and 6s costs; or, in default, fourteen days’ imprisonment. She promised to pay the money if they allowed her a few hours; and she was accordingly allowed until the next day.
29 May 1855, London Gazette:
The partnership between Richard Coleman and James Beck, as grocers and provision dealers, at 15 Grand Parade, as R. Coleman and Co., is dissolved by mutual consent. Richard Coleman to pay debts. 5 May 1855.
12 June 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
Mr Wm. N. Eldridge appealed to the bench against the rating of some property in the parish of St Mary Magdalen. He stated that he had laid the matter before the Vestry of the parish, but they had neglected to reduce the rating, and he took this step in order to prevent the assessed taxes for the year being charged on the present rating. The first was four houses in London-road, three were rated in the gross at £25, and one at £30. Two of those he left at £20 a year, the other two were empty; the houses were of the same size. The second was the Norman Hotel [since renamed the Piper], rated at £70 in the gross, the actual rent was £50. He only supplied the house with beer. The third was a small shop and a stable, in Sheppard Street [Shepherd Street], rated at £12, worth only 2s 6d a week — £6 or £7 a year.
The overseers admitted the correctness of these statements, and the rating of the property, was ordered to be reduced accordingly [Despite the different middle initial, this was almost certainly William Mantle Eldridge, a substantial property owner, especially of public houses. I wrote about him at https://bsls.org.uk/blog/william-mantell-eldridge-st-leonards-brewer-and-public-house-owner/ ].
Mr Joseph Davis appealed against the rating of the Wheat Sheaf Inn, situated in the same parish. He was rated in the gross at £30, while his rent was only £20 per annum. His house was free, he rented it of Mr R. Deudney.
The rating was ordered to be reduced.
15 June 1855, Hastings & St Leonards News:
SATURDAY, JUNE 9. – Before the Mayor.
QUARRELLING. – Elizabeth Smith v William Smith, plasterer, St Mary’s terrace, Gensing road.
Prosecutrix said – Yesterday, between twelve and one o’clock, my husband came home drunk. He sat down in the room where I was. I soon after went to the fire to take off a saucepan, and it tipped over. He then took up the poker, and threatened to split my head and kill me. After that, I went out into the washhouse, where he took hold of me by the neck, but did not strike me. He locked both doors; but I got the key of the front door and went out. He came after me, and pushed me back, swearing that he would kill me. He is continually drunk. He has only been sober six days since Good Friday last.
Mary Ann, wife of Frederick Winser, painter, said – I live next door to prosecutrix. Between twelve and o’clock yesterday, I heard the prisoner calling to his wife very fiercely. I saw him come out after her and push her in by the shoulder. He swore that he would kill her. When they were gone in, he locked the door.
The husband said his wife flew into a very violent passion with him, or he should not have done what he did.
Ordered to bind himself in the sum of £20, and to get a surety for the sum of £10, to keep the peace for three months. As he said he knew he could not get a surety, he was sent to gaol for one month.
BEGGING. – John Williams and John Barry, were charged by Inspector Battersby with begging at St Leonards. He had known Barry as a beggar for twenty years.
Barry was sent to gaol for one month, and Williams for a fortnight.
28 August 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
Henry Fuller, the landlord of the beer shop known as the Altar Tavern, in London Road, St Leonards, supported by Mr Baker, applied for a spirit license.
Mr Baker said that applicant kept the Fortune of War for 11 years, and during that time there were no complaints against him. Since he had been in the present, a summons had been granted against him and a fine of 1s was imposed. It was not at all a serious case, and beyond this he believed there was no further complaint against him.
Inspector Battersby said Fuller had been once cautioned, and summoned and dismissed, and once fined, as stated by Mr Baker. Lately, however, he was glad to say the house had been well conducted.
The Chairman enquired whether there was not at that time a great deal of dancing going on in the house.
Inspector Battersby said there was, but not at present.
Dr McCabe asked if Fuller was cautioned for allowing dancing at his house.
Inspector Battersby said he was not.
The Bench granted the application, and said that Fuller must be careful, or his license would be in jeopardy [I have not identified the exact locations of these beerhouses].
11 September 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
SINGULAR CHARGE OF USING ABUSIVE LANGUAGE. – Mrs Rayment, widow, of 5, Stanhope Place, appeared in answer to a summons charging her with using abusive language towards Emily Omeara, residing at 16, Undercliff, St Leonards.
Complainant, a fashionably dressed young woman, about 18 years of age, wearing a summer hat, said – As I was coming down the steps leading to the Undercliff, on the 4th inst., with my servant, Mrs Rayment said to me “Who stole the apples ? you are a swindler.”… [much more on this. Omeara lived at 16 Undercliff, which Rayment claimed belonged to her, but complainant’s mother said they rented it from James Beck].
MALICIOUS DAMAGE. — A young urchin, named John Saunders, was charged with maliciously breaking between twenty and thirty panes of glass, the property of A. Burton, Esq., St Leonards.
William Golding deposed to hearing stones being thrown through the skylight leading from the back door of the kitchen at the St Leonards Subscription Gardens, on the 1st inst. There were four lads outside, and one of them was the defendant. Witness saw him throw twice, and heard him exclaim to his companions “the old d—– is down in there,” meaning him (witness). They were small panes of glass, and the damage was laid at 3s.
Inspector Battersby said that defendant was generally in the company of a bad lot of boys. His mother was a very respectable, hard-working woman.
Defendant was ordered to pay 3s fine, and 11s costs and damages; in default 14 days hard labour [The premises were presumably one of the two at South Lodge, at the southern entrance].
6 November 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
To Let, A HOUSE AND SHOP, in a good situation, with plate glass front, in the Norman Road, St Leonards. Apply to H. BECK, Draper, 21, Marina.
13 November 1855, Sussex Advertiser:
The Hastings Mechanics’ Institution’s Museum Committee has received “several Roman coins and fragments of Roman urns, presented by Mr T. Ross, the same having been dug up in the course of some building operations in Warrior Square.”
14 December 1855, Hastings & St Leonards News:
REMOVAL. – An order was made for the removal of Jesse Waters, his wife, and five children, from the parish of St Mary Magdalen, Hastings, to the parish of Hollington [In the 1851 census, one of four households at 4 Lavatory [Lavatoria] was headed by Jesse Waters, 25, laborer, born Robertsbridge, his wife Elizabeth, born Hastings, and three St Leonards-born children. I am not clear why he was removed to Hollington rather than Robertsbridge].
18 January 1856, Hastings & St Leonards News:
Page 1. MR H.R. HAYDEN, ORGANIST AND CHOIR MASTER of St Leonards Church, (late pupil and assistant to dr BUCK, of Norwich) gives LESSONS on the Piano Forte, Singing and Harmony.
Terms may be known on application at 113, Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea.
MR LINDRIDGE, ORGANIST of St Mary’s in the Castle, Hastings, gives lessons on the Piano Forte, Organ, in Singing and Harmony. 66 Eversfield place, St Leonards-on-Sea.
19 February 1856, Sussex Advertiser:
Edward Bridger, bricklayer, on remand from the previous Monday, was placed in the dock on a charge of stealing a copper boiler, value 20s, the property of Mr Smith, railway contractor, of Stanhope Place, St Leonards.
The former depositions, which appeared in our last having been sworn to, prisoner, in answer to the clerk, expressed his wish to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty, alleging poverty in defence.
The police officer said that prisoner was convicted in 1841, and sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
The Mayor said Mr Hunter had written a letter to the Bench, speaking favourably of prisoner’s character for the last 10 years, taking which fact into consideration, he would only be sentenced to four months’ hard labor.
19 March 1856, The Morning Post:
[Summary only. A letter by the Rev. John Alton Hatchard of 58 Marina urged early closing on Saturdays by shops. Believed late closing encouraged neglect of the Sabbath. Said that in Hastings the rule was to close at 7 or 8 every evening except on Saturdays, the implication being normally even later. He had called on numerous shopkeepers in Hastings and St Leonards to ask them to sign an agreement to close at 9 every Saturday, and 65 had complied].28 March 1856, London Gazette:
Petition of Henry Hutchings of 3 St Clement’s Place, grocer’s assistant, late of 36 Norman Road West, tobacconist, stationer, newsvendor, dealer in fancy goods, and grocer’s assistant, formerly of the Albert Inn, Undercliff, out of employment, an insolvent debtor.
1856 Annual Register:
25 Apr 1856. Death of Richard Maxwell Fox at St Leonards. Of Foxhall, co. Longford, deputy lieutenant, magistrate, and MP for that county.