The local newspapers occasionally printed letters or reminiscences about the early days of St Leonards. Here is an example I have just come across, as printed in the Hastings and St Leonards Observer, 20 November 1880. It was a follow-up to an earlier letter about Hasting’s old town. It is very long, so I am only providing relevant extracts about St Leonards, and will then comment on the author’s background. I do wonder how he knew about confidential discussions between James Burton and Charles Deudney, of Gensing Farm. He does hint that he heard it from ‘Squire Shadwell’, with whom he lived for five years (yes, but how did he…). I only wish he had given details about the work involved with the construction.
I will now endeavour, with your kind permission, to give a little history of the founding of that beautiful town and seaside resort… before it was commenced there was a deal of negotiation between the founder, Mr Burton, and Sir Charles Eversfield, and Mr Deudney of that time, who was Sir Charles’ agent, and also farmed a portion of the land. In one of those negotiations between Mr Burton and Mr Deudney, the latter said, “Mr Burton, I do not want to hear so much about the New Town; I want to see a deposit made for the land.” “Well, well,” rejoined Mr Burton, “you shall soon see that, Mr Deudney. Will you be satisfied then ?” The answer was, “Yes,” and in two or three days from that time the deposit was made, and St Leonards began…
The deposit was made and the New Town began. The principal builders were – a Mr John Hughes, carpenter and builder; Mr John Holman, bricklayer and builder; Mr Scott, stonemason and builder; and Mr Thorn, plasterer and builder. The first work done was the erection of the two groynes of timber east and west of the town. Then followed the South Colonnade, together with some villas on the West Hill. Then came the St Leonards Hotel, as it was called, and the spare building at the back, in which Mr Burton gave an opening supper to all the mechanics. After the St Leonards Hotel was built, Mr Burton himself attended the opening, and gave a grand display of fireworks on the occasion. This was about fifty years ago. Just about that time the Duchess of Kent, the mother of her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, resided in one of the villas on the West Hill, St Leonards, and the Queen was at that time living there, and in fine weather enjoyed a donkey-ride on the beautiful sands of St Leonards. I think the family of Brazier attended on her Majesty. At that time, I knew old Mr Charles Burchell, the builder, very well. I trust he will pardon my naming him, for he was a jolly good fellow. I dined with him at the opening dinner, or, perhaps, properly speaking, a supper. I recollect his singing the song at the time, “The minute gun at sea.” I served twelve months of my apprenticeship in the St Leonards Hotel, my masters, Messrs. Glazier and Jones, having the contract for the internal work…
The author then gives many details of smuggling and poaching. He says that when he was eleven years old his father was ‘living at Ore Place in the old mansion, as bailiff to Squire Shadwell, where the late Sir Howard Elphinstone, who afterwards bought the estate, lived.’ Sir Howard Elphinstone (1773-1846) was a Major General and 1st Baronet of Sowerby.
His father was living in nearby Guestling, where ‘I hope I shall be able to see him between now and Christmas, if I can only obtain the means for the journey to and fro; I can have a week’s liberty. I fear he would not recollect much of what I am writing now; we have not seen each other for nine years.’
The author then says he ‘began to earn my living when I was only ten years old, and I have never spent a lazy life, although I have not been prosperous; and through sickness and other things, I have never had much time for thought and reflection till I entered where I am now – the Greenwich Union.’ That is, the workhouse. He signed off with the name E. Wenham, 112 Ward, Greenwich Union, 15 November 1880.
This was Edgar Wenham, who in the 1881 census was in the Greenwich workhouse, age 73, a widower, former carpenter, born Westfield. This suggests he was about 20 when the building of St Leonards began in 1828. He was at Greenwich in the censuses, a carpenter, from 1841. He married twice, and died in 1882. His earlier letter, in the 23 October issue, had his address as the Greenwich union infirmary. He said that he had worked as a joiner when apprenticed at 18. It was normal to be apprenticed at 14. Previously he had been a page to the uncle of W. Lucas-Shadwell, and he had left Hastings 52 years before, so in about 1828 or 1829, soon after the construction of St Leonards began.
He gave a heart-rending account of he and his wife having to move into the workhouse. She had been confined to her bed for 18 months, was transferred to the Greenwich Union Infirmary, he visited her and then, returning, slipped on orange peel and fractured his right leg, and was transferred to the Infirmary. He never saw his wife again, as she died three days later.
His father William Wenham was indeed at Guestling in the 1881 census, aged 94, retired farmer, born Brede, uncle to Jane Westwood, 70, widow and annuitant, and her sister Hannah Baker, 62, spinster, both born Westfield. He out-lived his son, dying at Hastings several years later.
Fantastic anecdotes for reference during Society tours around Burtons’ St Leonards. Thank you!