DUKE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 

Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2018 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 https://archive.org/details/hastingsguide01powe 
 

 
 t 
 
 ( 
 
 l\ 
 
 1 
 
 » 
 
 
 , ’* 
 
 K.4 
 
 
 A 
 
 
 
 # 
 
 . •^* 
 
^ssy£~ 
 
 HASTINGS GUIDE. 
 
 FIFTH EDITION. 
 
 A CONSISB 
 
 HISTORICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SKETCH 
 
 OP 
 
 HASTINGS, 
 
 BATTLE, WINCHELSEA, AND RYE, 
 
 INCLCDING ALSO 
 
 SEVERAL OTHER PLACES 
 
 IN THE VICINITY OF THOSE ANCIENT TOWNS; 
 
 With a brief particular of the Situation 
 OF THE 
 
 LODGING HOUSES* 
 
 EMBELLISHED WITH 
 
 Engravings, a Plan of the Town, and a Map of the 
 Environs of Hastings. 
 
 Published by P. M. Rowell, Library, Marine Parade, Hastings, 
 and Messrs. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, 
 and Green, London. 
 
 
 BANSOM, PRINTER, BASTINGS. 
 
"o r; > - r, • ^ 
 
 
 
 
 . f - -— 
 
9i4.<2.a5 
 52(^9 CC 
 
 P. M. POWELL respectfully begs leave to 
 I submit to the Public the Fifth Edition of the 
 Hastings Guide, containing several particu- 
 ! larsof the Antiquity of the Castle and the 
 Town, as also of many modern improvements, 
 j &c. which were not noticed in the former 
 i Edition, 
 
 j POWELL avails himself of this opportunity 
 ; of returning his sincere acknowledgments to his 
 i numerous Subscribers and Friends, for their 
 I patronage and support; and most earnestly so¬ 
 licits a continuance of their kind recommenda- 
 : tion, which it will be his anxious endeavour to 
 
 i 
 
 merit. 
 

 ^>*1 4^ fH t 
 
 :r.v ' ■ 
 
 
 - ^ " , 
 
 ■V- -. -..f; . ., r: ■/ ft. ^ ■ .^'v- 
 
 ()i ;-i’rf,",( >'’vk(, 74 ui.),i V-'' «I 
 
 ‘ 'i ■ ■ ■ ^■‘''. ' ' ■' 
 
 ■.'::t /’ -i cii') ^-y. < 
 
 ?;r{j .iJ ,-'.:' \ i :■( ;!'^i;TO‘,''^' v. I i’t*. -Wi) 'lo 
 
 
 !'.v tnS'70'’i.j 
 
 -, 'lain'to'i' 9ii> fii ii.:ji)’cif ioir 1 
 
 % " ■'■■ 
 
 :: . ' ■ ■• '.rfOfi;'.' ' 
 
 ' Vy ' » 
 
 vliaijt-ioq<j[o (-.iilt ■><i '>! i'j;*.;.'!';’!: :. v Jk'.T.V' ri 
 
 ., j;;il (Vj^alii : a; - • ii > i 
 
 ' 1. . - . -.ypy '.■... '. ' .V-- .• , 't 
 
 'Vt. 
 
 
 ■ -iir*'. .^-.- 
 
 ^ ' 9 ''•u''if ■ ' - .i’tJStf'/ ' 111' ■ .. .% •-^•^ 
 
 y\i^ "v ■ 
 
 ■ '-(-a. v|t,>,: 3 n.".".:) 
 
 ■ -ii{Hiiiiiino;)^-t..-]^'if-'felisifJ Ja gtcyTOMiB'il'OJi : at’-' 
 07i,j{)')'(r> ::>Joi.'C’!S.aj(i :xf |tfv> irr';)iiiw ■,JiO,l 
 
 01 lUOVi, 
 
 .li un 
 
ErTTKAIT'ClE OF MaSTjIMCS, 
 
HISTORICAL 
 
 AND 
 
 S&etcl) 
 
 OP 
 
 HASTINGS. 
 
 nr^HE town of Hastings, in Sussex, which 
 is the chief of the Cinque Ports, is most de¬ 
 lightfully situated in a valley upon the sea-coast, 
 sixty-four miles from London, near the eastern 
 extremity of the county, and surrounded on all 
 sides except the south, with high clilTs and hills; 
 which afford a shelter that renders it, particular- 
 13' to invalids, one of the most healthy places in 
 the kingdom. It formerly principally consisted 
 of two parallel streets. High-street and All- 
 saints-street, divided by a small stream called 
 the Bourne, which runs into the sea; but Has¬ 
 tings having of late years become one of the 
 most favorite places of resort, a number of new 
 houses have been built in the most eligible 
 
 n 
 
O' 
 
 HAST J NGS. 
 
 situations, for (he accoininodation of the visitors; 
 particularly the Marine Parade, Pelham Place 
 and Crescent, Breeds Place, Wellington Square, 
 Blucher’s Buildings, York Buildings, the Croft, 
 Gloucester Place, Cavendish Place, Coburg 
 Place, &c. &c. The town has been greatly im¬ 
 proved, by paving and lighting the principal 
 parts of it; the number of inhabitants has 
 greatly increased and is now estimated at 7,000. 
 
 Respecting its name and antiquity, it appears 
 from Sharon Turner’s History of the Anglo- 
 Saxons, that Offa, King of Mercia, an ambitious 
 Prince, Avishing to extend his dominions, invaded 
 Kent and a great slaughter ensued at Otford, in 
 which Off'a triumphed, and Kent submitted to 
 the power of Mercia. It is also stated that he 
 attacked the Heslingi —the situation of these peo¬ 
 ple has been doubted by various authors; but the 
 most prevalent opinion is that they were from 
 Hastings, one of the Cinque Ports; and this 
 presumption is supported by Alford, who states 
 in his annals that a charter in Dub/et fixes them 
 in Sussex, by which charter Offa confirms a 
 grant of land in the neighbourhood of Hastings 
 to the Abbey of St. Dennis, and styles Bcrtzcald, 
 the proprietor of Hastings and Pevensey, 
 his Fidelis. 
 
HASTl N(iS, 
 
 OjJ'a reigned tVom the year 755 to 794, it fol¬ 
 lows therefore that historians have been mista¬ 
 ken in supposing that the town derived its name 
 from the celebrated Danish pirate, who 
 
 invaded England in the reign of Alfred, about 
 the year 879, which was more than a century 
 after the grants above mentioned. 
 
 From the dilferent records which have been 
 published relative to this towm we learn that as 
 early as the reign of Athehtan, Anno Dom. 924, 
 it was of sufficient importance to have a mint, 
 from which circumstance an inference may be 
 drawn, that it must then have been in a flourish¬ 
 ing condition ; Hastings too was bound, on re¬ 
 ceiving legal notice of forty days, to provide and 
 equip twenty-one ships, to co-operate with those 
 furnished by the Ports, to suppress the daring 
 enterprizes of Danish pirates. During the early 
 part of the reign of Henry the Third, the Cinque 
 Ports fitted out forty ships, under the command 
 of Hubert de Burgho, (Warden of those Ports, 
 and Governor of Dover Castle,) which putting 
 to sea, came up with and engaged eighty sail of 
 French ships, which were coming to aid Louis, 
 the French king’s son, when after a furious en¬ 
 gagement on Iioth sides, several of the enemy’s. 
 
8 
 
 HASTINGS. 
 
 ship’s were captured, and the remainder sunk or 
 dispersed. 
 
 It was this, and other important services ren¬ 
 dered by the ports’ fleet, which no doubt procu¬ 
 red them the many honors and privileges they 
 did at that time, and still enjoy ; among others, 
 the barons of the Cinque Ports have the honor of 
 supporting the canopies over the King and Queen, 
 at their coronation, which afterwards become 
 the property of the Ports, and of dining with 
 their Majesties on that occasion. 
 
 During the reign of Richard the Third, anno 
 1377, Hastings was burned by the French; and 
 when rebuilt, was separated into three parishes, 
 St. Clement, All Saints, and St. Mary in the 
 Castle. 
 
 RELIGIOUS EDIFICES. 
 
 The present Churches, St. Clement and All 
 Saints, are both very ancient fabrics, though it 
 is uncertain when they were built. 
 
 SAINT CLEMENT, 
 
 (Commonly called the Lower Church,) appears 
 

 ST CLKMKS'T’S CHFRCM.EASTiraGS, 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 9 
 
 to have undergone but little alteration since it 
 was first erected. It contains several curious in¬ 
 scriptions on brass and marble; and on the nortli 
 side of the chancel, within a large gilt frame, an 
 inscription is recorded by the corporation, dated 
 20 Jan. anno dom. 1721, acknowledging many 
 great and generous benefactions received from 
 the late Iio?i. Archibald Hutcheson, esq. one of 
 their barons in parliament, in the reign of Queen 
 Anne. On the south side of the chancel is a ve¬ 
 ry handsome monument to the memory of the 
 late John Collier, esq. of this town; and on 
 the north side is another recently erected to the 
 memory of Edward Milward, esq. The ^4/- 
 tar-pieceio this church, which is very neat, was 
 executed by that distinguished artist the late Mr. 
 Mortimer, who,from his peculiar skill in de¬ 
 lineating the human figure, was pre-eminently 
 qualified to paint such subjects. On the ceiling 
 is a representation of the heavenly regions, and 
 underneath, at the corners, are the figures of Faith, 
 Hope, and Charity. The Font, although a curi¬ 
 ous piece of antiquity, has been so much disfigur¬ 
 ed by imprudent repairs and whitewash, that it 
 is scarcely possible to trace the workmanship on 
 it : it is said to bear representations of our 
 Saviour’s passion. 
 
10 
 
 HASTl NfiS. 
 
 ALL SAINTS, 
 
 (Usually styled the Upper Church,) stands near 
 the entrance of the town, and is supposed to be 
 about 700 years old. It contains not any sepul¬ 
 chral memorials deserving of particular notice; 
 the pulpit cloth was part of the canopy held over 
 Queen An ne at her coronation, and on the roof 
 of the belfrey are still the twelve signs of the 
 zodiac, in tolerable preservation. 
 
 ST. MARY’S. 
 
 The parish of Saint Mary’s, which contains 
 the principal houses for the accommodation of 
 visitors, and a population of 1500 persons, was 
 without any place of public worship, until the 
 Rt. Hon. the Earl of Chichester procured an 
 Act of Parliament, and by his munificence, is 
 erecting at his sole cost, an elegant edifice, 
 to be called 
 
 ST. MARY’S CHAPEL, 
 
 Situated in the centre of Pelham Crescent, 
 capable of containing 1200 persons, including 
 free sitting for one hundred and fifty. 
 

 r 
 

 • j 
 
HA.STIN(;S. 
 
 11 
 
 DISSEN'I'ING CHAPELS. 
 
 Till within the last twenty-five years there 
 was neither chapel nor meeting-house in Has¬ 
 tings, for dissenters of any denomination. There 
 are now five. The first was erected in 180.3, in 
 the Croft. It is called the 
 
 CROFT CHAPEL, 
 
 It will accommodate about 500 persons, in¬ 
 cluding children. The church government is 
 independent. The Rev. W. Davi.s, formerly 
 of Hoxton College, has been minister of this 
 place of worship since the close of 1818. The 
 next in size and importance is the fVesleyan, 
 erected in 1822, situated in Waterloo-passage, 
 near the north end of the town. There is a 
 small chapel on the east-hill, called Ebenezer, 
 the minister of which, a Mr. Fenner, resides 
 at Peckham, where he has also a chapel. 
 His visits to Hastings are only occasional. The 
 congregation is therefore generally left destitute 
 of an officiating minister. The friends of this 
 place arc of the ba|)tist denomination, hut their 
 
12 
 
 HASTINGS, 
 
 sentiments are not very dissimilar from those of 
 the late Mr. Huntington. 
 
 In addition to the above, there are two small 
 places of worship at the bottom of Court-house 
 street. One is called Zoar. The preacher is a 
 tradesman in the town. The other is a school 
 room, in which some Wesleyans of the new con¬ 
 nexion, or Bryanites, meet for public worship. 
 
 TOWN HALL. 
 
 The old Town Hall or Court House, under 
 which is the Market-place, was erected in the 
 year 1700, at the expense of Joh7i Pultney and 
 Peter Gott, esquires, then representatives in 
 parliament for Hastings; but a more commo¬ 
 dious Hall was built in 1823, at the expense of 
 the corporation. In it is a shield bearing the 
 arms of France, brought from Quebec, and 
 which was presented to the corporation by 
 General James Murray, who spent the latter 
 days of his life at his seat called Beaufort, 
 near Hastings, after having endured the hard¬ 
 ships and fatigue of many years active service. 
 
AlTO)Lilj)MAS-SlC)F.AT TME ErfTau^rEOFlLASTliT GS,' 
 m mo. 
 
IIA STING 
 
 13 
 
 CASTLE. 
 
 The first object which attracts the attention 
 of a stranger, is the remains of a very large and 
 ancient Castle, on the summit of the west hill. 
 
 The walls, which are now fast mouldering to 
 decay, are composed chiefly of flint and stone, 
 and in thickness near eight feet. 
 
 Hastings Castle is first mentioned in the 
 Chancery roll 25th and 26th Hen. VI. restoring to 
 the bishop of Chichester his right of jurisdiction 
 over Hastings College; which document dis¬ 
 tinctly mentions a parish church of St. Mary 
 within the Castle of Hastings in the Saxon 
 times. 
 
 Idle additions made to this fortress by 
 William the Conqueror before the Battle of 
 Hastings, consisted in cutting the great moat 
 on the east side, which separated the Castle hill 
 into two; raising the Castle mount from the soil 
 dug out of it, and forming the various earth¬ 
 works still to be traced on the east and north 
 I’his is proved to be the fact from the Bayeux 
 Tapestry, which represents a person digging, 
 and another giving orders: the inscription 
 
 c 
 
11 ASTlNCiS, 
 
 1 J 
 
 imdenicalli, literally translated is, “ He ordered ■ 
 that a Castle should be dug at Hastingsplain- 
 ly implying, as Mr. King observes, that this I 
 camp or castle was a mere earthwork; for there ; 
 is no representation of a castle or building here 
 as in other parts of the tapestry. After his 
 victory there is no doubt but William enlarged 
 the castle with buildings, both from remains of 
 them still in being, and from what he did at i 
 Dover and other places of strength on the sea- 
 coast, as well as at the Tower of London. 
 
 The next mention of it is in Doomsday Book 
 under the head “Bexlei Hundred which i 
 it is said “ Oshert held conjointly with bishop 
 Ailric in the time of King Edward and after¬ 
 wards, until King William gave to the earl the 
 Castelry of Hastings.” The earl here alluded 
 to, was Robert earl of Eu, the first grantee of J 
 the Castle after its finishing. i 
 
 Earl Robert on receiving possession “erected | 
 and established,” says the record just quoted, j 
 “the parish Church of St. Mary within the ! 
 same Castle, into a collegiate Church.” The j 
 foundation as we learn from subsequent records, ‘j 
 was for a Dean, eight canons or prebendaries, a ^ 
 certain number of Chaplains, Clerks, or Minis- i 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 1.) 
 
 ters, six vicars choral, a sacrist, two school¬ 
 masters, who presided over a music and 
 grammar school attached, and several subor¬ 
 dinate ollicers. He died some years afterwarris 
 and left the Castle of Hastings to his son. 
 
 William de Anco succeeded; who having 
 been in conspiracy with Melbray earl of Nor¬ 
 thumberland, his earldom of Eu and barony of 
 Tickill escbeated to the crown. He died 109t). 
 The military custody of the Castle had before 
 his death been seized for William Rufus by 
 Erdo de Rye one of his officers, whom he dis¬ 
 patched from Normandy for that purpose. The 
 same monarch also in 1090, assembled most 
 part of the nobles and bishops at the Castle to 
 do him homage on his ascending the throne, 
 an event which shews its high importance at 
 this period. The estate of this William de 
 Auco was probably granted to his son as well 
 as his earldom, if either really escheated, as the 
 editor of Magna Britannia asserts, for Dugdale 
 says, Henry earl of Eu succeeded him. He 
 confirmed his grandfathers charter to Hastings 
 College, and dying 4th of Steph"- was succeeded 
 by his eldest son, and heir, John earl of Eu; who 
 married Alice daughter of William de .Xlbrini 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 K> 
 
 carl of Arundell. TliisJohn died 17Ui Hen. 2d, 
 leaving lier a widow; and was succeeded by- 
 Henry 5th earl of Eu, who confirmed, and 
 added several new gifts to Hastings College. 
 He left one daughter and heir named Alice. 
 This Alice married Ralph de Yesenden, who 
 succeeded to the earldom of Eu and Castle of 
 Hastings in her right. Hecertified 13th of John, as 
 to Hastings Castle—That all the principal land 
 holders of the Rape under him, were bound to 
 keep ward there monthly with fifteen knights, 
 as well as to keep the castle bridges. He died 
 3rd Hen. 3rd, leaving issue one son and one 
 daughter. 
 
 William 7th earl of Eu, held the Castle jointly 
 with the widow Alice until pth Hen. 3rd, when 
 it became forfeited to the crown, by whom it 
 was afterwards granted to various persons. In 
 1245 Peter de Savoy earl of Richmond held the 
 custody of it. 1248 a grant of it was made by 
 the King to his son Prince Edward. 1254, an 
 exchange having been agreed on between the 
 Prince and the said Peter, the Castle was re¬ 
 signed into the King’s hands for the use of the 
 latter, and a grant thereof was made to him by 
 the King in lieu of certain lands part of the earl- 
 
H ASTI NGS. 
 
 17 
 
 doin of Riclimond, which wore transferred to 
 the Prince. 12(),0 the Castle and Rape were 
 bequeathed by the said Peter to Queen Eleanor, 
 from whom the King subsequently obtained 
 them for an annuity of 800 marks and they 
 again returned to the crown. 
 
 John de Dreux grandson of Peter succeeding 
 to the earldom of Richmond, and a compact 
 having before existed between his father and the 
 King for an exchange, but which did not then 
 take place, a new agreement was entered into. 
 By this Henry consented to grant to the said 
 Jolm, the Rape, but not the Castle, which latter 
 was to be severed from it, together with the 
 town of Hastings, the advowson of the castle 
 church, and the advowsons of the prebends. 
 2d Ed. 1st, this arrangement again not having 
 been completed, an inquisition in order thereto 
 was taken, when it was returned, “that the castle 
 of Hastings, with the herbage within and with¬ 
 out the castle, namely, in the ward, was worth 
 by the year half a mark ; and the church within 
 the castle worth in tithes four marks, in rents 
 100s. and in oli'erings at the cross ten marks.” 
 
 The following year we find the King altering 
 the constitution of Hastingscoliege, which from 
 
18 
 
 HASTINGS. 
 
 being known as the collegiate cluirch of St. 
 Mary, was thenceforward called “the King’s 
 Royal Free Chapel of Hastings.” The bishop 
 of Chichester was deprived of his right of ordi¬ 
 nary jurisdiction which he had before exercised 
 as diocesan, and the whole was subjected to the 
 visitation of the King’s commissioners. These 
 encroachments produced a contest with the 
 crown which lasted all that reign, and which 
 constitutes the principal feature in the history 
 of the castle. The particulars which have been 
 several times before given, will be found in 
 Prynne. ^Ve learn from them that the King 
 successively appointed two presiding officers 
 over the castle at this time. John de Wichco, 
 in his 27 th year who is called in the writ 
 “ Keeper,” and Stephen Sprott, wdio is styled 
 “ Constable.” 
 
 4lh Ed. 3rd, the King in consequence of a peti¬ 
 tion from the chapter—stating the dilapidated 
 state of the chapel and a number of evils which 
 arose therefrom and from_^the ruined’condition 
 of the castle walls, which latter had been suffer¬ 
 ed so to remain ever since its forfeiture by the 
 carls of Eu—granted them the herbage around 
 tlie castle mentioned in the above inquisition. 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 ly 
 
 that they might keep the same in repair and re¬ 
 build the deanery and prebendary houses; to¬ 
 gether with the custody of the castle during 
 peace or until the appointment of a warden, 
 which officer it appears the castle was then 
 without. 1340, the French landed at Hastings 
 and plundered the castle, which occasioned the 
 King to command an inquiry to be made as to 
 the keeping of castle guard ; when the jury re¬ 
 turned several curious particulars as to the 
 castle, viz, that Hen. 3rd. did grant the same cas¬ 
 tle to John de Britannia, with the castle guard 
 rents—that he and his descendants had ever 
 since received the same, without applying any 
 part towards the guarding of the castle; and 
 that in consequence no guard had been kept 
 there since his time—that King Henry had 
 committed the custody of the castle sometimes 
 to one and sometimes to another, without any 
 interference on the part of the Duke—but whe¬ 
 ther he the Duke, was bound to apply the rents 
 to keep castle guard, they the jurors, kenw not. 
 
 lyth Ed. 3rd, on a visitation of the college it 
 was returned that although 10s, a year had been 
 received by the dean for the profits of the cas¬ 
 tle herbage, nothing had been done towards the 
 
‘20 
 
 HASTINGS. 
 
 castle repairs, as required by the Kings grant— 
 several enormities were reported as to the col¬ 
 lege at the same time. These enormities and 
 the increasing dilapidations of the college and 
 castle were again set forth in the return to ano¬ 
 ther visitation, 11th Hen. 4lh. 
 
 23rd Hen. 6th, the castle, w‘hich had continued 
 in the crown from the time of Hen. 3rd, was grant¬ 
 ed by the King with the Rape, to Sir Thomas 
 Hoo. d'he executors of Sir Thomas Hooat his 
 death sold the same to Lord William Hastings 
 for ^600. From Lord Hastings they descend¬ 
 ed to the earls of Huntingdon, and continued 
 with them until 33 Eliz. when the castle and 
 rape were sold by Henry earl of Huntingdon 
 for =£'2800, and a reserved rent of o£l3. 6s. 8d. 
 to Sir 'Fhomas Pelham; whose descendant the 
 earl of Chichester is the present proprietor. 
 
 From the time of Hen. 4th we hear nothing of 
 the castle or college as buildings, great part of 
 the castle being carried aw'ay by the sea ; its 
 w'alls and defences ruined, and neglected by the 
 crown in consequence, it appears to have fell 
 gradually to decay, and at length to have served 
 little other purpose than as gardens and pas¬ 
 turage for the dean and those to whom he let 
 
IIASTlNf;S. 
 
 •21 
 
 parts of tlie site. "I'lie dissohition, which anni¬ 
 hilated tlie college, completed its destruction. 
 In certain interrogatories in chancery taken 40 
 years after this event, the ground within the 
 castle is described to have been successively let 
 to diflerent tenants, one of whom ploughed it 
 up and sewed it with hemp, and another with 
 corn. The interior for more than a century 
 past had been occupied as pasturage for sheep, 
 the ruins of the few buildings which remained 
 were covered with mould and grass, rising in 
 the form of hills in various parts, and the walls 
 only displayed a quantity of misshapen frag¬ 
 ments, which, to use the language of (Jrove, 
 who surveyed them 30 years ago, “a|)peared to 
 have been plain, and wdthout towers or any 
 other means of defence.” 
 
 I'he ex'cavation of the castle which took 
 place 3 j^cars ago by order of the late Lorrl 
 Chichester, is well known. It began from the 
 accidental discovery of some stone steps which 
 belonged to the circular tower in the north 
 wall, and has been the means of bringing to 
 view a variety of interesting remains, none of 
 which were supposed to exist. Among them 
 is the College (duirch 1 lU feet long, the chap- 
 
HAsriNCiS. 
 
 ‘2-2 
 
 ter house, deanery and [)rebendal houses; y>art 
 of the flooring of tlie keep; the whole of the 
 castle mount; the entire line of east wall, with 
 a semi-circular tower and towered gateway ; 
 the foundations of the great gatehouse and 
 guard room attached, and without, the remains 
 of the drawbridge and wall communicating 
 from it with the castle mount, &c. In fact, all 
 of this once extensive and royal fortress which 
 has survived. Several coins, remains of pottery, 
 sculptured capitals of pillars, mouldings and 
 other architectural fragments were discovered 
 during this excavation, together with an antient 
 cross and other curiosities, now in the posses¬ 
 sion of lord Chichester. 
 
 THE HARBOUR. 
 
 T'he town of Hastings had formerly a good 
 Harbonr, formed by a wooden pier, which pro¬ 
 jected from the centre of the Marine Parade in a 
 south-east direction, below where the Fort now 
 stands; but, in the early part of queen Elizabeth's 
 reign, the pier was destroyed by a violent storm ; 
 since which time it has remained in its present 
 state, and is called the Stade. Caniden says, 
 

IIASTINCIS. 
 
 “ tliat (jLieen Elizabeth granted a contribution to¬ 
 wards tlie making a new harbour at Hastings, 
 vvliicli was begun ; but the contribution was 
 quickly converted into private purses, and the 
 public good neglected.” Large pieces ot tim¬ 
 ber, and enormous fragments of rocks, the 
 remains of the pier, are to be seen at low water. 
 
 Ml'/niOD OF SECUmXG VESSELS. 
 
 The method now adopted fur securing vessels 
 from tlie fury of the waves is surprising to those 
 who have never seen any thing of the kind: they 
 are drawn up on the beach by a capstan, with 
 three or four horses, and the facility and expe¬ 
 dition with which vessels from fifty to one hun¬ 
 dred tons burthen are lowered, after being- 
 loaded, is astonishing: pieces of wood well 
 greased, are laid at the vessel’s keel and side to 
 run on: a large screw is then applied to her 
 bows, by which she is set in motion; when she 
 has run as far as is necessary, she is easily stop¬ 
 ped by cables round the capstan, and left to 
 float when the tide returns. 
 
JIAS ri NCS. 
 
 i-1 
 
 'I’lll:: FORT. 
 
 At the west end of tlie Stade is a Fort, 
 mounting six twenty-fonr-pounders (during 
 war,) built about forty years ago, and which not 
 only serves to defend the town against an ene¬ 
 my, but is a most excellent barrier against the 
 encioachments of the sea in boisterous weathei-. 
 Adjoining the fort is the Parade, which, being 
 seven hundred feet in length, and commanding a 
 most extensive prosi)ect of the ocean. Beacht/ 
 Head, and Peveiisey Bai/, is considered one of 
 the best promenades of any watering place on 
 the coast. 
 
 CHARTERS. 
 
 Hastings received Charters from Edward 
 the Confessor, William the First, and several other 
 monarchs, who reigned over the kingdom ])rior 
 to the year 16'S8. ddie corporation is composed 
 of a mayor, jurats, and freemen, is exempted 
 from toll, and is empowered to hold courts of 
 judicature in cases of a capital nature. Since 
 tlie 'Idn.l fif Edward the Tliinl, 1 has re- 
 
HAST 1 N(;s. 
 
 •25 
 
 turned two nieinhers to serve in parliament, 
 who are elected l)y the jurats and IVeemeii. 
 
 BA'l'TLt: OF HASTINGS. 
 
 Few persons conversant with Englisli history- 
 can fail remembering Hastings, as the place sig¬ 
 nalized by the battle which terminated in sub¬ 
 jecting the dominion of England to Wdliam the 
 First, and by which event he acquired the ap¬ 
 pellation of the Conqueror, 
 
 It is therefore only necessary on the present 
 occasion to state, that the battle was fought on 
 the 14th of October, in the year lOb'b, between 
 Harold and William Duke of Normandi/, who, in 
 consequence of a pretended tight to the throne 
 of England, landed at Pdvknsey Bay, a few 
 days prior to the battle, with a well-appointed 
 army, consisting of near b’0,000 men, including a 
 fine body of cavalry. Idle news of the an ival 
 of the invaders soon reached the ears of Harold, 
 who, elated with his recent success in defeating 
 the Norreegiaus at Stamford, lost no time i« 
 collecting his troops, and marching to attack 
 them, notwithstanding the entreaties of his bro¬ 
 thers to postpone a general engagement, and tit- 
 
e() 
 
 llASriNC.S. 
 
 (U'avoiii’ to harass the enemy with skirmishes. 
 Harold, although unequal to his rival in point 
 of numbers, particularly in cavalry, having made 
 a happy choice of ground, and the most skilful 
 disposition of his army, was enabled to maintain 
 the best of the engagement for the greater part 
 of the day, until tlie artful Nonnaii, almost des¬ 
 pairing of victory, adopted the stratagem of or¬ 
 dering his troops to .make a false retreat, with 
 the view of inducing the English to quit their 
 favorable position : a snare into which they un¬ 
 happily fell, thereby giving the enemy an oppor¬ 
 tunity of bringing their cavalry into action, and 
 which very soon committed dreadful slaughter 
 among them, during which the brave Harold 
 and his two brothers were killed, also many no¬ 
 blemen and gentlemen of the first distinction. 
 
 Both armies fought with desperation: the con¬ 
 flict began at sunrise, and was not terminated till 
 night had enveloped all in darkness, when the 
 number of slain was immense, particularly on 
 the side of the English. In commemoration of 
 the event, William the Conqueror shortly after- 
 n ards founded an Abbey on the spot where the 
 battle is said to have raged most fiercely, and fd- 
 led it with Benedictine monks from Makmon- 
 
II A.S11 Nc;.". 
 
 tiki; in nokmandv, that cotinunl prayers 
 might be oll'ered to the Almiglity for the victory 
 he had obtained, and for the souls of the brave 
 men who were slain. A particular description 
 of this abbey is given in another part of tliife 
 work. 
 
 PRIORY. 
 
 At a short distance westward of the cliffs on 
 which the Castle stands is a tarm-house, built 
 with the remains and on the scite of a Phiouy 
 of black canons formerly existingat Hastings, 
 which was founded in the reign of lUchard the 
 First, by Sir Walter Bricet, and dedicated to the 
 Holy I'l’inity. At the dissolution, the annual 
 revenues of this edifice were estimated at £h'l. 
 'I'he estate now belongs to F^arl Conncallis. 
 Adjoining the farm-yard was a piece of water, 
 which being drained off a few years back, a hole 
 near thirty feet deep, (with the remains of a 
 sluice, gates, and timbers of large dimensions,) 
 was discovered, most probably the relics of some 
 works, formetl by the monks, as a protection to 
 their dwelling from the ravagi'S of the sea. It 
 is now filk'd with sand. 
 
'26 
 
 HAST I NRS. 
 
 MARKET DAYS. 
 
 The Market days at Hastings are on Wed¬ 
 nesdays and Saturdays, and are well supplied 
 with South-down mutton and other butchers’ 
 meat. Poultry, Butter, Eggs, Vegetables, &c. 
 are supplied in great plenty by the country peo¬ 
 ple. Fish at all times in abundance and cheap. 
 
 FAIRS. 
 
 There are also Fairs annually on Whit-tues- 
 day, 26th July, and 23d November; that called 
 Rock Fair, held on the 26th of July is the most 
 frequented. 
 
 FREE SCHOOLS. 
 
 There are several Charity Schools in the 
 town, for the education of the children of the 
 inhabitants. '^I'he principal of which are those 
 founded by the Rev. William Parker, and 
 Mr. Saunders, formerly of Hastings, under the 
 direction and management of the IMayor and 
 Corj)oration. 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 -2<) 
 
 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. 
 
 The most prominent are the Lying-in Society, 
 and the Benevolent Society, which have been 
 established for many years, under the patronage 
 and superintendence of the Ladies of Hastings, 
 supported by the voluntary contribution of the 
 Visitors and Inhabitants. 
 
 The Committee of Subscribers meet once in 
 every month, at the House of the Treasurer, 
 for the purpose of making a strict enquiry into 
 the character and circumstances of every person 
 who applies for relief, in order that the funds of 
 the society may not be misapplied. 
 
 HOTELS. 
 
 The Castle Hotel, near Wellington Square, 
 commands extensive views of the sea and ad¬ 
 jacent hill; is superiorly fitted up by Mr. Emary, 
 who is desirous that every part of his establish¬ 
 ment, should be worthy of the company that 
 frequent Hastings. 
 
 K 
 
THE ROYAL SWAN HOTEL. 
 
 This is a very commodious House, in the 
 High Street, kept by Messrs. Woods and 
 Emary ; it contains the Assembly Rooms, which 
 are most fashionably attended by the Winter 
 Visitors, and the proprietors deservedly merit 
 the patronage of strangers. 
 
 THE CROWN HOTEL, 
 
 Situated in All Saints Street, is kept by Mrs. 
 Smith, and deserves particular commendation 
 and support, as being the first (with a family of 
 seven children) to add to the accommodation of 
 Visitors, by every species of comfort, neatness, 
 and domestic attention. 
 
 THE ROYAL OAK INN, 
 
 Is pleasantly situated on the beach, in Castle 
 Street; it commands an excellent view of the 
 sea, is fitted up in a neat and commodious man¬ 
 ner by Mrs. Sargent. 
 
}IAST1 N(;s. 
 
 31 
 
 T'here are also the f’uTTER Inn, on the 
 beach, close to tlie sea, by Mrs. Bell. 
 
 The Anchor Inn, George Street, by Mr. 
 Daniel. 
 
 T’he Hastings A RMS Inn, George Street, 
 by Mr. Bay ley. 
 
 The King’s Head Inn, Court House Street, 
 by Mr. Edwards. 
 
 'I’he Peehaai Arms Inn, Priory, by Mr. 
 Chandler. 
 
 At any of which, company will find attention 
 and accommodation, either for a long or short 
 period. 
 
 BOARDIXG HOUSES. 
 
 Visitors will at all times, find most respect¬ 
 able society, at either of the following establish¬ 
 ments, who vie with each other, to render every 
 comfort to those who give them support. 
 
 Mr. Deudney, No. 2, Pelham Place. 
 
 Miss Browning, Marine Boarding House. 
 
 Misses Carey & Woolley, No. 4, 
 Caroline Place. 
 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 No amusement is so cheap in Hastings as 
 
32 
 
 HAST 1 NGS, 
 
 that procured at the Public Libraries, and the 
 lovers of Literature will find a constant 
 variety at 
 
 POWELL’S READING ROOM, 
 
 Delightfully situated at the east end of the 
 Marine Parade, which is supplied twice every 
 day with London Newspapers. Several coun¬ 
 ty Papers, Magazines, Reviews, and a succes¬ 
 sion of new and interesting Publications. Vocal 
 and Instrumental Concerts, with Loo, are the 
 usual summer evening entertainments, and the 
 whole establishment forms an agreeable lounge. 
 
 THE ROYAL MARINE LIBRARY, 
 
 Kept by Mr. Diplock, is situated at the west 
 end of the Marine Parade, commanding a most 
 extensive sea view. In it will be found every 
 accommodation of a public room, with an am¬ 
 ple supply of Newspapers, Reviews, and new 
 Works ; and no pains are spared to render it a 
 fashionable resort. Concerts and Loos are also 
 the summer amusement, at this room. 
 
ia 
 
 ' i 
 
 [*• 
 
 POWJEIilL’S LIBKAIRY. 
 
HA ST I NGS. 
 
 33 
 
 There are also Mr. Jones’s Library, in 
 High Street, and Mrs. Austin’s, in West 
 Beacli Street. 
 
 BILLIARDS. 
 
 The admirers of this delightful game, will 
 find every opportunity of amusing them¬ 
 selves, at P. M. Powell's, No. 35, West Street, 
 next his Library; Mr. Diplock’s, over the Roy¬ 
 al Marine Library ; Mr. Jones's, Castle Street ; 
 Mr. Mann's, Great Bourne Street ; and at the 
 Swan Hotel. 
 
 THEATRE. 
 
 Mr. Brooke has a neat Theatre, in Court 
 House Street, which was built in 1825 ; before 
 which, the Theatre was near the Hare and 
 Hounds, on the road to Battle. 
 
 BANK. 
 
 The Visitors can have Cash for their Notes, 
 at Messrs. Smith, Gill, and Hilder's, whose cor¬ 
 respondents are Messrs. Spooner Co. Grace- 
 chnrch-street, London. 
 
34 
 
 HASTINGS. ■ 
 
 WARM BAl’HS. 
 
 'I'he Pelham Baths, are conveniently situa¬ 
 ted at the west end of the Marine Parade. This 
 establisliment is formed on the most extensive 
 scale, comprehending Baths of every descrip¬ 
 tion, and equal, if not superior to any in the 
 kingdom. 
 
 The New Warm Baths, on the Beach, near 
 High Street, are fitted up in a commodious man¬ 
 ner, and under the direction of Mr. Powell, 
 Librarian. 
 
 I’he Marine Baths, on the Parade, are 
 managed by Mr. D/plock, Marine Library. 
 
 BATHING MACHINES. 
 
 Above thirty Bathing Machines are kept 
 at the west end of the Marine^Parade, an ex¬ 
 tremely eligible situation, from its lying between 
 the Tozen and Priori/. The descent is gradual 
 to the water, which^is perfectly clear and pure. 
 An extent of^ sand, for nearly a mile, forms an 
 airy promenade, at low water. 
 

 35 
 
 STAGE COACHES. 
 
 Convenient and expeditious Coaches run to 
 and from London daily, from the Swan, tlie 
 Crown, the Castle Hotels, and Royal Oak Inn. 
 
 A Coach also goes daily to Brighton, during 
 the summer, and three times a week in the win¬ 
 ter; alternately passing through Lezt'es and East- 
 bourn: another Coach also leaves twice a week 
 for R^e, Rornney, Hithe, Folkstone, Dover, and 
 Margate. 
 
 THE WAGGONS 
 
 Leave the Crown, Swan, and Castle Hotels on 
 Wednesday and Saturday, and depart from the 
 White Haut and Spur Inns, Soiitlneark, on 
 the same days. 
 
 FLY VANS, ON SPRINGS, 
 
 Leave the Office opposite the Cutter Inn, daily 
 at three o’clock; and return from the New Inn 
 Old Change, Cheapside, and Talbot Inn, Boro’, 
 every afternoon at one o’clock. Another I'uji, 
 
•36 
 
 HASTINGS, 
 
 leaves eveiy Tuesday and Thursday morning, 
 and jiasses through Tonbridge Wells, to the 
 Nag’s Head, Borough. 
 
 WATER CONVEYANCE. 
 
 Sloops are continually passing from Hastings 
 to Griffin’s Wharf, Carpenter Smith’s Wharf, 
 and Beals’ Wharf, Tooley Street, London. 
 
 THE POST. 
 
 The Mail Coach, (through Tonbridge 
 Wells,) arrives from London every morning 
 (except Mondays) at six o’clock, and leaves 
 every evening (except Saturdays) at a quarter 
 before eight. 
 
 PLEASURE BOATS. 
 
 Several Boats are neatly fitted up, and those 
 who delight in aquatic excursions may confi¬ 
 dently intrust themselves with the experienced 
 sailors who have the management of them. 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 37 
 
 SOCIABLES, FLYS, CARS,GIGS,SADDLE 
 
 HORSES, AND PONIES, 
 
 Are let on hire by several persons, and to be had 
 at all times on the shortest notice. 
 
 DONKEY CARRIAGES 
 Are very numerous; but from the frequent com¬ 
 plaint of imposition, the visitants are recom¬ 
 mended to bargain with the conductors before 
 they commence their excursions. 
 
 BOARDING SCHOOLS. 
 
 East Hill House Academy. This 
 Seminary (having long been the desideratum of 
 Hastings) is on the East Hill, which for the 
 amenity of its situation, the salubrity of the air, 
 and the pleasantness of its prospects, is admi¬ 
 rably calculated for its designation. A limited 
 number of Young Gentlemen are qualified for 
 the Universities, the learned Professions, and 
 every department, where erudition is the para¬ 
 mount object, by the Rev. C. A. Marcus, A. M. 
 and Assistants. 
 
 Miss Richards’s Ladies’ Seminary, was 
 established in 180{), in All Saints Street. 
 
 Mrs. Bray has an excellent establishment 
 for the education of Young Ladies, at No. 1, 
 
 F 
 
38 
 
 llASTl N(;s. 
 
 Bluclier’s Buildings, where Ladies are also ac¬ 
 commodated with Board and Lodgings on 
 moderate terms, for any period. 
 
 SITUATION OF THE LODGING 
 HOUSES. 
 
 MARINE PARADE, 
 
 Is situated to the south of the Castle Hill, and 
 was formed by public subscription in 1812; but 
 was so much injured by the sea in 1823, that a 
 fresh subscription was raised amounting to 
 nearly cTlSOO, and fe-built the following year. 
 It commands extensive views of the sea, which 
 are terminated in the west by Beachy Head, and 
 on the east by Fairlight, On this delightful 
 promenade are about twenty Houses. 
 
 PELHAM PLACE, 
 
 Is a handsome range of Buildings, consisting of 
 eight Houses, delightfully situated at the end of 
 the Marine Parade (of which it forms the west¬ 
 ern extremity) under the Castle Cliff; com¬ 
 manding an extensive view of the sea, east and 
 west of the town, and Beachy Head. 
 
 The houses are erected in the most substan¬ 
 tial manner, are very conveniently arranged, and 
 are supplied with good water, offering excellent 
 
i 
 
 ! 
 
 iPKLie.rVIMI r’.LACE (‘B>F,?)P:KAT, 
 
HAST I NCS. 
 
 39 
 
 accommodation tor the most respectable families, 
 and may, therefore, be justly considered a very 
 great improvement and addition to the town. 
 
 West of Pelham Place is an extensive range 
 of buildings called Pelham Arcade, containing 
 room for nearly thirty shops, which are usually 
 let to tradesmen for such purpose. Over this 
 remarkable structure, is the carriage road to 
 
 PELHAM CKESCENT, 
 completely sheltered from the north and east 
 winds; it consists of fourteen Houses, whicli 
 are very handsomely furnished, and command a 
 view of the sea. 
 
 BREEDS PLACE, 
 
 Adjoining Pelham Crescent, will when com¬ 
 pleted, be a splendid range of ten Houses, 
 combining the advantage of a fine sea view, and 
 of a situation well sheltered from the north wind. 
 CASTLE STREET. 
 
 PRIORY ROAD. 
 
 Is well sheltered from the north by the Castle 
 Clilf, and contains about twenty houses 'and 
 convenient lodgings, which are in general 
 sup[)lied with good water. 
 
 YORK BUILDINGS, 
 
 PRIORY, 
 
 Are eighteen houses situated in a valley, to the 
 
40 
 
 HAST I Nc;s. 
 
 west of the Marine Parade. They are open to 
 the north, south, and west, and slightly slieltered 
 from the east. They are neat, well arranged 
 houses, and most of them are supplied with 
 good water. 
 
 MEADOW COTTAGES, 
 
 At the back of York Buildings, are well shel¬ 
 tered from the east, and command a pleasant 
 prospect of the surrounding country : here are 
 ten houses and lodgings. 
 
 WELLINGTON SQUARE, 
 
 Are handsome houses, well sheltered from the 
 east by the Castle Cliif, but are open to the north, 
 south, and west. It commands extensive views 
 of the surrounding country, Beachy Head, and 
 the sea. There are about forty houses, contain¬ 
 ing from 7 to 14 beds each. 
 
 BLUCHER PLACE, 
 
 Is situated in the valley below Wellington Square, 
 and is open to the north and west, but well secu¬ 
 red from the east and south winds. There are 30 
 houses and lodgings which are well fitted up, 
 and they have an excellent supply of water. 
 
 CASTLE COTTAGES, AND CASTLE 
 PLACE. 
 
 Between the Castle Hill and Wellington Square, 
 
HA ST I NOS. 
 
 41 
 
 are fourteen neat airy houses and cottages, with 
 a good view of the sea and country. 
 
 CAROLINE PLACE, BEACH COTTAGES, 
 KENTISH BUILDINGS, DENMARK 
 PLACE, YORK COTTAGES, &c. 
 Consist of nearly fifty houses and cottages, on 
 the beach, between the Priory Bridge and Ma¬ 
 rine Parade, fronting the sea, and nearly all 
 sheltered from the north wind. 
 
 WHITE ROCK ROAD, & ROPE WALK. 
 
 Beyond the Priory Bridge are nearly twenty 
 lodgings, most of them have a sea view, but are 
 exposed to the north wind. 
 
 BEACH HOUSES. 
 
 Between the west end of the Fort and P^ast 
 (ditf, are twenty good houses and lodgings, 
 fronting the sea, and well defended from the 
 north wind. 
 
 THE CROFT, GLOUCESTER PLACP:, 
 CAVENDISH PLACE, COBURG PLACE, 
 EXMOUTH HOUSE, WEST HILL 
 HOUSE, &c. 
 
 Situated on the Western Hill, are well secured 
 from the north and west winds. There are 
 thirty-five houses, commanding extensive and 
 
4-2 
 
 11A ST IN as. 
 
 pleasant views of the sea and country ; are well 
 fitted up, and supplied with excellent water. 
 
 HILL STREET, 
 
 In a line south of St. Clement’s Church, contains 
 eleven good houses and lodgings, some of which 
 have a view of the sea. 
 
 EAST HILL. 
 
 On the East Hill, at the back of the Crown 
 Hotel, is a very extensive view of the sea and 
 surrounding country. A part of the ruins of the 
 Castle, on the West Hill, (as seen from this 
 place) is, by many persons, supposed to represent 
 a perfect likeness of our late beloved Sovereign. 
 
 Under this Hill, protected from the east wind, 
 are thirty good houses, cottages and lodgings. 
 
 HIGH STREET, 
 
 Runs nearly north and south, between the two 
 hills. It contains the Bank, principal houses of 
 business, sixty good lodging houses, and apart¬ 
 ments, which are sheltered from every wind. 
 
 ALL SAINTS STREET 
 Is parallel with High Street; in it are twelve 
 good lodgings. 
 
 WATERLOO PLACE 
 Consists of eight neat cottages, lying between 
 High Street, and All Saints Street. 
 
Ba\D)LES ffllMTSE, , 
 
 Gj5’ ojr ges I'RT Mas tisgs. 
 
HAST I N(;S. 
 
 4 ;{ 
 
 GEORGE STREET 
 
 Is well sheltered from all winds, and contains 
 twenty good houses and lodgings. 
 
 DEVONSHIRE COTTAGE, 
 
 Most delightfully situated about half a mile from 
 Hastings, commanding a view of the town, sur¬ 
 rounding country and the sea. It contains 2 
 sitting rooms, 4 beds &c. For particulars en¬ 
 quire at Mr. Powell’s Library, Marine Parade. 
 
 HALLAWAY PLACE, LAUREL COT¬ 
 TAGE, & NURSERY GARDEN 
 COTTAGE, &c. 
 
 Are pleasantly situated near the turnpike road, 
 in the approach to Hastings. 
 
 ROCKLANDS FARM HOUSE, 
 
 On the East Hill, 
 
 Is very pleasantly situated, with a view of 
 the sea, fish-ponds farm, &c. The Lodgers may 
 be accommodated with fruit, vegetables, milk, iScc. 
 
 MOUNT PLEASANT. 
 
 Is a good farm-house, about one mile north¬ 
 west of the town, in the lane to the Old Hoar, 
 occupied by Mr. Tutt. It is most delightfully 
 situated, commanding views of the surrounding 
 vallies, the Castle, Priory, and the sea. The 
 accommodations consist of two sitting rooms 
 and five licds. 
 
44 
 
 HASTl NGS. 
 
 ST. MARY’S TERRACE, 
 
 Is situated on the West Hill, commanding most 
 extensive views of the sea, and the surrounding 
 country. 
 
 PROSPECT PLACE, 
 
 On the East Hill, in the Foot Path leading to 
 the Fish Ponds; commands extensive views 
 of the Sea, Beachy Fleacl, Eastbourne, Peven- 
 sey, Bexhill, and the surrounding Country. 
 
 THE BARRACKS. 
 
 The Barracks were situated on the West 
 Hill, about a mile from the town on the London 
 road ; but were sold by auction in 1823. On 
 this admirable situation, which commands the 
 most extensive view of the sea from Beachy 
 Head to Fairlight and the surrounding country, 
 are now erecting many houses and neat cottages, 
 and if the projected plan of the proprietors 
 should be carried into execution, it will form 
 quite a new town. 
 
 ST. CLEMENTS CAVE. 
 
 One of the most interesting curiosities at 
 Hastings, is St. Clements Cave, under the West 
 Hill, near Gloucester Place, which had long 
 been closed until about the year 1824, Avhen a 
 new entrance was opened (with the permission 
 

ST CiLEMJKiKrT’S CAVE, 
 
 1 
 

 'V-l 
 
ST Cl^EMEiTT’S CATJK, 
 
r 
 
 ST iTlLEMEWT’S 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 45 
 
 of the proprietors) by John Scott, esq. a gentle¬ 
 man then residing in this town. The key of the 
 outer door is left in the hands of Joseph Gold¬ 
 ing, who has the privilege of shewing it to such 
 of the visitors as may be desirous of seeing this 
 extraordinary place; but as it cannot be explo¬ 
 red to advantage without the light of many 
 hundred candles, it is usual for him to open it 
 only when he can be assured of an atiendance 
 suflicient to remunerate him for the expenses 
 which must necessarily be incurred, amounting 
 to the sum of thirty shillings. 
 
 SHAKESPEAllE MULBERRY TREE. 
 
 In the Garden, at the back of East Clilf 
 House, is a large Mulberry Tree, covering a 
 space of 25 feet square, (said to be a descendant 
 of Shakespeare’s Mulberry Tree, at Stratford- 
 upon-avon,) and planted by that great Actor 
 Garrick, when he was on a visit to his friend 
 Mr. Capel. 
 
 It is a curious fact, that there is at this time, 
 a Cup made from the Mulberry Tree, planted 
 by Shakespeare, in the possession of Miss H. 
 Coleman, Marine Parade, Hastings, which was 
 a present to her Mother from Garrick in 1776; 
 and also a cup, turned this year from the Mul¬ 
 berry 'Free above mentioned, p/m/ZerZ by Garrick, 
 in the possesion of J. G. Shorter, Esq. 
 
 G 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 4$ 
 
 SIR CLOUDESLY SHOVELL. 
 
 It has been stated in several publications of a 
 local nature, on the authority of ancient tradi¬ 
 tion, that this gallant seaman was a native of 
 Hastings; and a small tenement in All Saints 
 Street, is pointed out as the precise spot— 
 several Authors of Naval History however, as¬ 
 sert that he was born in Norfolk. 
 
 The name of Cloudesly is a very uncommon 
 one, and, in connection with that of Shovell, 
 affords presumptive evidence at least, that Has¬ 
 tings was really the birth-place of Sir Cloudesly 
 Shovell; the most ancient and most respectable 
 inhabitants bearing testimony to the long- 
 established tradition of the fact. Now, that 
 there was formerly a family of that name in 
 Hastings is proved from the following extract:— 
 “ Feb. 16, 1590, the mayor, jurats, and com¬ 
 monalty, of the Town and Port of Hastings, did 
 grant unto John Golden, of the said Town and 
 Port, ALL that messuage thereunto adjoining 
 and belonging, with all the appurtenances, situ¬ 
 ated, lying, and being in the Parish of St. Cle¬ 
 ments, in Hastings aforesaid, and now in the 
 occupation of Robert Cloudesly."* 
 
 In the early part of the last century, a Captain 
 Russell, who lived to a great age, and was a man 
 
 ■ Froru Lhc records of tlie Corporation. 
 
HASTINGS. 
 
 *47 
 
 of strict veracity, had, in his youth, been person¬ 
 ally acquainted with Mr. Shovell, and constant¬ 
 ly pointed out the house f in All Saints Street, 
 as that which, in early life, had been inhabited 
 by him. 
 
 TITUS OATES. 
 
 By an entry in the Church Books of All 
 Saints, dated 4th January, 16'7|, it appears by 
 tlie signature that the notorious Titus Oates was 
 officiating minister here, though it is but proper 
 to remark, he was not a native of Hastings. 
 
 The history of this wretched man may be 
 sufficiently known from contemporary histo¬ 
 rians. His Father, who was an anabaptist 
 preacher, and chaplain to Colonel Pride, proba¬ 
 bly obtained the Church of All Saints, at a time 
 when the government, both of church and state, 
 having been overthrown, men of every rank, 
 qualification, and religious profession, procured 
 an easy admittance. 
 
 The residence of this person was also in All 
 Saints Street. 
 
 CURIOUS OLD HOUSES. 
 
 In the year 1817, at the entrance of Hastings 
 stood a venerable old mansion, which appeared 
 to have been erected in the reign of Henry the 
 8th or Elizabeth. It was built principally of 
 
 + A sketch of which is in the larger copies. 
 
48* 
 
 HASTINGS, 
 
 chesnut, and when in its best days, ornamented 
 wdth barge boards, pinacles, drops, &c. must 
 have had a respectable and handsome appearance. 
 About sixty years ago it was occupied by a far¬ 
 mer of the name of Cleave, and afterwards 
 converted into an Oast-house to dry Hops, by 
 the late Edward Milward, Esq. who had a con¬ 
 siderable plantation of them in the neighbour¬ 
 hood. 
 
 Upon some of the Houses in High Street, 
 Church Street, and George Street, are the dates 
 of 1610 and 1616. Correct sketches of which 
 are in the illustrated editions of this work.. 
 
 WALKS AND RIDES. 
 
 The vicinity of Hastings abounds with the 
 most delightful sceneiy; indeed, few watering 
 places, particularly such as are annually frequent¬ 
 ed, whether as a source of pleasure, or for the 
 recovery of health, possess greater attractions; 
 and the lovers of the picturesque will not fail 
 enjoying a high treat by visiting Fairlight, Win- 
 cJtelsea, 2hje, Biilver/iythe, Peveitsey Castle, 
 Herstmonceux Castle, Croahurst, Battle Abbey, 
 Ashburnham, Bodiarn Castle, and other places; 
 a brief account of wdiich is given in the follow¬ 
 ing pages, and most of them are within a morn¬ 
 ing’s excursion. 
 
“ Z S Vl-t ' S C) JCEiJ-SVK 
 
. f 
 
 'IT'". 
 
 
 i if «.• 
 
 .•<^',*#y.-'« ‘h^,. 
 
 t J '^rKn'' 
 
 i. 
 
 k I 
 
 r 
 
WINCHELSEA. 
 
 47 
 
 WINCHELSEA, 
 
 Is situated on rising ground, about two 
 miles and a half from Rye, eight from Hast¬ 
 ings, and a mile from the sea. Although a 
 town of very great antiquity, it is to 4)6 la¬ 
 mented that history does not furnish any 
 account of it, except that it was once a very 
 powerful member of the Cinque Ports, and 
 contributed ten vessels, properly armed and 
 equipped, to the number furnished by those 
 Ports for the public service. 
 
 According to tradition, few places in Eng¬ 
 land have experienced greater calamities 
 than Winchelsea^ for not only was the Old 
 Town entirely inundated by the overflowing 
 of the sea, but before the expiration of twen¬ 
 ty years after the new one was built, it suffer¬ 
 ed materially in consequence of being twice 
 besieged and pillaged by the French and 
 Spaniards, and again in the year 1358 ; but 
 the French were foiled in another attempt 
 which they made to destroy it in the year 
 1377, after burning its neighbour R^e, ow¬ 
 ing, as it is supposed, to the bravery of the 
 
 K 
 
48 
 
 WrNCm2X.SlSA. 
 
 Abbot of Battle, (Hamo de Offingion,) 
 and bis dependants. 
 
 Winchelsea, however, in the course of 
 near two centuries after it was so much in¬ 
 jured by the French, had so far re-establish¬ 
 ed itself, both in respect to trade, as well 
 ns for the magnificence of its buildings, 
 that when Queen Elizabeth visited it in the 
 year 1373, sbe was so much struck with the 
 general appearance of the toAvn, the splendid 
 scarlet robes of the mayor and jurats, and 
 the respectability of the inhabitants, as to 
 compliment it with the title of Fittle Lon¬ 
 don ; the high opinion thus entertained by 
 her Majesty was unfortunately, of but short 
 duration ; for, towards the conclusion of 
 her reign, in consequence of the sea retiring 
 from its neighbourhood, and leaving in its 
 place a dreary marsh, the town of Winchel- 
 sea was soon abandoned by merchants and I 
 traders, and has, evef since that calamity, , 
 been gradually declining to a mere shadow i 
 of what it was when in its pristine state. 
 
 Regarding the authenticity of the first of 
 those unfortunate events, the late Mr.Gr-ose, 
 
ITTNeirELSKA. 
 
 49 
 
 III his ■work'" (MT Antiquities, has given the 
 following quotation from an old book with¬ 
 out a title, which was in being at the time 
 he visited this place. “ In the month of 
 October, in the year 1250, the moon being 
 in its prime, the sea passed over her accusto¬ 
 med bounds, flowing twice without ebb, and 
 made so horrible a noise, that it was heard 
 a great way within land, not without the as¬ 
 tonishment of the oldest man that heard it. 
 Besides this, at dark n^ht,^ the sea seemed 
 to be a light Are, and to burn, and the waves 
 to beat with one another,insomuch that it was 
 past the mariners* skill to save their ships ; 
 and, to omit others, at a place called Iluche- 
 bura, (probably Hither^ or East-Bourne^) 
 three noble and famous ships were swallowed 
 up by the violent rising of the waves, and 
 were drowned j and at Winchelsea^ a cer¬ 
 tain haven eastward, besides cottages for salt, 
 fishermen’s huts, bridges, and mills, above 
 three hundred houses, by the violent rising 
 of the waves, were drowned.” Also the fol¬ 
 lowing passage from a book remaining with 
 the records of the town of lij/c : —“ Beit 
 
50 
 
 WINCHELSEA. 
 
 remembered, that in the year of our Lord, 
 1287, in the even of St. Agalh, the virgin, , 
 ■was the town of Winchelsea drowned, and I 
 all the lands between Cleimsden and Hythef \ 
 both of which derive much support from the ( 
 account given by Leland in his Itenerary^ j 
 who observes, that “ in the space of six or I 
 seven years the olde town of Winchelsea fell | 
 to a sore and manifest ruin by reason of the 
 olde rages of the sea, and that during this 
 period the inhabitants, foreseeing the proba¬ 
 bility of its total destruction, petitioned King 
 Edward the First for ground to build another 
 town, and who accordingly sent John de 
 Kirkby, bishop of Ely, to select a spot of 
 ground for that purpose, when terms were 
 concluded for one hundred and fifty acres, 
 belonging to sir John Tregose^ one Maurice^ 
 and the Abbey of Battle. \ 
 
 The town, which was built on a hill, co¬ 
 vered a surface of two miles in circumference, , 
 
 and by being divided into squares, each con¬ 
 taining about two acres and a quarter, with 
 spacious streets intersecting each other at ; 
 right angles, must not only have had a very ! 
 

 
 
 .V— .A^. 
 
 ■ ■ -n 
 
 K‘ '.;(■, If,- 
 |kiy,i' (< ii«i,' 
 
 jj’l"'’ •■■ r^} > 
 
 -... ' #.■ 
 
 • ' 
 
 
 •I** 
 
 . »• 9 1 
 

WINCHELSEA. 
 
 51 
 
 beautiful appearance, but admirably adapted 
 both for health and convenience. 
 
 Although the town of Winchelsea is redu¬ 
 ced to a mere shadow of its former grandeur 
 (consisting only of but little more than one 
 hundred houses, and about six hundred inha¬ 
 bitants), there is sufficient left to render it 
 extremely interesting to the antiquary ; for, 
 exclusive of o'ne of the three churches which 
 it formerly contained, there is yet remaining 
 the three entrance gateways, and the ruins 
 of one of the priories. 
 
 The Church stands in the middle of the 
 town in the centre of a spacious square, en¬ 
 closed with a very low wall, and has a venera¬ 
 ble and beautiful appearance, owing to the 
 north and south transepts being in ruins, and 
 the walls on the south and west sides finely o- 
 vergrown with ivy. The interior is lofty and 
 spacious, &exhibitsthree fine arches, spring¬ 
 ing from clustered columns. In the south aisle, 
 are two monuments of Knights Templars^* 
 
 * But most probably belongitig: to a society of Knight Templars 
 which was inst'tuted at Winchelsea, about the eleventh centu¬ 
 ry. Of the origin of this religious Order the following brief a:- 
 C(jun t is given, for the infomiatiou of the curious. 
 
 “ The arras as well as the taith of the distiples of Mahomet, 
 and ttUer imposters of the Last, gaining giound cousiuerably 
 
52 
 
 WIN'CIIELSEA 
 
 who, if actually buried here, must have been' 
 among the latest of their celebrated fraterni¬ 
 ty ; one of which, from the arms upon it, is 
 supposed to have belonged to the family of 
 Oxenbridge^ formerly of some celebrity in 
 this part of the county, in the north aisle 
 there are two monuments of monks ; and in 
 thevestry-roora another one of a Knight Tern- 
 
 about this time, it became nci’cssai y, for the defence of Christiani¬ 
 ty, and the security of Jerusalem, that some of its citizens should 
 be in the habit of carrying arras. No incentive was so likely to 
 effect this as making the profession of arms a part of 
 their religious duty. For this purpose certain persons in Jerusa¬ 
 lem bound themselves by a vow, made in the presence of the* Pa¬ 
 triarch, to serve Christ and the Church after the manner of the 
 regular canons, in chastity and obedience, to renounce their own 
 proper will for ever. ‘ What a strong proof is this,’ remarks Vol¬ 
 taire, ‘ that the weakness of this principality was extreme;’ for 
 he adds, ‘ wlicn general society is well governed, private associa¬ 
 tions are never made.’ 
 
 •* Beside this community, there were two others, the HosprxAL- 
 fcBRs and the Tkutonic Monks ; tue last consistingof Germans, 
 the two former of French. The first master of the Hospitallero 
 was one Raymond Dupuis, of Dauphiny ; of the Templars, one 
 Hugh Baldwin, to whom the King of Jerusalem granted ah habi¬ 
 tation in his palace, near to a church, which is said to have been 
 Solomon’s Temple. From this circumstance they obtained the 
 name of Templars. Their first profession was for the safeguard 
 of pilgrims, and they consisted only of nine persons: but they 
 soon increased in number and in power, and spread themselves all 
 ever Europe- Princes and the first noblemen of many countries, 
 became members of this community. Honoriousthe second filled 
 the papal chair soon after their establishment, and appointed them 
 a white habit: to this Pope Eugenius added a red cross, to be 
 borne on the uppermost robe. Voltaire gives the following ac¬ 
 count of their suppression. ‘ Amongst the many contradictions 
 which are blended in the constitution of things in this world, it is 
 certainly a great one that there should be such an institution as 
 that of monks in armour, who make a vow of living at the same 
 time both anchorites and soldiers. The Templars were accused 
 of being a set of men, in whom all the odious qualities of these 
 two professions were united ; to the debauchery and cruelty at¬ 
 tached to the general character of a soldier, was added an insatia¬ 
 ble passion for gain, imputed to their great Order, though tliey 
 bad made a vow of poveny.’ Thus the Templcrs became the 
 
TVINCHELSEA 
 
 53 
 
 plar, in tolerable preservation. There is also, 
 in the soute aisle, a memorial to the late John 
 Stewart,esq. commander of the MonntStew- 
 art East Indiaman. A few years back there 
 was standing, at the south west corner of the 
 church-yard,a solid square tower,containing 
 a peal of bells, which was removed in conse¬ 
 quence of its dangerous appearance. 'I'he 
 rectorship of this church, is in the gift of S7r 
 William Ashhurnharn, Bart. 
 
 The other two churches, which this town 
 formerly contained, were both standing a 
 short time previous to that when Ijambard 
 wrote, which was in 1575. The ruins of St. 
 Gyles, which occupied a square on the west 
 side of the hill, have been long since removed , 
 
 objeots of envy, because they lived amonjjst their countrymen in 
 all the ^jomp and splendour which are the attendants on affluence, 
 and in such lawless pleasures as soldiers usually indui^re in, when 
 unrestrained by the marriage vow. The severity of the taxes le¬ 
 vied by the King of France, suriiamed Philip the Fair, had caused 
 a sedition in Paris: the 'j‘einplars were accusedofbeing concerned 
 in it, and Philip became implacable in his aversion to them. The 
 two first accusers of this Order, were, onede Florian, and 
 one Noifu de Floriantine an apostate knightofthe Order, both al 
 that time,and after, under confinement for offences. On the 13th 
 day of October, 1309, upon the accusation of those two men, the 
 Order was entirely suppressed through all the dominions of Fi ance. 
 Bulls also sveie issued out by the Pope, (Clement the Fifth), to all 
 the potentates of Europe,to excite them to fellow Philip's example. 
 In Castile. Arragon, Sicily, and England they met with a favara- 
 ble reception. In France persecution was carried on to the high¬ 
 est pitcli which human cruelty could devise; about fifty of the 
 knights being burnt in one day. In England, whei'e toriuie is 
 eonlraiy to the spirit of the people, there was less cruelly, hut a 
 determination to extirpate them cqunlly lesolnte and fonible* 
 wliicli was, by obliging all the members to enter into other so«.ie* 
 ties, and seizing upon all their revenue::. 
 
54 
 
 AVINCHELSEA. 
 
 and very recently (he only vesfage left of (he 
 north side of the tower of St. Leonard’s, situ¬ 
 ated on a bold promontory towards the south¬ 
 west, which had, for many years, withstood 
 the impetuous blasts to which it was exposed. 
 The latter contained a picture or image of 
 a Saint, with a vane in his hand, which be¬ 
 ing moveable, persons desirous of a fair wind 
 to bring home their relatives or friends, were 
 allowed to set it as they pleased, under a con¬ 
 fident hope of their Avishes being realized. 
 
 Of the numerous other religious edifices 
 AAhieh (his (own formerly contained, that 
 called (he Friars, founded by William de. 
 Bucldngham, is most deserving the notice of 
 (he antiquary. The principal remains, con¬ 
 sisting of (he choir, Avith Gothic windows, 
 has a very grand and venerable appearance, 
 particularly the arch at the west end, which 
 is near twenty-six feet Avide. The whole is 
 much improved by being surrounded with 
 trees and evergreens; and, Avhen vieived from 
 the gardens, including the edifice adjoining, 
 occupied by Richard Stileman, [dLi\d 
 
 * Mr. Stileman has recently rebuilt the house in the Gothic 
 style, and greatly improved the grounds : but will not allow them 
 to be seen except on Mondays. 
 
WINCHELSEA. 
 
 55 
 
 wliicli was no doubt formerly part of the mo¬ 
 nastery,) forms a very pleasing picture. 
 
 Respecting the three gateways, which are 
 yet standing, although in a very ruinous con¬ 
 dition, Land-Gate is situated at the south¬ 
 east side of the town, tlirougli which the road 
 oasses to Rye ; it has a round tower on each 
 side, and, being partly overgrown with ivy, 
 has a very picturesque appearance. The arch 
 of the Stkand-Gate, which stands at the 
 north side of the town, almost flat. The 
 last, called Newgate, is situated nearly 
 three quarters of a mile from the others, a lit¬ 
 tle to the left of the present road leading to 
 Hastings. 
 
 The Court House and Gaol are also from 
 their ancient appearance, not undeserving 
 of notice ; and were no doubt erected at the 
 time the town was built. 
 
 From the relative situation of Winchelsea 
 to Boulogne^ and the many spacious vaults 
 which it contains it is not improbable, asGroic 
 observes, that this place was the mart for 
 French wines imported into England before 
 the Wine Trade to Portugal was established. 
 
 L 
 
56 
 
 AVINCHELSEA. 
 
 A considerable traffic Avas also carried on, m a- 
 nj years ago, by a company of merchants, 
 
 Avho had a cambric manufactory in this toAvn. 
 
 Winchelsea^ as a member of the Cinque 
 Ports, also participates in the several privi¬ 
 leges and immunities enjoyed by those Ports, , 
 and received charters from several of our mo- > 
 narchs. The corporation consists of a may¬ 
 or and tAvelve jurats, but is seldom complete. 
 ThistoAvn also returns two members to serve | 
 in parliament. The seal of this town is ra¬ 
 ther a curious piece of antiquity ; on one 
 side is the representation of a beautiful Go- J 
 thic church, (probably that dedicated to St. ; 
 Thomas, now standing,) enriched with the 
 figures of several saints in niches, and other 
 historical embellishments ; Avith the follow¬ 
 ing distich of Monkish verse : 
 
 Egidio, Thom®, laiidiim plebs cantica pvome, 
 
 ne sit in Angaria Grex suus, amne via. 
 
 On the other side is a ship of war, rigged 
 and manned, supposed to be a model of those 
 furnished by the Ports during the reign of 
 Henry the Thirds and has the following in¬ 
 scription around it: 
 
 Sigillum Baronum doniini Regis Anglia de Winchelsea. 
 
WINCHELSEA. 
 
 57 
 
 A market is held weekly at Winchdsea^ 
 although not much frequented, and a fair 
 for pedlary goods on the 14th of May. 
 
 This town gave birth to that excellent and 
 worthy prelate Robert de Winchelsey^ who 
 in the year 1292, was elevated to the archies- 
 pispocal see of Canterbury^ but owing to his 
 officious conduct in attempting to prove 
 certain rights of the church, which King 
 Edward the First disputed, and Iiaving also 
 forbade the clergy to jray any taxes to prin¬ 
 ces, without the consent of the Pope, had all 
 his possessions seized, and was suspended 
 from his office as archbishop ; this event, 
 however did not take place lilt after the re¬ 
 turn of the king from Flanders, in the year 
 1297, during whose absence he had commit¬ 
 ted to his charge the young Prince, King 
 Edward the Second, and with Lord Regi¬ 
 nald de Gray, the custody of the kingdom. 
 On the death of the king, which happened 
 in 1307, he was restored to the archiepisco- 
 pal see of Canterbury, and took a very active 
 part in bringing about several decrees which 
 were passed for the better government of the 
 church. 
 
58 
 
 WINCHELSEA. 
 
 Winclielsea still continues to confer the 
 title of an earldom, and which was first 
 granted in the year 1628. 
 
 On XediWingWinchehea to proceed to 
 about a mile and a half from the town, and 
 half a mile from the sea, in a marshy penin- 
 sida, stand the remains of Winchelsea, or 
 which was built by Henry 
 the Mighth, in the year 1539, for the protec¬ 
 tion of this part of the coast, at a very con¬ 
 siderable expense ; according to tradition, it 
 is supposed to have been erected on the scite 
 or with the materials of a more ancient fabric 
 The remains, which are now fast mouldering 
 to decay, principally consist of a large cir- 
 cular tower, or keep, with several smaller 
 towers of similar form, at short distances ; 
 and round the former are clinks for a low 
 battery, now almost buried below the surface 
 of the earth ; the walls are mostly composed 
 of brick cased with stone. 
 
 RYE, 
 
 Which is also a member of the Cinque 
 Ports, is situeited upon an eminence, west- 
 
Wot r UK I. SKA 
 

 I 
 
 
 ■j fii- 
 
 !, ''.11? ’-'{I 
 
 
 f t 
 
 ■■ 
 
 i 
 
 - 4 f»' "■■ 
 
RYE. 
 
 59 
 
 ward of the mouth of the River Rother, at 
 the eastern extremity of the county, and two 
 miles and a half from Winchehea. 
 
 The earliest notice to be traced of it in 
 history, under its present name, is on the oc¬ 
 casion of the Danes landing near it, in the 
 year 893, when they seized the Castle of Ap- 
 puldore, in Kent. According to Lambard, 
 Edward the Confessor gave the towns of R^e 
 and Winchelsea to the abbot and monks of 
 in Normandy ; but Henry the 
 Third, in the thirty-first year of his reign, 
 for the better defence of England, resumed 
 possession of both these towns, giving in ex¬ 
 change for them, the manor of Cheltenham 
 and Selover, in Gloucestershire, and other 
 lands in the county of Lincoln. The tem¬ 
 pest which overwhelmed the old town of 
 Winehelsea, occasioiied also a very consider¬ 
 able change in the situation of Rye, and 
 completely altered the course of the River 
 Rother, which before that event discharged 
 itself into the sea, at Romney. 
 
 Ill the reign of Edward the Third, Rye 
 was enclosed willi walls, and fortified by 
 gateways, some of which arc yet remaining. 
 
60 
 
 RYE. 
 
 althougth in a ruinous condition : the north, 
 or Land Gate, leading into Kent, is the 
 most perfect, and has a very handsome Go¬ 
 thic arch, guarded on each side witti a round 
 tower. There is also remaining, the Tower, 
 founded in the twelfth century by 'William 
 de Ipres, earl of Kent, and which has a ve¬ 
 nerable and picturesque appearance : it has 
 been used as a prison ever since the Town- 
 Hall was completed. Beneath it is a battery 
 of eighteen guns. 
 
 Notwithstanding these precautions, Ihje 
 was, in the year 1377, taken by the French, 
 who landed from five vessels, and, after 
 plundering it, set it on fire, and, as Stowe 
 remarks, “ within five hours brought it 
 wholly unto ashes, with the Church, that 
 then was there, of wonderful beauty, convey¬ 
 ing away four of the richest of that toune 
 prisoners,and slaying sixty-six,left not above 
 eyght in the toune : forty-two hogsheads of 
 wine they carried thence to their ships, with 
 the rest of their booty, and left the toune de¬ 
 solate.” During the reign of Henrj/ the 
 Sixth, it was a second time destroyed by the 
 
RYE. 
 
 61 
 
 French^ when all the old records and char¬ 
 ters belonging to it arc supposed to have pe¬ 
 rished, excepting a few fragtnenis, dated in 
 the twenty-seventh year of that king’s reign. 
 Henrj/ the Seventh visited R^e in the third 
 year of his reign ; also Queen Elizabeth in 
 the year 1573, while on a tour round the 
 coast. 
 
 In the sixteenth century,the Harbour of 
 which had for many years been in a 
 decayed state, was restored in consequence 
 of the violence of a very extraordinary tem¬ 
 pest : and about thirty years ago was render¬ 
 ed sufficiently commodious to enable vessels 
 of two hundred tons burden to come up to the 
 quay to load and unload. This great im¬ 
 provement in R^t Harbour^ (and which had 
 for many years been deemed impracticable, 
 owing to the heavy sea and powerful influx 
 and reflux of the tide,) was effected by a dam 
 ofa singular construction, invented by the 
 Rev. Daniel Pape, L.L.B. and to whom 
 the Society of A.rts granted a gold medal. 
 
 In tlie year 1673, king Charles theSecond 
 reviewed tiie English and French fleets ly- 
 
62 
 
 nvE. 
 
 ing in Rye Bay, within sight of the town. 
 As WiNCHELsEA declined, Rye is said to 
 become of greater consequence, from its en¬ 
 joying a commodious harbour, and which, 
 in boisterous weather, has often proved of 
 the greatest relief to vessels beating about up¬ 
 on the raging ocean: particularly on the 
 occasions when two of our kings were com¬ 
 pelled to seek shelter in it on their return 
 from the Continent; viz. George the First, 
 in January, 1725, and his successor, in De¬ 
 cember, 1736. 
 
 The town of Rye, as before-mentioned, 
 being a member of the Cinque Ports, also 
 enjoys similar privileges and immunities. 
 The corporation, which is held by prescrip¬ 
 tion, consist of a mayor, jurats, and freemen, 
 who have had the right of electing: two mem- 
 bers to serve in parliament ever since the 
 forty-second of Henry the Third. 
 
 The Church, in consequence of having 
 undergone very considerable repair and al¬ 
 teration during the early part of last centu¬ 
 ry, has lost much cf its ancient appearatice; 
 it is however remarkable for being one of 
 
n-yE. 
 
 63 
 
 the largest edifices in the kingdom. The 
 inferior contains nothing deserving of parti¬ 
 cular observation. 
 
 The only vestige remaining of the other 
 ancient religious edifices which Rye former¬ 
 ly contained,is part of the chapel, with gothic 
 windows of the monastery of the Friars- 
 Hermits of St.-Augustine, now occupied as 
 a storehouse. 
 
 The town of Rye consists of several streets 
 very irregularly built ; the houses which 
 amount to upwards of 400, have, in general 
 a very ancient appearance. The number 
 of its inhabitants far exceeds the enumeration 
 made in 1801, when they Averestated at 2187 
 they are composed ot presbyterians,t]|uakers, 
 baptists, and rnelhodists. In the lower street 
 is a free Grammar School, which was 
 erected in the year 1636 by Thotnas Pea- 
 foc/i', gent, one of the jurats, and endowed 
 with the sum of £35 annually. There is 
 also another free school, for the education 
 of poor children, founded by a Mr. Saunders 
 In the principal street, nearly in the centre 
 of the town, is a handsome Market Pi.ace 
 and Public H a t.r,. 
 
 The trade of Rye consis's chiefly in hops, 
 M 
 
RYE. 
 
 64 
 
 Avool, and timber; besides, during the sea¬ 
 son, the herring and macherel fisheries enable 
 many poor families to maintain themselves. 
 Vast quantities of lime is burned near the 
 town, from chalk brought from the cliffs at 
 East Bourne. The market days are held e- 
 very Wednesday and Friday, besides two 
 fairs annually, on Whit Monday and the 10th 
 of August. 
 
 Since peace has been concluded with 
 France^ a packet sails twice a week from 
 Bye to Boulogne. 
 
 About half a mile to the west of Hastings is 
 
 THE WHITE ROCK, 
 
 On the top of which there was formerly a 
 battery : in the road, further on, projecting 
 over a piece of water, is a stone called the 
 
 CONQUEROR’S TABLE, 
 
 Which tradition assigns as the spot on which 
 William Duke of Normandy dined after 
 he landed. Two miles distant is 
 
 BULVERHYTHE, 
 
 Which is said to derive its name from the 
 circumstance of William the Conqueror tia- 
 ving granted an ancestor of the Pelham fa* 
 
bulverhythe. 
 
 65 
 
 mily as much ground as lie could cover with 
 a bull’s hide, which’was very extensive in 
 consequence of his resorting to the expedient 
 of cutting the hide into slips. In a field 
 close by this place, behind the cliffs, are the 
 ruins of an ancient Church or Chapel; it is, 
 however to be lamented,that not any authentic 
 accounts are to be traced,on what account,or 
 by whom it was erected. Upon the sands at 
 this place arc the remains of a large Dutch 
 ship, cailed the Amsterdam, the ribs of which 
 after a boisterous sea washes the sands away, 
 are to be seen entire, and disclose nearly its 
 circumference, sometimes appearing four or 
 five feet above the sands : it is supposed to 
 have been run on shore about eighty years 
 ago by convicts, who had mutinied, and was 
 loaded with treasure. 
 
 The ship being of immense weight, and 
 most of the cargo ponderous commodities, it 
 was soon enveloped in the sands, and alt af» 
 tempts to clear the tower deck, even with the 
 assistance of soldiers quartered in the neigh¬ 
 bourhood, proved abortive,* in consequence 
 of the tide returning before it could be effec¬ 
 ted ; and the greatest part of the hull now 
 
 * T'he Paiishioners of Bexliill in 1827, <'mpl(»ycd a number of 
 men in clearinir thp sand from the bow oftheSltip, and found 'a 
 quantity of china, glass, and beads. 
 
66 
 
 PEVENSEY. 
 
 remains a monument of the power of the ra¬ 
 ging ocean. The lower deck is supposed to 
 contain a great quantity of sheetcoppcr. Time 
 obliterates the memory of past occurrences ; 
 the generation dies in which they happen ; 
 the next hear them with indifference; and 
 they are soon forgotten. Many of the crew 
 were drowned, and brought to Hastings to 
 be buried. 
 
 This place, in the winter season, abounds 
 with snipe and wild fowl; and, as such, af¬ 
 fords much amusement to those who are par^ 
 tial to the delightful sport of shooting. Pro¬ 
 ceed through shady lanes to 
 
 BEXHILL, 
 
 A pleasant, airy village, about six miles from 
 Hastings, and one from the sea. Here is a 
 good inn, and several neat lodging-houses 
 for the accommodation of those who wish for 
 the retirement of a country village. During 
 the war there were extensive barracks. 
 
 Seven miles further is 
 
 PEYENSEY, 
 
 Now reduced to a small village, was once 
 a seaport town of considerable importance, 
 and is reckoned among those places which 
 were ravaged by Godwin, Earl of Kent, in 
 the time of Edward the Confessor : it no 
 


 4' 
 
 
 
 •.■'-*■■' ■• tS; 1 
 
 ''■^s^0^'-' ■ ' I 
 
 ■ iSrajsS. V!,'it ’V/ 1 
 
 ;'A v" 
 
 
 
 . /.A: ,,...,^»T<'i»JMOW£..Vi.„3 
 
 ■ll 
 
 ‘ i>'' A-^' ' ''i* y':. 
 
 ■, t 
 
 ;'iy 
 
 ■.:.. .» '^^ ■ .]| 
 
 nC',, '}2 
 
PEVENSEY. 
 
 67 
 
 doubt owed its former prosperity to its ad¬ 
 vantageous situation for commerce, and its 
 subsequent decline to the receding of the sea, 
 from which it at present stands more than a 
 mile distant. Pevensey is also celebrated 
 in history as the place where William the 
 Conqueror landed with his army. It is dis^ 
 tant about thirteen miles from Hastings, 
 and is often frequented during the summer 
 season, especially by the lovers of the pictu¬ 
 resque, who cannot fail of en joying much 
 gratiheation in viewing the extensive remains 
 of its ancient Castle. 
 
 At what period, or by whom this Castle 
 was constructed, does not appear from any 
 of the Topographical or Historical Works 
 which have yet been published, relative to 
 the county of Sussex ; but it is generally 
 supposed to have been built by the Romans. 
 
 The principal entrance is on the west or 
 land side, over a drawbridge, between two 
 round towers, and is surrounded by a ditch 
 on all sides but the east. Within is a smal¬ 
 ler fortification,more of a quadrangular form, 
 moated on the north and west side, with 
 two round towers and another drawbridge. 
 The inside of the inner castle consists chiefly 
 of six complete large towers, or bastions, two 
 
G8 
 
 FEVENSEY. 
 
 of which being much larger than the others, 
 are supposed to have been the kitchen and 
 refectory, or eating room, from tlie size of 
 the chimnies and doorways. The circum¬ 
 ference oftlie inner castle is about twenty-fi ve 
 rods, and of (he outward walls, 250. The 
 external walls are nearly entire, and about 
 twenty feet in height, and enclose an area 
 of seven acres. 
 
 Shortly after William the Conqueror as¬ 
 cended the throne of England, he gave the 
 town and castle of Pevensey to his half bro¬ 
 ther, earl of Mortaigne^ in Normandy, and 
 created him earl of Cornwall, which he en¬ 
 joyed, with many other honors, during the 
 reign of that king; but having taken part 
 with his brother Odo, earl of Kent, in an 
 insurrection in favor of Robert Courthose, 
 an army was sent against this castle to reduce 
 him, but on its arrival he surrendered and 
 made peace. He was succeeded in his pos¬ 
 sessions by William, earl of Mortaigne aud 
 Cornwall, who, on being refused the earldom 
 of Kent by Henry the Eo’st, joined with 
 Robert de Belesme, earl of Shrewsbury, in 
 a rebellion ; whereupon the king seized 
 all his estates, demolished most of his castley, 
 and banished him from the realm. The town 
 
PEVENSEY. 
 
 69 
 
 and castle of Pevensey were shortly after 
 given to Gilbert de Aquila,anO which, in 
 allusion to the name of the owner, were sty¬ 
 led the honor of the Eagle, with whose des- 
 cendents they remained some time, but were 
 again forfeited to the crown, when king 
 Henry the Thirds in the thirtieth year of his 
 reign, gave the Castle of Pevensey to his son, 
 Prince Edward^ and his heirs,.in order that 
 it should never again be separated from the 
 crown ; notwithstanding which, however, 
 the Castle and domain of Pevensey were set¬ 
 tled on John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, 
 and fourth son of Edward the Third, upon 
 surrendering the earldom of Richmond, and 
 all estates appertaining thereto. On Henry 
 the Fourth, son oLJohn of ascending 
 
 the throne he gave the Castle of Pevensey to 
 the Pelham family, as a reward for their loy¬ 
 alty and valor, with whom it remained till 
 about the middle of last century, when the 
 diike of Newcastle resigned it to Spencer 
 Compton, earl of Wilmington, on his being 
 created baron of Pevensey ; and is now tlie 
 property of Lord George Henry Cavendish. 
 
 It appears by Madox’s History of the Ex¬ 
 chequer, that in the sixth year of the reign 
 of king John, Pevensey, among other trading 
 
70 
 
 PEVENSEY. 
 
 towns, paid a qninxicme or tax for its mer¬ 
 chandise ; and in the ninth year of (he reign 
 of that king, the barons of Ptvensey fined 
 forty marks, for licence to build a town be¬ 
 tween Pevensey and Langley, which should 
 enjoy the same privileges as the Cinque 
 Ports, and that they might have an annual 
 fair to last seventeen days, commencing on 
 the anniversary of St. John the Baptist ; al¬ 
 so a market every Sunday ; but it is not 
 known how far this project was carried into 
 execution. 
 
 Andrew Eorde,ox Andreas Perforatus, 
 as he styled himself in Latin, was a native of 
 Pevensey. He was educated at Winchester, 
 and at New College, Oxford, where he ap¬ 
 plied himself very closely and successfully 
 to the study of physic. On leaving the uni¬ 
 versity, he is reported to have visited every 
 country in Europe, and several parts of 
 Africa. On his return to Engi.anu, he 
 took his doctor’s degree in 1541, 1542, and 
 first settled in his native town, whence he 
 removed to Winchester, and finally to Lon¬ 
 don, where he is said to have become a fellow 
 of the college of physicians, and first physi¬ 
 cian to Henry the Eighth. His eccentricity 
 of character led him to frequent fairs, mar- 
 
f “'t' 'i-tt VV 
 
 
 • % • 
 
0 
 
 y 
 
 e 
 
 <) 
 
 g 
 
 HERSTMOIf 
 
HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE. 
 
 71 
 
 kefs, and other places of public resort, where 
 he would harangue the people in a langu¬ 
 age naturally quaint and jocose ; and from 
 him the itinerant venders of nostrums are 
 said to havc^derived the appellation of Merry 
 Andrews. Notwithstanding his jocose turn 
 he is reported to have practised the austeri¬ 
 ties of the Carthusians, to which order he 
 once belonged ; living in celibacy, drinking 
 water three days in the week, wearing a hair 
 shirt, and every night hanging his burial 
 sheet at the feet of his bed. He died, 1549, 
 in the Fleet Prison ; but it is not probable 
 that he was confined there for debt, as he 
 left property to a considerable amoiuit, both 
 in Norfolk i\.nA at Winchester. He was the 
 uuthor of several works on various subjects ; 
 and IFbotfsays, that “ he was esteemed a 
 noted poet, a witty and ingenious person, 
 and an excellent physician*.” 
 
 About two miles distant, over the marshes 
 by Warlting lies 
 
 HEIISTMONCFUX CASTLE. 
 
 The remains of the Castle of Herslmon- 
 ceux stand in a pleasing part of the county 
 ot Sussex. It was built by Sir Roger Fynes 
 
 * Ueaulics uf liiiglauJ aiul Wales, vol. 11, ji. IGe. 
 
 N 
 
72 
 
 HERSTMONCEUX CASTLE 
 
 ■who lies buried at Herstmonceux churcb un¬ 
 der a flat stone ornamented with brass. The 
 Castle walls enclose three -courts, a laro'e one 
 
 * O 
 
 and two that are comparatively small. The 
 entrance to the internal parts is under the 
 great gate-house fronting the south ; on the 
 north side is the hall. 
 
 By a survey of this Castle and domaine 
 taken in the reign of queen Elizabeth^ and 
 which is still to be seen at Herstmonceux^ it 
 appears that the moat which encompasses it 
 on the south, west, and north sides, and is 
 now dry, was formerly full of water but 
 was drained, together with a great pool on 
 the east side, for the purpose of improving 
 the air, as the health of the inhabitants was 
 found to be affected by the great quantity of 
 stagnant water there collected. The walls of 
 the Castle are entirely of brick : it was es¬ 
 teemed one of the completest ancient buildings 
 of that material in the kingdom. 
 
 Sir Roger Fynes, who erected this edifice, 
 was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Richard 
 Fynes, who espoused the lady Joan, daugh¬ 
 ter of Sir Thomas Dacre : he was succeed¬ 
 ed in this estate by Thomas, his grandson, 
 who likewise was succeeded by his grandson 
 
FAIRLIGHT. 
 
 73 
 
 Thomas Lord Dacre, who suffered death in 
 consequence of a servant of sir Nicholas 
 Pelham being killed in a fraj, which arose 
 from lord Dacre and a party of his fiiends 
 determining to take a deer on the lands of 
 sir Nicholas : some of them were met by his 
 park-keepers, and the blow for which lord 
 Dacre suffered, and which occasioned the 
 death of the keeper, was given in the absence 
 of lord Dacre. 
 
 The estate was purchased from the Dacre 
 
 family by -Najler, esq. who made it his 
 
 principle residence: he married a sister of 
 the late duke of Newcastle, but dying with¬ 
 out issue he left it to his sister, the wife of 
 Wm. Hare, bishop of ^Chichester, and her 
 heirs. The bishop almost constantly resid¬ 
 ed here, and it is now the property of- 
 
 Gilham, esq. 
 
 FAIRLIGIIT. 
 
 Is remarkable for its variety of beautiful 
 views. From the fop of the JJown, near 
 the windmill, (which stands on the highest 
 ground in this part of the county) may be 
 seen the British Channel, from the south 
 Foreland to Beachij Head, being a distance 
 
74 
 
 FAIRLIG UT. 
 
 of nearly eighty miles ; tlie whole extent of 
 the French coast, from Calais Cliffs to Bou¬ 
 logne ; and the Napolean Tower, which 
 stands on a lofty eminence about two miles 
 from the town, and which was designed by 
 the French army assembled at Boulogne, 
 under the command of Buonaparte, (self- 
 styled the army of Englanu,) to commemo¬ 
 rate the projected conqest of this country; it 
 now remains the monument of the Usurper’s 
 folly : but such are the vicissitudes of hu¬ 
 man life, and so just the retribution of Pro¬ 
 vidence, that this haughty tyrant was com¬ 
 pelled soon after to seek refuge from the fury 
 of his own enslaved subjects, by throwing 
 himself upon the liberality of a generous 
 nation, Avhich he had vainly boasted he 
 would destroy. In the nearer view may be 
 distinguished the towns of Hastings, Bex¬ 
 hill, Eastbourne, Winclielsea, Rye, Rom¬ 
 ney, Lydd, Hythe. Ashford,and Tenterden 
 besides Dover Cliffs, and innumerable villa¬ 
 ges, with a great part of the counties of 
 Sussex and Kent. About one hour before 
 sun set is the best time for seeing the oppo¬ 
 site shore. 
 
 In this parish is the Farm called the 
 

 • - : 
 
 
 
 
 
 / J' 
 
 T 
 
 R, 
 
 I . . 
 
 ,r' 
 
 'ife * 'C,j. 
 
 ^ ■ ■ ■ *' s ’ '- '■ 
 
 

 ’A- 
 
 * •v 
 
1 ,. 
 
 ■ '-r.: 
 
 I'ISH FOITDS, 
 
fISfl PONDS. 
 
 75 
 
 FiSH PONDS,* 
 
 About a mile from the town, one of the favo¬ 
 rite walks from Hastings, near which, is 
 the 
 
 DRIPPING WELL 
 
 A pretty waterfall, situated in a wood, on 
 the edge of the clilf, which overlooks Cove- 
 hurst and the sea. A little further on is 
 
 FAIRLIGHT PLACE,t 
 
 Wiiich stands in a situation singularly beau¬ 
 tiful, combining all the advantage of shade 
 and shelter, with the most delightful and 
 enchanting scenery. It is part of estate 
 belonging to Edward jSIilward, esq. of 
 Hastings, and the house is now in the 
 occupation of Joseph Plunta^ esq. one of 
 tlic Barons to serve in Parliament for this- 
 Town and Port. 
 
 • The Foot PATH to the Fish Ponds is by the narrow lane at 
 tlic north east of the High Street, marked in the map ot Hastings: 
 and the Horsk and Carriaob way is by the I uknfihu Kuad, 
 passing the Hare and Hounds and Fairlight Collage. 
 
 •j* For the information of strangers we think it enr duty to no¬ 
 tice, that in consequence of the great injury that has been experi¬ 
 enced by the proprietor of this Farm from the thoughlless and im¬ 
 proper conduct of many persons wlio had permission to ride and 
 drive thereon, it has been funini indispensably necessary to limit 
 such permission to those oniy who arc on Foot, and to lock the 
 gates against all Carriages and Horses, excepting only such as be¬ 
 long to the friends and visitors of the family residing in the House, 
 the entrance to which is at the gate and lodge, standing by the 
 side of the road leading to Faiilighl Cfiur* h. 
 
76 
 
 COVE nURST. 
 
 LOVERS’ SEAT. 
 
 A little to the left, on the top of the cliff 
 is the Lovers’ Seat, a spot much fre¬ 
 quented by such of the visitants as are able 
 to bear the fatigue of a distant walk: de¬ 
 scending the valley through the wood to¬ 
 wards the under-cliff and the sea, the stranger 
 cannot fail to admire the beautiful scenery 
 of Fairlight Glen. 
 
 When the weather Avill permit, the Plea¬ 
 sure Boats of Hastings are constantly em¬ 
 ployed in conveying the company by sea to 
 this part of the coast, known by the name of 
 
 COVE HURST, 
 
 About the distance ofa league from the town. 
 The cliffs are in many places richly orna¬ 
 mented with trees and underwood growing 
 close to the edge of the sea, which give them 
 a great resemblance to some parts of the 
 Isle of Wight ; they appear to the greatest 
 advantage when seen at ashort distance from 
 the shore. 
 
 GUESTLING HILL COTTAGE- 
 
 Was built by 1. G. Shorter, esq. in the 
 year 1795, on a part of the Rocks Farm. 
 
PAIRLl'&lIT 
 
■ 'l-'.'i 
 
 t. 
 
 V, 
 
 .'-.i; 'vm'/--. ' ■ I' 
 
 . * 'l.V. ^- ^rV, .' 
 
CTTESTiLWGMILL rOTTAOE, 
 
I 
 
 % 
 
 A 
 
yiVOM O'"!® 
 
OLD KOAR. 
 
 77 
 
 The situation is peculiarlj romantic and 
 beautiful, it stands on a gentle eminence, 
 Convenient for the road which leads to Win- 
 chelsea, and is sufficiently removed from it. 
 The views both sea and inland cannot be 
 surpassed. On a clear day may be seen the 
 French coast from Cape Blancney to near 
 Estaples, Dungeness, Dover Cliffs, the range 
 of the Kentish Hills, by Eastwell Park, Hol- 
 lingborne, and Wrotham. The disposition 
 of the grounds are more varied than could be 
 expected, in the small compass of an acre, 
 containing ancient forest trees, shrubs and 
 shady walks. The sketcht shews a front 
 view of the collage as it appeared in 1820. 
 'Since that time it has been enlarged, and is 
 now let on lease to Wm. Lucas Shad well, 
 esq. 
 
 THE OLD ROAIl 
 
 Is a pretty waterfall, about two miles 
 northwest of Hastings^ and situated in the 
 middle of a wood : the walk to it, over the 
 w^st hill, by Ore Parsonage, is extremely 
 pleasant 
 
 t To be bad with the illustrated edition. 
 
78 
 
 BEAUFORT. 
 
 GLEN liOAR 
 
 Is a beautiful Glen and Waterfall, about 200 
 yards north west of the old roar, but being 
 also situated in the middle of a wood, is sel¬ 
 dom seen by visitors, or others, except 
 Sportsmen, who penetrate through thelhick- 
 et in pursuit of game. 
 
 Distant from Hastings about four miles, is 
 
 HOLLINGTON CHURCH, 
 
 singular for its,situation, being in the middle 
 of a wood. The most pleasant road is by 
 Bohemia Farm to Ilollinglon Corner. 
 Erom hence, to the right, is 
 
 HOLLINGTON LODGE, 
 
 A most delightful situation, and in the pos¬ 
 session of Sir C. Lamb, Bart. 
 
 BEAUFORT, 
 
 Built by the late General Murra?/, and so 
 named after a village in Canada, near 
 Quebech, of which city he was appointed 
 Governor, when it first surrendered to the 
 
M3MI11H3 iaOXOMmiOM 
 
) 
 
 c 
 
 Roar, 
 
CROWHURST. 
 
 79 
 
 British Troops under the command of the 
 celebrated General Wolfe. 
 
 It is a handsome modern building, about 
 midwaj between Hastings and Battle, and 
 is now occupied by sir Charles Montolim 
 Lamb, bart. 
 
 ORE CHURCH. 
 
 Is on an eminence, about two miles on the 
 London road, it is a delightful walk, over 
 the fields, and is much frequented by the 
 visitors and inhabitants of Hastings. 
 
 CROWHURST, 
 
 Originally one of the many lordships posses¬ 
 sed by Harold, Earl of Kent, in the reign 
 of Edward the Confessor, after the Conquest 
 was seized by king and given,with 
 
 other demesnes, to Alan Fergant, earl of 
 Brittany and Richmond, as a reward for his 
 courage at the battle of Hastings, from 
 whom it descended to John, earl of Brittany 
 and Richmond, who granted, out of this 
 and other estates, one hundred marks yearly 
 for life, to sir John Devereux. At the de¬ 
 mise of his lordship, this and other estates 
 
 devolved to his sister Joan, the widow of 
 
 o 
 
80 
 
 CROWHURST. 
 
 Ralph, Lord Basset of Draijton. The ma¬ 
 nor of Crowhurst at present belongs to 
 John Cresset Pelham, esq. the descendent 
 of a younger branch of that ancient family, 
 and who has a beautiful seat and park in this 
 parish, which commands a most delightful 
 prospect of the ocean and surrounding 
 country. 
 
 The Church at Crowhurst, which is 
 situated near a mile and a half from M,r. 
 Pelham's residence, is a small edifice, and 
 has nothing whatever to render it deserving 
 of the notice of the antiquary. In the church 
 yard is a remarkable large yew tree, measu- 
 sing twenty-three feet in circumference, in 
 the smallest part, which has a very majestic 
 appearance. 
 
 At a short distance on the south side of 
 Crowhurst Church are some considerable 
 remains of an ancient Chapel or Oratory, 
 supposed to have been built by one of the 
 lords of this manor, and which have for ma¬ 
 ny years past, been converted into small 
 buildings for the use of the adjacent farm. 
 In one of the walls is a fine pointed arch 
 window with trefoils, in tolerable preserva¬ 
 tion, which, from its dimensions, may be 
 
BATTLE. 
 
 81 
 
 concluded to have been formerly the princi¬ 
 pal one in the building. 
 
 BATTLE, 
 
 Originally a small village, called Epiton, 
 derives its appellation from the memorable 
 conflict which took place, in the year 1066, 
 between the armies under William, duke of 
 Normandy, and Harold, king of England, 
 the town being built upon the spot where 
 the battle was fought, although that impor¬ 
 tant event is generally termed the battle of 
 Hastings. 
 
 Battle is a small town, situated about 
 flfty-six miles from London and eight from 
 11 astings, and consists only of one street, 
 indiflerently built, but is much improved by 
 the elegant gothic front of the Abbey gate, 
 way which facts it. King Henrj/ the first 
 "ranted to this town a charter for a market 
 
 o 
 
 to be kept on the Sunday, and which was 
 continued till the seventeenth century, wheti 
 it was altered to Thursday. The trade of the 
 town consists chiefly in the manufacture of 
 gunpowder, for which it has long been noted 
 Here are two fairs annually, on Whit Mon¬ 
 day and on November 22, both of which are 
 much frequented. 
 
 o 2 
 
8g 
 
 BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 The Abbey, as before observed, was found¬ 
 ed by William the Conqueror, in comme¬ 
 moration of his success in defeating the 
 English ; and on that part of the field where 
 the contest raged most fiercely, the high al¬ 
 tar standing on the very spot where, accord¬ 
 ing to some historians, the dead body of 
 Harold was found, or where his standard 
 was taken up. It Was dedicated to St. 
 Martin, and filled with Benedictine Monks 
 from the Abbey of Marmontier, in Nor¬ 
 mandy ; perhaps on the account of the 
 thought of the erection being first suggested 
 by William Faber, one of the monks of that 
 house, which was also dedicated to St. Mar¬ 
 tin. The king intended to have endowed 
 the abbey with lands sufficient for the main¬ 
 tenance of one hundred and forty monks, 
 had not death prevented him. 
 
 He, however, granted it divers preroga¬ 
 tives and immunities, similar to those enjoy¬ 
 ed by the monks of Christ Cliaich, Canter¬ 
 bury ; such as the exclusive ri^ht of inquest 
 on all murders committed within their lands, 
 treasure trove, or the property of all trea¬ 
 sures found on their estates, free warren, and 
 
G AT E'WAY, Bat T'jL lE Ab b kaa 
 
 It 
 
* sciKO ^ ‘xsiaiffv sitjlx 
 
 I 
 
 j 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 S3 
 
 cxemption'for themselves and tenants from 
 all episcopal and other ecclesiastical juris¬ 
 diction ; also this peculiar right of sanctuary, 
 that if any person atljiidged guilty ot homi¬ 
 cide, or any other crime, should fly to that 
 church, no harm should be done him, and 
 he should be dismissed entirely free : but, 
 above all, he gave to the abbot the royal 
 power of pardoning any condemned thief he 
 should casually pass by, or meet going to 
 execution. 
 
 He also bestowed on them the land for a 
 league round their house, likewise the manor 
 of Wye, in Kent ; both free from all aids, 
 impositions, and services. He likewise gave 
 them his royal customs in Wye, togetiier 
 with his right of Wreck in Dengemarsh (a 
 member thereof), as also that of any great or 
 royal fish, called crassipies, which should be 
 there driven ashore, except when it happen¬ 
 ed without certain limits, in which case (hey 
 were to have only two parts of .the fish and 
 the tongue,these being all the king usually 
 had. He likewise endowed them with the 
 manors of Aldiston, in Sussex ; Lymsfield, 
 in Surrey; How, in Essex; Cramnere, 
 in Oxfordshire ; and Briswalderton, in 
 
84 
 
 BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 Berkshire ; ivith divers other lands,toge¬ 
 ther with the churches of Radings and Co- 
 lunton, in Devonshire : also that of St. 
 Olaves, afterwards the priory of St. Nicholas, 
 Exeter. Moreover, he confirmed to them all 
 gift of lands, bestowed by his subjects, to 
 be held as free as those granted by himself. 
 The abbey of Brecknock, in Wales, was 
 also afterwards made a cell to this house. 
 
 At the dissolution, the estates of Battle 
 Abbey were valued, the twenty-sixth of 
 Henry the Eighth, according to Dugdaie, 
 at of’880- 14s. Id. per annum ; Speed says, 
 £987. \0d. W'hen pensions were assigned to 
 several of the monks. The s ite was gran¬ 
 ted, by king Henry, (o one Gilmer, who 
 first pulled down many of the buildings, and 
 sold the materials : he afterwards also dis¬ 
 posed of the land, which was purchased by 
 sir Anthony Browne, whose dcscendents 
 converted what was left of the abbey buil¬ 
 dings into a comfortable dwelling. 
 
 The following description of this edifice is 
 given by Browne Willis, in his view of Mi¬ 
 tred Abbeys. “ Though this abbey be de¬ 
 molished, yet the magnificence of it appears 
 by the ruins of the cloysters, &c.and by the 
 
BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 85 
 
 largeness of the hall, kitchen and gate-house, 
 of which, the last is entirely preserved. It 
 is a noble pile, and in it are held sessions, 
 and other meetings for this peculiar juris¬ 
 diction, w’hich hath still great privileges be¬ 
 longing to it. What the hall was in its glo- 
 ly, may be guessed by its dimensions ; its 
 length about fifty ofmy paces: part ofit is now 
 used as ahay-barn: it was leaded; partofthe 
 lead yet remains, and the rest is tiled. As 
 to the kitchen, it was so large as to contain 
 five fire-places, and it was arched at top ; 
 but the extent of the whole abbey may be 
 better measured by the compass of it, it be¬ 
 ing computed at no less than a mile about. 
 
 “ In this church the Conqueror offered 
 up his sword and royal robe, which he w ore 
 on the day of his coronation. The monks 
 kept these till the suppression, and used to 
 shew them as great curiosities, and worthy 
 of the sight of their best friends and all per¬ 
 sons of distinction that happened to come 
 hither. Nor were they less careful about 
 preserving a table of the Norman gentry 
 which came to England with the Conque¬ 
 ror. This table continued till the dissolution, 
 and was seen by our admirable antiquary, 
 
86 
 
 BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 Mr. Leland, who hath given us the contents 
 of it in the first tome of his Collectania.” 
 
 The authority, however of this roll is not 
 greatly to be depended upon. Sir Wm. 
 7-)wge?c(^e speaking of it in the first volume 
 of his Baronage, says, “ There are great er¬ 
 rors, or rather falcihcations, in most of the 
 copies of if, by attributing the derivation of 
 many from the French.) who were not at all 
 of such extraction, but merely English : for 
 such hath been the subtilty of some monks 
 of old, that finding it acceptable unto most 
 to be reputed descendants to those who were 
 companions to duke William in his expedi¬ 
 tion ; therefore, to gratify them, they insert¬ 
 ed their names into the ancient catalogue.” 
 
 Not far,” continues WilUs, “ from the ab¬ 
 bey stands the parochial church, which is 
 one of the best in all the county. In this 
 church there formerly hung up an old table, 
 containing certain verses, (he remains of 
 which 1 shall subjoin. 
 
 ylacc o! boar is iSattel calhb, because 
 in battle here, 
 
 6tttite cowquerels antj obertJii^oban the 
 glish nation lucre; 
 
BATTLE ABBEY. 
 
 87 
 
 ®his slaiigUtcT Ka^jpcncij to them uj)Ott 
 St. (JtcHct’s 13a», 
 
 tlhc gear U)hcvco£======this number both 
 
 arrag.” 
 
 The following letter, written by Gage and 
 Layton to the Lord Cromwell^ shews the 
 state of the furniture and vestments of this 
 rich abbey at the time of the dissolution, 
 which makes it seem as ifthe monks expected 
 a storm, and were making up a purse. The 
 letter is preserved in the British Museum, 
 among the Cottonian manuscripts. 
 
 “ This shal be to advertise yorLordshippe, 
 that we haue taken the assurance for the kyng, 
 and haue caste o'" bowke for the dispache of 
 the monks and householde, which amownt- 
 titheat the leaste to a 2 hundrethe pownds : 
 the implements of the householde be the worst 
 that evr I see in Abbaye or Priorie, the ves- 
 tyments so olde & so baysse worne raggede 
 and tome ssyuorLordshipewould notthinke, 
 so that very small money can be made of the 
 vestrye ; if your Lortlshippe sonde us a hun¬ 
 drethe pownds by the bringer,we shall make 
 up the reste if hit be possible of the olde vra- 
 
 p 
 
88 
 
 BATTLE ABB£r. 
 
 •trye stuffe; ifivve cannot, we shall disburse 
 y till o'' retornetoy'^ Lordshippe the church 
 j|>latc and plate of the householde, we sup¬ 
 pose by estimation will amount to cccc marks 
 or more : there is no great store of catell; 
 this day we be makiug an inyentorie ; thus 
 o'' Lord continewe yowe in honour, from 
 Battel Abbay, the 27th of May. 
 
 Yo'" Lordshippes to command, 
 
 John Gage. 
 
 Yo'' Lordshippes most humble 
 to command, 
 
 Ric Layton Prest.” 
 
 The last abbot vias .John Hammond, who 
 ■surrendered this abbey on the 27th of May, 
 in ;the thirtieth year ofking Henry the eighth 
 with the rest of his monks, and obtained a 
 pension of 100 marks annually, by letters 
 patent, dated the 6th of July, 1538, which 
 said letters patent mention this abbot to have 
 presided a good while before the dissolution, 
 and contains a clause to vacate his pension 
 in case of the king preferring him, which 
 certainly would not have been thought of or 
 inserted, had this abbot been so scandously 
 wicked as Dr. Burnet has related. 
 
a.wTcT 
 
ASHDURNnAM PLACE. 
 
 89 
 
 The Church of Battle is a very haiicl- 
 some structure, consisting of a nave, chan¬ 
 cel, two aisles, and a neat tower at the west 
 end. It contains several curious inscriptions 
 on brass, and other sepulchral memorials, of 
 great antiquity. The Font is very hand¬ 
 some, and, from its appearance, (he same as 
 was placed in it, when the church was first 
 erected. In the windows,of the north aisle 
 are to be traced some curious figures and 
 devices, on painted glass ; and in a niche in 
 the wall, on the north side of the chancel, is 
 a very fine idtar-monument, to tlie memory 
 oi &ir Anthony Browne.^ standard-bearer to 
 king Henry tlte Eighth : he is represented 
 lying on his back, in armour, and adorned 
 with the insignia of the garter. Beside him 
 is the effigy of his lady, in the haibit of the 
 times. 
 
 About three miles from Battle is 
 
 ASHliURNUAM PLACE. 
 
 Tlie magnificent seat of tlie Earl of Ash~ 
 burnharn. The judicious and extensive 
 improvemenfs whicii have been recently 
 made, both in the house and the park, suffi* 
 
90 
 
 BODIAM CASTLE. 
 
 ciently manifest tlic ( legant taste of its noble 
 owner. 
 
 In tbe cliurch, near the mansion, may be 
 seen many valuable curiosities, belonging to 
 this ancient family, which were given by 
 the unfortunate Charles the First, to his 
 conficlental friend and companion, Mr. 
 Ashburnham. 
 
 BODIAM CASTLE. 
 
 Bodiam Castle stands at a small distance 
 east of the village of the same name, six 
 miles from Battle, and like most of our anci¬ 
 ent mansions, is situated low, and encompas¬ 
 sed by a deep moat. This castle was once 
 a magnificent pile, and is still noble even in 
 ruins ; its figure is nearly square, having a 
 round tower at each angle ; gates on the 
 north and south fronts, and a square tower 
 in the centre of the east and west sides. 
 
 The principal entrance is on the north 
 side, over a kind of causeway, defended by 
 an advanced gate, the remains of which are 
 still standing ; it is extremely grand, flank¬ 
 ed by two square machicolated towers. Over 
 the entrance are three escutcheons of arras, 
 beneath a crest of an unicorn’s head ; the 
 
(TAS til.IE, 
 
BODIAM CA8TLE. 
 
 91 
 
 iron portcullis, quite entire, is jet in its place 
 over this entrance. 
 
 This castle is said to have been built bj 
 one of the Dalingrigs, a family of ancient 
 note in this county. The widow of sir 
 Richard Dalingrig, in the reign of Henry 
 the Fourth, married sir Tliomas Boteler, 
 knt. lord Boteler ofWemme: he held it dur¬ 
 ing her life as her jointure. It afterwards 
 passed to sir Thomas Lewkenor, who mar¬ 
 ried Phillippa, daughter and heiress of sir 
 Richard Dalingrig ; from the Lewkenors it 
 came to the earl of Thanet, from whom it 
 was purchased by the Powels, w ho sold it to 
 sir Thomas Webster, bart. and it is now 
 the property of St/' Godfrey Webster, bnrt. 
 
GEOLOGICAL NOTICE. 
 
 A brief notice of the geological features of 
 Hastings may not be unacceptable to many 
 of our readers. 
 
 The descent of River Hill, in Kent, the 
 approach to Bexhill, or the aspect of an ex¬ 
 tended and marshy plain below Hythe, will 
 have introduced the observer, by whatever 
 road he has approached, to a group of eleva¬ 
 ted hills, rising beyond the vale through 
 which he has to pass. He quits the chalk 
 at Sevenoaks, Eastbourne, or Folkstone, the 
 sands and sandy clays which succeed it, and 
 traverses a vale of clay, the weald clay, from 
 beneath which the ironsand strata, par ex¬ 
 cellence the Hastings beds, an irregular, roc¬ 
 ky, and tawny group arise.* 
 
 This deposit, which is somewhat saddle 
 shaped in its south section, consists of a series 
 of beds, principally sand and sandstones, and 
 subordinately, marlstone, marie, clays, and 
 limestones. The ferruginous character, 
 though prevalent, is not constant; but in 
 
 * The general boundary line of the group may he laid down SW. 
 at Hastings and Horsham ; N. an 1 N.li. near I’enshuisl, at 'I on- 
 hridge, and near Winehelsea ; and its S.li. seetion hy the sea, from 
 Cliff and near Winehelsea to the neighbourhood of liexhill, 
 seven inilas along the Coast. Sec colored sketch and section. 
 
GEOlLOGlCAt NOTICE. 
 
 93 
 
 beds where its absence is most remarkable, 
 no mixture of green particles (Green Sand 
 Form") is observed. The sandstone varies, 
 in coarse or friable character, at Hastings 
 occupjing two thirds of the section exposed 
 towards the sea. Beneath the sandstone, 
 cherty, calcareous and clay sandstones form 
 the rocky base of the cliffs, and beneath these 
 limestones of variable character are observed, 
 to alternate with sands and clays along the 
 shores and at points below the general base 
 of the natural section. These substrata 
 have been pierced near Battle, consisting of 
 i5 thin beds of limestone alternating with 
 shell.* 
 
 Its mineral contents are trifling, iron¬ 
 stone, hsematetic iron, and hessatic iron py¬ 
 rites in the ferruginous and shelly bcds.t 
 Concretions of chert, silicificd wood ; char- 
 ry and bituminous wood coal in the sand¬ 
 stone and clays. Stalagmite occurs in fis¬ 
 sures of the more compact strata. 
 
 ♦ C. and P. (Book 2. c. 2. s.G.) p. 14S. 
 
 + The quantity of oxide of iron is variaMe. At Aehburnham, 
 iron works still exist ; and the tracing of smelting pits are disco¬ 
 verable in a variety of situations, by the slag which record® a 
 native manufacture when the fuel was more plentiful and the 
 woods less scanty upon the landscape. 
 
94 
 
 GEOLOGICAL NOTICE. 
 
 Its fossil contents are few and indistinct.* 
 Vivipaia}, a small thin bivalve, Sabelloe of 
 Lamarck, Cypris Faba, &c. In the com¬ 
 pact ironstone the minute casts of the latter 
 shell are abundant ; it occurs also in shale 
 near flollingdon as at Sandown, in the Isle 
 of Wight. Saurian teeth and scales, and 
 fragments of a crab occur also, but are rare. 
 The slaty sandstone, and clays, enclose the 
 bituminesed remains of ferns, grasses, &c. 
 A compact sandstone upon the shore, east 
 and west of Hastings affords abundant frag¬ 
 ments of wood, and branches, in a charry or 
 silicitied state. From the overlying diluvial 
 clays, near Bexhill, a large tooth of a fossil 
 elephant was lately collected. 
 
 We close this short notice by observing 
 that these strata are separated in this district 
 and elsewere, from the green sand, or ferru¬ 
 ginous sand with green particles and fossils 
 wholly marine, by the blue or weald clay. 
 This clay is interposed between the Hastings 
 beds or iron sand, and the sands of Sandgate, 
 
 * For further particulars of the Hastings beds, their position 
 and their fossils, the reader is referred to “Geological Outlines 
 &c.’' Mantoll’s Sussex, and Dr. Fitton’s and Mr. Webster’s Papers 
 upon the stra'^a beneath the Chalk, in the Geolog. Tians., and the 
 Annals of Philosophy, &c. 
 
GEOLOGICAL NOTICE. 
 
 95 
 
 Iliegate, Shanklin, arul Black Gang, S,'C. 
 T!ie terms, Upper, and lower Ferruginous 
 Sands,* imply a connection wliicli is not ob¬ 
 served to be sufficiently distinct. 
 
 We add a Sketch of the Geological out¬ 
 line, and its. overlying strata to the Chalk, 
 from Coneybeau and Phillips’s Geological 
 Map : and a rough section from Folkestone 
 to Hastings indicated by the waved tine 
 above the level line of the Sea, in the general 
 
 Section of the Strata immediately beneath the 
 Chalk. 
 
 lieferences to the Sketches : — 
 
 a. Brown, iron Sand. 
 
 b. Blue. Weald Clay. 
 
 c. Green. Green Sand. 
 
 d. Ash Grey. Gault Clay. 
 
 e. Pink. Fire-stone. 
 
 f. Straw yellow. Chalk Series. 
 
 * .>Jr. Webster, in Annals of Philosophy, &c, 
 
 
96 
 
 GEOLOGICAL NOTICE. 
 
 LIST OF ROCKS. 
 
 Tlic denudation of the Strata, East and 
 West of Hastings, exposes the undermen¬ 
 tioned rocks :— 
 
 A. Sandstone, a. Coarse Sandstone. 
 
 b. Friable Sandstone. 
 
 c. Fine Sandstone. 
 
 cc. Slaty, flexible, (Lower beds East). 
 Ferns, Mica. 
 
 d. Compact, marly, or 
 cherty Sandstone. Cliarrib and Silicified 
 wood. Mica. 
 
 B. Ironstone- a. Shelly or compact Iron¬ 
 stone. Vivissarae. Sabellae. Cypris Faba. 
 Teeth, &c. 
 
 6. Nest Ironstone enclosing 
 Argill Ironstone. 
 
 c. Marly and Slaty, ponde¬ 
 rous Argill Ironstone. 
 
 C. Clay. a- Bluish green Clay. 
 
 (Lower beds East). Charred Wood. 
 
 b. Ochreous Clay, (Upper 
 beds West. Pett, &c.) 
 
 c. Ash-coloured Clay and 
 Shale, variable in colour. Cypris Faba. 
 
 Teeth. Scales. 
 
GEOLOGICAL NOTICE. 
 
 97 
 
 Ferruginous Lime- 
 
 D. Limestone, a Upper or Im. 
 perfect Rag Limestone. 
 
 B.b.c. 
 
 Transition stone, 
 specimens. ^Slaty Limestone. 
 
 h. Lower or com-' 
 pact blue and butF Limestone. 
 
 Tiicse may be collected in the space of a 
 mile between the signal station, West, and 
 Ecclesbourne, East. 
 
 Their General order descending is. A, a, 
 b. C, b. A, c. -B, c. B, b. A, c. D, a. cc. 
 C, a. D, a. C’, c. yl, d. D, b. C\ c. D, b, 
 vtc. represents the intervention of clay or 
 loose sandy beds. 
 
 2 
 
98 
 
 WALKS AND RIDES, 
 
 Eirst Walk—To the Fish Ponds,* Dripping 
 Well, Fairlight Place, Fairlight Glen, 
 
 Lovers’ Seat, and return. 
 
 Second Walk—Fairlight Down, and the 
 Chnich. 
 
 Third Walk—White Rock, Bulverhytbe, 
 and Bexhill. 
 
 Fourth Walk—The Old Boar, Hollington 
 Church. 
 
 Fifth Walk—Beauport, and Crowhurst. 
 First Ride—Fairlight Down, the Church, 
 and the Fish Ponds. 
 
 Second Ride—Guestling, Winchelsea, Rye, 
 and return by the village of Pett. 
 
 Third Ride—White Rock, Bulverhythc, 
 and Bexhill. 
 
 Fourth Ride—Bexhill, Pevensey, Herst- 
 monceux, and return by Ninfield and 
 
 Gardnerstreet. 
 
 Fifth Ride—Crowhurst, Battle, and Asli- 
 burnham. 
 
 Sixth Ride—Battle, Bodiain Castle, and 
 return by Seddiescomb and Westfield* 
 
 *The Footway to the Fis)i Ponds, is by the narrow lane at the 
 •north-cast of the High-Street, wliich is laid down in the map of 
 Hastings. 
 
ENVIRONS ^tF llASTmUH 
 
 Wuihelsca JoSq 
 
 Icldtsha/n 
 
 O'ufjtim 
 
 T/wri 
 
 £numi/u 
 
 
 loH'dt'rJfilJ 
 
 J^Ftu^iorf 
 
 (rtwAursi 
 I*ark (, 
 
 ihtt\st/in4f 
 (httatfe' 
 
 ficrmitti/je 
 
 //•qhiirst 
 
 
 (roiFhiirst 
 
 Y'm'Ht/fht 
 
 Fauii/jht 
 
 
 ^I/^treX: 
 
 (rrOVF 
 
 Schemu 
 
 (rUF/tti/^ 
 
 
 fii/lverhi^ic 
 
 SmU ot'Mi/rs 
 
 Sid^. ^rttlp ‘ 
 
 Pul'ltsht’J Man P.M I’vwi^l. HtLttuUiy 
 
99 
 
 TABLE OF DISTANCES. 
 
 M1LE9. 
 
 "From the Swan Inn, Hastings, t* the George Inn, Battle .. 8 
 
 Ditto, to the George Inn, Kobertfebridge . 13£- 
 
 Ditto, to Fiimwell .: . lb 
 
 Ditto, to Lamberhurst . 23^ 
 
 Ditto, to Tonbridge Town ... 33i 
 
 Ditto, to Tonbridge Wells, through Wadhuist and Ticehurst 
 
 Ditto, to Seven Oaks ... 39^ 
 
 Ditto, to Riverhead ... 4(5 
 
 Ditto, to Farnborough .... 49 
 
 Ditto, to Locksbottoin ...... 51 
 
 Ditto, to Bromley . 53 
 
 Ditto, to London . 63^ 
 
 Ditto, to Bexhill . 5 
 
 Ditto, to Pcvcnsey . 14^ 
 
 Ditto, to New Inn, Southbourne . 18^ 
 
 Ditto, to Lamb Inn. Eastbourne .... i9 
 
 Ditto, to Winchelsea . 8^ 
 
 Ditto, to Rye . 11 
 
 Ditto, to Horsebridge, ... 18 
 
 Ditto, to Lewes .. 32 
 
 Ditto, to Brighton. 19 
 
 TIDE TABLE FOR HASTINGS. 
 
 Moon’s Age 
 
 Hi?li 
 
 Water. 
 
 Low 
 
 Water. 
 
 Neiv 
 
 [■ull. 
 
 Bouts. Min. 
 
 Hour!). 
 
 iVi in. 
 
 
 
 lO 
 
 48 
 
 5 
 
 
 Days I 
 
 10 
 
 U 
 
 30 
 
 5 
 
 48 
 
 2 
 
 1/ 
 
 r* 
 
 24 
 
 t> 
 
 30 
 
 3 
 
 18 
 
 1 
 
 12 
 
 7 
 
 2i 
 
 4 
 
 It) 
 
 ‘j 
 
 0 
 
 b 
 
 12 
 
 5 
 
 20 
 
 2 
 
 48 
 
 9 
 
 0 
 
 C 
 
 21 
 
 3 
 
 30 
 
 9 
 
 48 
 
 7 
 
 22 
 
 4 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 S 
 
 23 
 
 o 
 
 12 
 
 ll 
 
 24 
 
 9 
 
 24 
 
 G 
 
 9 
 
 12 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 23 
 
 G 
 
 •!8 
 
 i 
 
 0 
 
 11 
 
 20 
 
 7 
 
 3o 
 
 1 
 
 Ih 
 
 !•-’ 
 
 27 
 
 a 
 
 24 
 
 2 
 
 
 13 
 
 28 
 
 y 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 24 
 
 ) t 
 
 24 
 
 1^ 
 
 
 4 
 
 12 
 

 Antlqiiify of Hastings 6 
 All Saints Church.... 10 
 
 Ashburnham Place . 
 
 89 C 
 
 All Saints Street ... 
 
 .42C 
 
 Assemblies at the Swan C 
 
 Hotel. 
 
 .30C 
 
 Breeds Place. 
 
 .39C 
 
 Battle of Hastings.. 
 
 .25C 
 
 Battle Abbey . 
 
 .82 0 
 
 Battle Church .... 
 
 .89 0 
 
 Battle. 
 
 .810 
 
 Bodiam Castle .... 
 
 .900 
 
 Blucher Place .... 
 
 . .40( 
 
 Beach Houses .... 
 
 ..41 ( 
 
 --Cottages.... 
 
 ..41 ( 
 
 Bathing Machines.. 
 
 . .34( 
 
 Bulverhythei. 
 
 . .64< 
 
 Bexhill . 
 
 . .66' 
 
 
 . .78- 
 
 
 
 Barracks . 
 
 . .44' 
 
 Benevolent Society 
 
 . .29( 
 
 Boarding Houses 
 
 . .31 
 
 Boarding Schools 
 
 For young Ladies, Mrs. 
 
 Charity Schools.28 
 
 Cavenflish Place ... .41 
 
 iis.24 
 
 leror’s Table ..64 
 .41 
 
 .39 
 
 &c... 40 
 
 ....41 
 
 St. Clements ..44 
 
 Chapel.11 
 
 !, its antiquity ..13 
 —a description of 21 
 ;1, St. Mary’s .. 10 
 4i, St. Clements 8 
 — All Saints . ..10 
 
 Bray, Blticher Place37 
 Ditto Miss C. Richards, 
 All Saints Street .. 37 
 For young Gentlemen, by 
 the Rev. C. A. Marcus 
 East Hill House .. 37 
 
 Bank.33 
 
 Billiard Rooms.33 
 
 Caroline Place.41 
 
 Churches . 8 
 
 Castle of Hastings, its 
 antiquity .13 
 
 Denmark Place.41 
 
 )nshire Cottage . .43 
 
 Dripping Well .75 
 
 Donkey Carriages... .37 
 Dissenting Chapels .. 11 
 
 East Hill .42 
 
 Exmouth House ... .41 
 Ebenezer Chapel .... 11 
 Excavations ot the Cas¬ 
 tle .21 
 
 Ib’iars, Winchelsea . .54 
 
 Fish Ponds .75 
 
 E^airlight Place.75 
 
 Fairlight Glen .76 
 
lOi 
 
 Fairlight Down . 
 
 73 Hastings Ships capture 
 
 Flies and Gigs. 
 
 37i and destroy 80 sail 
 
 Fairs .... 
 
 28 of French Ships 
 
 7 
 
 Fort 
 
 24'' - burnt by the 
 
 
 Free Schools 
 
 28,' French — 
 
 8 
 
 Fly Vans 
 
 35 Inns — — 
 
 31 
 
 Gloucester Place 
 
 41 Inn, Anchor 
 
 81 
 
 Geological position of 
 
 1 - Cutter 
 
 31 
 
 Hastings 
 
 92 - Hastings Anns 
 
 31 
 
 George Street .... 
 
 43 - Pelham Arms 
 
 31 
 
 Guestling Hill Cottage7G' - King’s Head 
 
 31 
 
 Glen Roar 
 
 78 King, the, an extraordi- 
 
 Gigs, Sic. .... 
 
 37| narv Likeness of, in 
 
 the 
 
 Garrick . 
 
 45; ruins of the castle - 
 
 42 
 
 High Street 
 
 42 Kentish Buildings - 
 
 42 
 
 Hill Street 
 
 42 Lodging Houses 38 to 44 
 
 Hallaway Place 
 
 43 Lovers’ Seat — 
 
 7G 
 
 Horses, &c. 
 
 37il.ibraries — 
 
 31 
 
 Herstnionceux Castle 
 
 71 Laurel Cottage, See. 
 
 43 
 
 Hollington Church 
 
 78|Lying-in Society 
 
 29 
 
 - Lodge 
 
 78 Meadow Cottages 
 
 40 
 
 Harbour 
 
 22|Marine Parade ■— 
 
 38 
 
 Hovs, or Water 
 
 |i\Iarket Days — 
 
 28 
 
 conveyance 
 
 3G,Mount Pleasant 
 
 43 
 
 Hotels 
 
 29 Merry .Andrews, why so 
 
 Motel, Castle 
 
 291 called - — 
 
 70 
 
 - Crown 
 
 30,Nursery Garden Cot- 
 
 - Swan 
 
 30 tage — — 
 
 43 
 
 Hastings, itssituation &c5 Nobles and Bishops, as- 
 
 - its .Antiquity (3 semble at Hasting 
 
 s 
 
 - Battle of 
 
 25 Castle. 1090 - 
 
 15 
 
 - not so called 
 
 'Ore Church — 
 
 79 
 
 after the Danish 
 
 :01d Boar — 
 
 77 
 
 Pirate of that name 0,Oates 'fitus — 
 
 *47 
 
 Hastings, a Mint at in 
 
 'Priory — — 
 
 27 
 
 <J-24 — 
 
 7 Pelham Place — 
 
 38 
 
102 
 
 Pleasure Boats — 
 
 36 
 
 Stage Coaches 
 
 35 
 
 Peveiisey Castle 
 
 66 
 
 Town Hall * — 
 
 12 
 
 Post, the — 
 
 36 
 
 Tide Table — 
 
 99 
 
 Population — 
 
 6 
 
 Theatre — 
 
 38 
 
 Prospect Place, East 
 
 Table of distances 
 
 99 
 
 Hill _ — 
 
 44 
 
 Vessels, method of se 
 
 . 
 
 Pier Remains of 
 
 22 
 
 curing — 
 
 25 
 
 Pelham Crescent 
 
 39 
 
 Vessels, method of low 
 
 . 
 
 Ditto Arcade 
 
 39 
 
 ering into the Sea 
 
 2:3 
 
 Ditto Baths 
 
 34 
 
 Waggons — 
 
 35 
 
 Religious Edifices 
 
 8 
 
 Wellington Square 
 
 40 
 
 Reading Rooms 
 
 32 
 
 Waterloo Place 
 
 42 
 
 Rocklands Farm 
 
 43 
 
 Warm Baths — 
 
 34 
 
 Rye, — — 
 
 58 
 
 Water Conveyance 
 
 36 
 
 Rope Walk — 
 
 41 
 
 West Hill House, &c. 
 
 41 
 
 St. Clement’s Cave 
 
 44 
 
 White Rock — 
 
 64 
 
 St. Mary’s Terrace 
 
 44 
 
 White Rock Road 
 
 41 
 
 Shakspeare Mulberry 
 
 Winchelsea — 
 
 47 
 
 Tree — 
 
 45 
 
 Ditto Church — 
 
 51 
 
 Shovell Sir Cloudesley 40 
 
 Ditto Castle 
 
 58 
 
 St. Mary’s Chapel 
 
 10 
 
 Walks and Rides 48 & 98 
 
 Saddle Horses, &c. 
 
 37 
 
 Wesleyan Chapel 
 
 11 
 
 St. Mary’s Church, re¬ 
 
 
 York Buildings, Priory 39 
 
 mains of — 
 
 13 
 
 York Cottages 
 
 41 
 
 Swan Hotel — 
 
 30 
 
 Zoar Chapel — 
 
 12 
 
 St. Clement’s Church 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 1 INIS. 
 
 printed by H. UAYLKy, Gcarge Street, Hastings. 
 
I' 
 
 f 
 
 f 
 
 . 
 
 r 
 
 
 V,.; . 
 
Duke University Libraries