beautiful land and seascape. This walk formed a pleasant promenade. The trees were removed and the place was afterwardsused as a rope walk, and hence probably derived its present name of Tackleway. The east window of All Saints' Church is seen in the corner. In an old deed of Edward VII. it is called Teghill Way.
ALL SAINTS' STREET.
One of the two main streets into which the old town of Hastings is divided has seen fewer architectural changes than others. It has no pretentious shop fronts, and few business establishments of note. There are some of the 16th century houses left and most of its early features remain, especially the picturesque high pavement on the east side. On this pavement in the first half of the 19th century it was a common sight during the summer months for the inhabitants to bring out chairs and tables and partake of an al fresco tea. Immediately opposite All Saints' Church is the Wilderness, with several very fine old elm trees. Many years ago Wilderness Cottage was occupied by Mrs. Hawkins, and afterwards by Mr. Davis, who owned some land opposite and presented it for the extension of the Churchyard and making an improved entrance to the Church. On page 138 is presented a view of an old timber gabled house which still exists nearly opposite the Stag Inn, a specimen of many in All Saints' Street a century ago.
A QUAINT CORONATION CEREMONY. ANNE PAGE " QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS."
Part of the festivities at Hastings on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Coronation in 1838 was a ceremony performed in All Saints' Street. In " Brett's Local History " the following account given : "The crowning of the ' Queen of all Saints ' might be interpreted as an act of disloyalty, or as a burlesque on the solemn event it is intended to commemorate. That, in a certain sense, it was a burlesque, there is no denying, but the object of those who took part in it (some of whom held high positions in the town) was simply to gratify a whim of the people living in the Old Town, and at the same time to do honour, rather than to offer insult, to a beloved Sovereign. It suited the caprice of certain maids and matrons to have a Queen for their own particular parish, and to have her crowned as such on the same day as Queen Victoria. Anne Page, on whom their choice fell, was a sprightly old dame, 69 or 70, whose husband had died some years before, and she was to be found at nearly all the dances and merry-makings in and about the town. There was scarcely an old-fashioned dance of any kind with which she was not an adept, besides being a fair vocalist, and would also undertake to tell young women's fortunes by means of cards.
