Railway progress - fire engines to be provided
I commence 1839 with an enumeration of the St. Leonards Commissioners at that time. These were Major Jeffries, A. and D. Burton, C. and R. Deudney, W. F. Burton, T. Wood, Dr. Harwood, C. H. Southall, Rev. S. H. Widdrington, A. Greenough, T. J. Rawson, J. Rock, T. Brown, and W. Waghorne. At their first quarterly meeting on the 28th of January, held as usual at the Victoria Hotel, Mr. Rastrick (engineer) and Mr. Briggs (solicitor) were present, and submitted plans and explanations which led to a resolution that "In the opinion of the Commissioners, the railroad projected by the London and Brighton Company to St. Leonards will be of essential advantage to the town and that the Clerk sign a declaration to that effect." About a week later Mr. Briggs also appeared at a meeting of the Hastings Town Council, when it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. Putland, "That the Council consider the railway as proposed by Mr. Briggs, of Lewes will be a great public benefit, and that they will give all the assistance in their power in furtherance of the object." At this very time the engineers of the South-Eastern Railway were engaged in taking levels for a branch of their line to terminate in the Fishmarket The project was to bring the rail from near Rye, round by the Military road to Cliff End, and thence through the East Cliff to the said Fishmarket. At a later period, namely, the first week in May, a Bill in Parliament was read a first time to alter and divert the South-Eastern Railway from a point in the parish of Chiddingstone, in Kent, so as to join the London and Brighton line at or near Redstone-hill (Redhill) in the parish of Reigate. Turning again to the London and Brighton Company it may be of interest to know what progress the said company had made during the two years of its formation, and in what way some of the St. Leonards gentlemen figured in the concern. The fourth half-yearly meeting of shareholders was held at the London Tavern on the 18th July, when the secretary (Thos. Wood, Esq., of St. Leonards) read the following report:-
"Under the provisions of the Act of Incorporation, the Directors have convened the fourth general meeting of the proprietors in order to put them in possession of the progress of the undertaking during the last half-years, and to lay before them the present state of the Company's affairs. The Directors have now purchased or agreed for the purchase of all the land which it is neccessary (sic) to purchase the total amount of which is about £340,000. In making these purchases the Company has been obliged, as it is usual, to take a considerable quantity of land not absolutely required for the site of the Railway, and which, when resold, will at a moderate estimate, realize £60,000. In some instances the Directors have been compelled to resort to juries, in consequence of the extravagant demands made upon them by the landowners, and in these cases the gross amount claimed was £120,000, and that awarded by the juries £33,000 7s., making a difference in favour of the Company of £86,999 13s., a result fully justifying the course adopted. When it is considered that the directors have had to settle the amount of compensation to be paid to about 1,500 parties interested in the land required for the Railway, and that the whole of their interests have been arranged within the two years limited by the Act, and that more than six months elapsed after the passing of the Act before the Company were in a situation to make a single purchase, they cannot but congratulate the proprietors that all this has been effected without incurring the risk and expense of applying to the Legislature, either for an extension of the time for the purchase of the land, or for fresh powers to deviate from the line authorised by Parliament, which the Directors believe to be unprecedented. The Directors proceed to lay before the meeting a Report of their Engineer containing a detailed account of the works up to the present period, but before doing so, it may be well to state that the gross amount at which the contracts are all let is £658,332 6s, exclusive of the tunnels, which are estimated at about £150,000.”
Mr. Rastrick then submitted a very lengthy and detailed report of the several contracts, showing the progress of the work and the forces employed therein. In that report it was shown that the Railway between London and Brighton, from which a branch to St. Leonards had been promised, was employing in its construction nearly 5,000 men and 600 horses; and so satisfied were the shareholders with the general management of the Directors, that at their meeting on the 18th of July, it was resolved "That the thanks of this meeting be given to Mr. Rastrick, the engineer, for his extremely gratifying report and his unwearied attention; also to the chairman and directors for the very able and satisfactory manner in which they have conducted the affairs of the Company to the present period." After such a resolution, carried (as will be hereafter shown) unanimously by the legitimate shareholders, it may seem strange that the harmony of such a meeting should have been disturbed by one man, and that man an inhabitant and property holder of St. Leonards. But so it was. Mr. James Troup, of the Warrior-square estate, who had gone late to the meeting, asked to see the accounts, and complained that he had never been able to get a detailed statement. Being reminded that he had never applied for it, he submitted that, with all deference to the chairman, he was advised that by a mandamus he could compel the directors to lay the details before the proprietors. He therefore claimed them as a right, and not as a favour. Mr. Troup then went on at great length, complaining that the purchase of land had cost £340,000, whereas it ought not to have cost more than £200,000; asserting that there had been a want of economy; and finding fault with the giving out of contracts. After the patience of the meeting had been pretty well exhausted, a shareholder asked if Mr. Troup, who was so fond of finding fault, was one of the gentlemen who had not paid his call, for if so he was not entitled to be present, much less to trouble the meeting. Laughter and cries of oh! greeted the chairman's announcement that the gentleman in question had not paid his call. Mr. Troup then tendered the amount, but was referred to the bankers. The irrepressible James was not however, to be put down; and so he launched out with another string of complaints, whilst he disclaimed any feeling of hostility to the directors personally, and only disired (sic) the welfare of the Company. It should be stated that Mr. Troup had sent copies of a circular to the shareholders, in which he advised them not to pay the calls upon their shares until a finance committee had been appointed to examine the accounts. The circular also stated that the contracts had been taken on terms unfavourable to the Company, and it requested that communications on the subject be addressed to Mr. Troup at his agents in Chancery Lane. On the motion being put by the Chairman to adopt the Report, Mr. Troup's hand was the only one that was held up against it; but it was ruled that as he had not paid his calls, he was not entitled to vote, and that the motion was therefore carried unanimously. Poor Mr. Troup! How anxious he was to carry all before him I have previously shown while treating of other matters; and it is more than possible that his persistency will exhibit itself again and again in the course of my narratives.
The construction of the London and Brighton Railway and the obstruction of Mr. Troup thereto having been brought under notice in consequence of the separate resolutions of the St. Leonards Commissioners, and the Hastings Town Council in favour of a proposed branch to St. Leonards that subject may be left where it is while I hie me back to the Commissioners' next meeting there to note the further identity of interests evinced by the ruling bodies of Hastings and St. Leonards, as well as the courtesies manifested by each to each. The second quarterly meeting of the year was held at the Victoria Hotel, and a letter was there read from Mr. Phillips as follows :-
The Commissioners for the Improvement of Hastings having had their meeting held this 4th of February under their consideration the efficiency of the fire engines in the town, and their disposal and management in case of fire; also the unprotected state of the property at St. Leonards from the want of an engine stationed on the spot, they have directed me to request that you will submit these suggestions to the Commissions for the Improvement of St. Leonards, feeling assured they will excuse the notice of this defect in their local establishment. It appears to the Commissioners of Hastings that very serious damage might happen to the property at St. Leonards before the Hastings engines could be brought into use; and that if the Commissioners of St. Leonards would procure a proper fire engine to be kept in their town under the Authority contained in their Act, not only would the inhabitants of St. Leonards have the benefit which an engine stationed there would afford in case of need but that the property in both towns would be more completely protected by the mutual assistance which might then be rendered by the several engines belonging to them.
To the above courteous communication, an equally polite reply was sent by the Clerk (Mr. Fraser), in which the writer assured Mr. Phillips that the St. Leonards Commissioners would feel gratified by the courtesy, but that the subject of the communication had been seriously considered by them three months previously, when it was resolved that £20 be paid by the Commissioners towards a subscription for a fire-engine to be stationed within the limits of the Act, and under their own control. As the engine afterwards purchased has done good service for 40 years, and is still one of the most efficient manuals belonging to the Borough Brigade, some account of it is here appended.
To the £20 voted by the Commissioners on the 29th of December 1838, towards the proposed subscription for a fire-engine, the collector reported at the next quarterly meeting that the subscriptions amounted to £80 13s., and that other sums had been promised. At a later period, Mr. W. F. Burton was requested to ascertain the price of a fire-engine and apparatus. This gentleman's report was that a new 14-manual could be had for £145 7s., and a second-hand 22-manual for £115, both from Mr. Tilley's factory. It was then resolved that Mr. Merryweather be applied to. It was further resolved that as only £70 of the promised £80, had been collected, the several bond-holders be asked for their assistance in the purchase of the engine. It may be presumed that the replies were not favourable, as more than twelve months elapsed before anything further was done. It was then resolved that Mr. Braidwood of the London Fire-brigade, be asked to report on the efficiency of the engine and gear offered by Mr. Tilley, and if approved of, the engine would be purchased at any sum not exceeding £120, if Mr. Tilley would take a bond of £50 as part payment at 5 per cent. interest. It would appear that Mr. Tillley was not willing to accede to those term; (sic) for, at the Commissioners' next meeting, a satisfactory report was received from Mr. Braidwood, and a motion carried "That the £70 subscriptions be paid to Mr. Tilley, and the further consideration to stand over." A second resolution was to the effect "That the thanks of the Commissioners be given to Mr. Greenough for paying £19 3s. 10d., half the deficiency of the collections for the purchase of an engine the other moiety being met by further subscriptions." The Commissioners were not often accused of doing things in haste and repenting at leisure and thus upon the negative of that principle, just two years after the question was first broached, it was reported that "The fire-engine which by Mr. Greenough's liberal assistance, has been recently purchased, is now placed in a coach-house in Upper St. Leonards Mews, hired of Mr. Chamberlin at £4 per annum, and is in charge of Mr. James Mann, who is to keep it in order for £1 per quarter." This it may be presumed, was held to be a pretty good two years' work, and, as no very serious fire had occurred during the time, the other requirements might be leisurely considered. Anyhow, it was decided at the expiration of another three months "That the posts opposite St. Leonards Hotel and at the back of 35 Marina be applicable for working the engine in case of fire, and at a cost of £1 12s. 0d. Also "That water-pipes be fitted with plug-holes, ready to receive the stand-pipes on the East ascent, between the Conqueror and Harold hotels, and between the church and the Victoria hotel, at a cost not exceeding £5 10s. ; and that a stand-pipe and screw be purchased at not more tham (sic) £3 8s.” Thus was the St. Leonards fire-engine purchased and other appliances provided.
Rev. J. C. Leslie succeeds Rev. Widdrington - Lively meetings of turnpike trust
It was sometimes thought by those who had to pay the rates and did not see the accounts that the Commissioners were not sufficiently economical in their expenditure; but it would not be difficult to show that in most cases their practice was to err on the side of parsimony rather than on that of extravagance. They even questioned their liability to pay a halfpenny per ton to a man named French for coal meterage, such meterage amounting to £4 10s. They understood that at Hastings the arrangement was for the ship's husband to pay that expense, and at their next quarterly meeting they resolved to adopt the-
