To me it is as clear as wax:
Your patience I'll not further tax.
But should you ask - Will good arise
From this dissecting ears and eyes?
At least one grand result appears,
That ladies are "all eyes and ears."
From Hastings there's no more to tell
By yours most truly, L.E.L.
It would be very ungallant of me to question the accuracy of "Lousia Eliza Lorelore's (there were no closing quotation marks) statement that she had nothing more to tell her Kensington friend, Miss Seebright; but it would be equally unworthy of me to lead my readers to imagine that there is nothing more for me to tell.
Archery Meeting - Annual Races - Boat Races
On the 6th of August a lady and gentleman of the name of Cox were returning from Robertsbridge to St. Leonards in a four-wheeled chaise, and when near the North Lodge, the gentleman alighted to put on the drag, but before he could accomplish it, the horse dashed down Maze hill at a rapid pace, overturned the vehicle and threw Mrs. Cox violently to the ground. The unfortunate lady was found to have sustained a fractured leg and other severe injuries.
There were great rejoicings in St. Leonards on a certain day in 1838, in consequence of the nuptials of Miss Browne and the Rev. G. J. Symson. The wedding festivities were held at the residence of the Dowager Lady Lubbock, as well as at the Conqueror Hotel, at which latter place the principal tradesmen were among the guests at dinner. Salutes were fired and flags were hosted on the parade, and the town may be said to have been almost en fête. It took place on the 14th of August, and within a fortnight of a similar event in which another clergyman and another lady were the principal actors. There was however, nothing specially noteworthy in this last-named union, except that some inconsiderate wag so plied the reporter of a county newspaper with "private information" as to enable the latter to concoct the following fictitious paragraph: - "On Thursday a marriage was consummated at St. Leonards Church between the Rev. Mr. Freeman and Miss Ann Green, after a courtship of 22 years; and so disinclined was the lady to change her state of single blessedness for the silken bands of matrimony, that it was not till the officiating clergyman had despatched two messengers, requiring her attendance, that she made her appearance". As may be imagined, this little piece of scandal afforded the quidnuncs some amusement, but it was of short duration, the joke having been discovered, when the simple facts, without the fiction appeared in the same newspaper a week later.
Three days after the celebration of Miss Brown and Mr. Sympson's marriage the Annual Grand Meeting of the Queen's St. Leonards Archers was held with unusual pomp. In addition to the "Royal Victoria Challenge Prizes" previously given to the Society by the Queen, a first annual subscription of twenty guineas was received from her Majesty, to be spent in the purchase of a gold bracelet. To this was added by the Society another twenty guineas, and with the whole amount was provided a gold medal of the value of twenty guineas for gentlemen, and for the ladies a bracelet and gold chain, each of the worth of ten guineas. Fine weather favoured the meeting, which consisted of a brilliant company of 460 persons, and the eclât of the whole affair was unprecedented. The proceedings commenced with a procession of Archers in uniform, preceded by the Right Hon. Joseph Planta, M.P. (the new president), and Robert Hollond, Esq., M.P., and headed by a page, bearing the elegant silk banner designed and embroidered by Her Majesty before her accession. The band then played the National Anthem, and the trumpet sounded "to arms." The competition for the valuable prizes was of an animated character, and the following were the winners:- Miss H Wood, gold bracelet; Miss Meyrick, gold Coronation medal; Miss Mackay, 1st Coronation prize; Mrs. Howman, 2nd Coronation prize; Miss Wood, 1st Victoria prize; Miss Mackay, 2nd Victoria prize; Capt. J. Norton, 1st Victoria prize for gentlemen; T. Knox, Esq., 2nd Victoria prize for gentlemen. After the shooting, some gentlemen amused the company by exercising themselves with the Australian boomerang. It was manufactured by Mr. Thos. Beaney, an ingenious artificer and coach-maker, and the evolutions of the curious yet simple instrument caused much astonishment. It may be mentioned that Mr. Beaney, in those days, manufactured all the bows and arrows for the Society, and that his work-shop - until he removed to St. Leonards - was in Pelham street, Hastings. The Queen's St. Leonards Archers continued their prize meetings that year as late as the 27th of Oct., when Miss Kightly won the Society's prize; Miss Mackay, the Rev. C. Martin's prize; and Mrs. Jerrard, the Rev. G. E. Howman's prize. The prizes were awarded in graceful terms by the Rt. Hon. J. Planta.
The annual races, together with the race-dinners and balls had already taken place, and a gay autumnal season had commenced. On the 29th of September, two days after the Races, a spirited boat-race was undertaken for a prize or a wager by Robert Hollond, Esq., M.P., and Twisden Hodges, Esq. The former gentleman sailed in his lugger yacht Queen of the Isles, and the latter in his Waterwitch, a boat of similar construction. Mr. Planta, the Conservative Member, also sailed in his yacht, the British Fair, to see that all was fair with his Liberal colleague, whilst Mr. Ephraim Bond, of the Marina, accompanied the race in the Sylph. The race occupied 3 1/2 hours, when it was declared that the Waterwitch had bewitched the Queen-of-the-Isles, and that Hollands, however strong in spirit, was not equal to Hodges's best. Five days later, Mr. Hodges was equally successful in a four-oared galley match, when, for a prize of fifty sovereigns, he backed La Lucia, of Sandgate, against the John Bull of Hastings. The distance was four miles, and the course was a double journey between the Hastings Battery and a point marked by buoys off St. Leonards. A strong N.E. wind was blowing at the time, yet the crews of both competing boats pulled away right manfully amist (sic) the cheers of an euthusiastic (sic) multitude, and covered the whole distance in 33 minutes. The John Bull - owned by George Tutt and others - was regarded as a remarkably fast boat of the period, but as the race is not always to the swift, so it was thought to be in this case, the Sandgate boat being declared the winner by 21 seconds. Albeit, Mr. Tutt's galley, many a time and oft, was destined to play a winning rather than a losing game; and although long, long ago, it ceased to "walk the waters as a thing of life," its builder (Mr. George Tutt) continued to live until he had reached the venerable age of 88 years.
Apropos of boat-building, it may be stated that of the numerous vessels constructed by Messrs. Thwaites and Winter, and Ransom and Ridley, one was launched from the works of the latter firm just before Christmas, and another just after. The first was a sloop named The Griffin, and the other a brig named Victoria. When fairly upon the water they both sailed past St. Leonards on their passage from the builders to the owners, and at about the same time, the wife of one of the builders (Mrs. William Ransom) at the age of 75, passed to that bourn whence no traveller returns. Her remains were deposited in the cemetery of St. Mary-in-the-Castle, where also were placed those of her husband, who died, fifteen years later, at the age of 83. There were two noteworthy events on Christmas Day, of that year, one of which was a treat of roast-beef, plum-pudding and a pint of porter to each adult inmate of the Union workhouse, and in defiance of the orders of the Poor Law Commissioners. The custom has been kept up pretty regularly from that time to this; and long, say I, may it continue, Governmental interference notwithstanding! The other noteworthy event of Christmas Day was one which caused considerable excitement, and was as follows :- Lady Hampson and her son and daughter, together with the young gentleman's tutor and the young lady's governess, took a stroll to Hastings and along the beach as far as Ecclesbourne, but on their way back they found themselves suddenly hemmed in by the flowing tide. To go forward was impossible, and to get back again to a place of safety appeared to be equally difficult. Every moment increased the danger of their position, and as prompt action was necessary, the young gentleman and the governess climbed the rocks and made their way to the coastguard station (since then moved higher up), and there succeeded in getting the Preventive-service galley manned for the rescue. In the mean time, (sic) however, some persons near the Rock-a-nore saw signals of distress or heard the cries for help, and immediately put off to render the needed assistance. They soon reached the beleaguered trio and took them on board, with their nether garments already saturated with water. All was now judged to be safe, but lo! on making for the shore at Hastings, the boat capsized, and the whole party were thrown into the sea. Fortunately for them, additional help was at hand, and nothing more serious occurred to them than the fright and the "ducking." How the Christmas dinner was enjoyed after so unusual a diversion, this deponent wotteth not.
By this time the population of St. Leonards had sufficiently increased to feel the need of garden produce in greater abundance and nearer at hand than that which was brought in from the neighbouring villages. Not only so, but there was a demand for vegetables of a different sort to those which were cultivated in the ordinary gardens at Bexhill, Hollington and other rural localities, such as beet-root, artichokes, vegetable-marrows, kale, asparagus, spinach, and herbs for salads. To meet this want, the lessees of the Victoria and Conqueror hotels, as well as several other persons, hired plots of ground on the west hill, and in a short time these private gardens multiplied to such an extent a to become a feature of considerable interest - to the visitor, as he climbed the hill for a "constitutional," and to the permanent resident as he indulged in his Sunday stroll. But Hastings was also growing in like manner, and its needs being of the same character as those of its younger rival, certain portions of another West hill were similarly appropriated to similar purposes. These were, however, rather more of the nature of market gardens than private gardens, although their produce was of the same description. My pen naturally reverts to these latter cultivations in consequence of my being employed at that time at the Post-office and in that capacity incidentally hearing many and loud complaints against Mr. John Pollard Crouch, for a course of proceeding which was judged by the gardeners to be unjust. "Not content (said the latter) with putting double tithes upon us for having brought into cultivation, at great expense and labour, a few ruts and ridges which were at one time sterile and valueless, Mr. Crouch, on behalf of his clerical employer, now threatens to further raise the tithe to treble the original amount. But this lesson how to live and not let live (continued the gardeners) will not gain popularity; nor shall we submit to the impost in silence." Thus it was seen that the Land Question, which, since then has assumed such vast proportions as to imperil the political and social relations of England and Ireland had a sort of embryo existence at Hastings even in 1838.
From the Land Question to the Road Question is but a step, and although I treated of the latter in earlier narratives of 1838, and promised to return to it in the relations of 1839, I will just here say that at a meeting on the 29th of September a branch turnpike was advocated to commence at a point somewhere near Cripp's Corner to join the road at or above Robertsbridge. I may also say that at this time the debts of the Flimwell and Hollington Trust amounted to £40,000. These facts, and others which I may allude to further on, will still have an historical interest, notwithstanding that the several turnpike trusts connected directly or indirectly with St. Leonards and Hastings have recently become things of the past. In what manner they ceased to hold their own was explained in an article on the "Abolition of Turnpikes" which appears in the ST. LEONARDS GAZETTE of Nov. 27th, 1875; and at what times the several toll-gates were removed was also shown in the same journal dated Dec. 11th 1877. The latter was arranged in chronological order for the decade 1867-77, the information having been mainly supplied to the Editor by a gentleman who has taken a lively interest in the subject, and whose friends have not been among the most indifferent spectators of the change. The same gentleman also contributed to the Gazette the dates of later removals, as follows:-
To the Turnpike Trusts abolished in 1877 you may add the one of Wadhurst and Lamberhurst. Then, on the 1st of May, 1878, the gates on the roads leading from Staplecross to Northiam, Beckley, and Bodiam were removed; whilst the Brighton, Shoreham and Lancing Trust, as well as the Lewes, Eastbourne and Hailsham, expired on the 1st November, 1879. Twelve months later, namly Nov. 1st of the present year, 1880, the Flimwell and Hastings Trust has ceased, and the gates have also been removed between Wadhurst, Hurstgreen and Flimwell. Thus the public roads are now clear of turnpike tolls throughout the entire distance between Hastings, St. Leonards and London, as well as on most, if not all, other roads in divers (sic) directions with which we have communication.
Turning from the subject of roads to that of stage coaches which ran upon them it may be tritely but truly said that they were associated with many disagreeables as well as with much that was pleasurable. Of the bright phase I have already descanted in a preceding chapter, whilst I have also named most of the coaches and those who drove them out of Hastings and St. Leonards during the earlier years of the latter town's existence. In doing this I am encouraged to hope that I fell not into so many errors as have recently beset the reminiscences of an old Hastinger who, in the columns of a contemporary of the Gazette, writes about Jonathan More (Mose), Sir Nathan Watten (Sir Wather Waller), Count of Devon (Compte de Vandes) John Holman (James Homan), and others; and then says, "Well, sir, you may say that my memory must be pretty good to recollect all this." My own reply - a charitable one I hope - is that Mr. Wenham's memory is something more than good; it is too transcendent for the comprehension of those whose faith is based on actual facts. This is especially the case as regards his reminiscences of St. Leonards; for, howsoever clear they may be to himself, they are surrounded by so impenetrable a fog as to appear utterly distorted to those whose whole lives have been spent in the locality of St. Leonards before and since the town was commenced. I have been urged to this digression by no fewer than three of such persons, who, more than once have complimented me upon the fidelity of my own memory, and for the immediate correction of the one or two minor errors which I fell into at the outset, ere I had marshalled my dates and arranged my materials. I may here repeat what I have before intimated, that I take no small amount of pains to prevent a perversion of local and historical facts; and I may also add that it will be a pleasure to receive from my fellow-townsmen any authentic information which they may possess, such information being addressed to the Editor of the GAZETTE.
The Priory Bridge Removed - Touting
As an associative subject to the formation of roads, it was proposed, quite early in the year, to remove the Priory-bridge, and to effect other improvements at the spot where the Government land joined the boundary under the jurisdiction of the Hastings Commissioners; and at the April meeting of the Town Council the expense of the contemplated improvements was estimated at £1,000. Dr. MacCabe there stated that, rightly or wrongly, there existed a strong prejudice against the open Priory water and the inefficiently drained brooks. It was believed by visitors and others to be prejudicial to health, and therefore on that ground it was desirable that the proposed improvements should be carried out. Mr. Putland, though not opposed to the removal of the bridge, and the filling-up of the water-course, was of opinion that the Woods and Forests' Commissioners ought to bear half the expense, as the Crown property would be benefited to the extent of at least two-thirds. If that were done, then, with the aid of the Hastings Commissioners and private subscriptions, £400 might probably be raised. From that time negociations (sic) were carried on with the Government officials, and these gentlemen, after four or five months' of "red-tapeism," promised to contribute the sum of £400 on condition that the town provide a similar sum, and that an iron culvert be laid down to carry the water into the sea. The offer was accepted, tenders were invited, Mr. Jonathan Reed's contract was accepted, and the work was immediately proceeded with. When completed, St. Leonardensis made it the subject of an innocent -
