the(sic) road at the west end of York Buildings. At a later date, however, the said Company, with commendable liberality, gave up to the Local Board, without compensation, a portion of the required ground, so as to admit of the road being made considerably wider along the front of Meadow Cottages, from York Buildings to the Castle Mews (now from the General Post Office to the Gaiety Theatre). At a later date the S. E. Railway Company gave the Local Board permission to take water from their spring at the Priory, for which the Council passed a vote of thanks.
Defensive Works. As other places were being fortified, the Council, at their May meeting resolved, on the motion of the Mayor, that an application be made to Government for Hastings and to be put in some sort of defence.
The Market Room. The lease of the Market Room having expired at Michaelmas, Mr West of the Anchor inn, stated his willingness to have the lease renewed for three years at the same rent of £65. The Local Board at their meeting in September, had a long discussion upon it, during which an opinion was expressed by Ald. Ticehurst and Couns Ross that £65 a year for what cost £1400 to build was a ridiculously low rent. It was therefore decided to advertise for tenders. At an adjourned meeting an offer of only £60 was received from the lessee of the Market to hire the room over, and £65 was tendered by Mr. Harvey. An offer was also made by Mr. Wm. Payne, of the Cutter, inn, of £90, if a good entrance could be made from the S.W. corner, in West street, and an additional £10 if the Local Board would furnish the room with chairs, stalls &c. All these offers were declined, and Coun. Ross moved to keep the room in their own hands to be managed by a committee. Coun. Williams moved an amendment, that the highest tender be accepted, remarking that their own management of it would be attended with much expense and trouble, whilst the want of an adjoining room would make it very awkward for public meetings. Coun. Deudney, in seconding Williams’s amendment, hoped that in any case, the room on market days, would be managed as before. As against taking it in their own hands, Coun. Deudney stated that the Lewes Market room was originally built by shareholders, who, after a time, were very glad to let it off their hands. The original motion was eventually carried by 8 to 3. It may be here remarked that the said room, whilst being the largest as well as the newest in that part of the town, but with many inconveniences, was frequently hired by the committees of the Atheneum and Mechanics’ Institution for entertainments; but at this time both societies were in financial difficulties, and were likely to cease engaging the room. Also, that the advocates for the room being managed by the Board, were the very men who, by their agitation, had caused the Post Office to be removed from its near situation of the Market Room to half a mile westward. But after taking the room into their own management, the Councillors, in their combined wisdom, discovered that Mr. West was entitled to six months notice to quit the premises, which had not been given him.
