Old Town History

All Saints Church

The current All Saints Church was erected in 1436 and was more than likely erected on the site of a much earlier church building. It is very similar to the much older St Clements Church with its perpendicular architecture.

Situated at the top of All Saints Street, it was formerly styled ‘The Upper Church’, to distinguish it from Saint Clements. Above the chancel arch is the Doom painting. From 1660 to 1674, the Rector was Samuel Oates, father of the infamous Titus Oates.

All Saints Street

Some of the oldest surviving houses in Hastings can be found in All Saints Street, dating from 1450. Much of the medieval Old Town would have looked like this, although the timber framing would have been lighter in colour.

Boating Lake

Situated over the remains of the original Elizabethan Harbour, the boating lake was built by Sidney Little using 60 unemployed men from the local labour exchange. They worked in shift pattern so as to keep their unemployment benefits in place while earning some extra money.

After the Second World War the Boating Lake became very popular once again. The original boats were motorised and had little Stuart-Turner engines. The boats were eventually sold off as collectors items.

Church of St Nicholas / Fishermen's Museum

Built in 1854 at Rock-a-Nore, the Church of St Nicholas cost £500 and was payed for by the Rector of All Saints Church. Shrimp nets, life buoys and painted sea views were used to paint the interior.

The church was used as a military store during the Second World War but became badly damaged by the 1950's. The Old Hastings Preservation Society saved the church from demolition and restored the building which was re-opened as the Fishermen's Museum in 1956.

The children of local fishermen are still baptised at the original church font that remains in position to this day.

Church Passage

An attractive lane behind St Clements church, running from Hill Street to the High Street. The timber clad cottages were built around 1800.

East Cliff House

At the seafront end of All Saits Street stands East Cliff House. This character property was constructed in 1760 by Edward Capell, the famous Shakespearean critic and censor of plays. At a cost of £5000 the house replaced the old East Fort that previously stood in it's place.

After being left empty during the second world war the building deteriorated but was to be refurbished as a fish and chip shop by the early 1950's. Later used as East Cliff Guest House and a bingo hall, and by the Hastings Arts Workshop during the 1970's. The building eventually became Capels Restaurant and remains as such to this day.

East Hill Lift

Built some ten years later than it's sister on the West Hill, the East Hill Lift was first opened in April 1902 and carries passengers up the cliff to the picturesque glens. The East Hill Lift is the steepest funicular railway in the country with an angle of 38 degrees (1 in 2.8 gradient). There is a tank underneath the two cars that is filled with water at the top and emptied at the bottom. The original Victorian cars are still in use today.

East Parade

East Parade was built in the late 18th Century in an attempt to provide a fashionable walk by the sea for visitors.

Fishing Boats

First registered in 1958, this Clinkerbuilt boat was in full use until 1986, going to sea regularly for up to 12 hours at a time. The name ‘Fllying Fish’ has been handed down through the ‘White’ fishing family for generations. It has now being replaced by a similar boat, more suitable for present needs, the registration number of which, coincidentally is RX 37.

Fishing boats have been launched from The Stade, (landing place), for at least 600 years. The design of these boats shows a Viking origin, being built with overlapping planks fastened with clinched nails (Clinkerbuilt). Hastings Old Town has the largest beach moored fishing fleet in the UK.

Harbour Arm

There was a harbour in Hastings as long ago as the late middle ages which was destroyed around 1560. Many efforts have been made to rebuild it including in Elizabethan times, the remains of which are now under the Boating Lake.

Construction on the harbour arm started in 1896 but was left unfinished after six years due to lack of funds. A harbour train once ran along the harbour arm that can be seen today.

High Street

Probably one of the oldest streets in Hastings Old Town. The High Street was originally named Market Street.

Ice House

The Ice House was situated in Rock-a-Nore Road. The ice was used to pack the fish caught by local fishermen.

Marine Parade

A gas explosion in Marine Parade on 13 July 1963 destroyed houses to the left of the Royal Albion. Thirty people were injured but nobody was killed. The houses were never re-built.

Miniature Railway

The miniature railway running along the beach at the Old Town was constructed in 1948 and originally operated with scaled-down steam engines. These were replaced in time by diesel locomotives which are more efficient and don’t require water.

Net Huts

The prominent net huts on the beach in Hastings Old Town are made of clinker weather boarding and stand an average of 25 feet high. These unique wooden buildings were originally used as workshops and storage for nets, sails and ropes.

In 1934 the Borough Council restricted the area allowed for each net hut to eight square feet because of the limited space between the cliffs and the sea. To overcome this problem the fishermen built their equipment stores upwards to maximise the allowed space and constructed three stories, one above the other.

About 45 of these unique structures can still be seen today and they are considered one of Hastings most famous and internationally known landmarks. Many more were originally built but have been destroyed by strong seas during the past 150 years. The council also demolished some during the 1950's to clear the beach area for development.

With the advent of nylon nets there was less need for workshops and the buildings main use became storage. The remaining net huts are still used for this purpose today and are regularly maintained to withstand the elements.

Old Town Hall Museum 

This building was once the town hall of Hastings and the property is known as the Old Town Hall Museum. Originally built in 1823 to replace an earlier 18th Century building. The town hall was moved to its current site in Queens Road during 1881.

Rotunda Fish Market

The retail fish market was once housed in a round construction known as the Rotunda. Built by Hastings Borough Council in 1870 it was situated at the bottom of the High Street. Eventaully demolished in 1928 to make way for the trolleybus turning circle and later turned into a car park.

St Clements Curch

Originally the parish church stood nearer the sea but was destroyed by rough tides in 1236. It's replacement was also destroyed during a French raid in 1378. The current St Clements church dates back to 1380. The oldest of the churches in the Old Town, dating back to the early 14th century. Built with a perpendicular architecture design.

Stables Theatre

An early 18th Century Grade II listed building which has been restored and extended. This was originally constructed as a stable building for nearby Hastings House. The building has also housed Wellington's troops during the Nepoleonic war, been used as a fire station and a temporary home for circus elephants. From the 1920's the building was used for workshops until it was faced with demolition in the mid 1950's.

Local organisations campaigned to save the building for use as a theatre and arts centre. which has proved to be a great success.

Swan Inn 

The Garden of Rememberance is on the site of the old Swan Inn, which dated from the 16th Century. The original building was pulled down in 1879 and rebuilt. It was finally demolished by an air raid in 1943.

Tamarisk Steps

The Tamarisk Steps are named after the plant which once grew profusely on the edge of the East Cliff.

The Anchor 

The Anchor was often used as a courthouse. The ghost of one unfortunate soul who was sentenced to hang, is rumoured to haunt the present bar.

The Bourne 

The Bourne originally had a brewery and properties survive there from the late 15th Century.

The Cutter 

The Cutter in East Parade was built in 1792. During the times of the Napoleonic Wars the landlord was James Bell, from 1807 to 1823. He had been a former valet to Lord Nelson. The facade has since been considerably altered.

The Dolphin 

The Dolphin was rebuilt by Edward Ridley about 1851, although records show that an inn existed there in 1798.

The East Well 

A natural spring at Rock-a-Nore still provides public drinking water to this day. The East Well is situated next to the East Hill Lift and was built in the 1840's with part of the money raised from a local fundraising campaign.

The Rising Sun

Opposite the Victorian Lifeboat House in East Parade was a pub called the Rising Sun that sold ales from the Star Brewery Company of Eastbourne.

The Stade

The fishermen’s beach known as “The Stade” has the largest fishing fleet worked from a beach.

The Stag Inn

The Georgian frontage to the Stag Inn masks a much earlier building (originally known as the White Hart). Tunnels, possibly used by smugglers, run from the cellar (which was the original bar). At the beginning of the tunnels there was an opening, through which they might have looked to see if any excise men were present before they emerged. The mummified cats above the present bar were found when a fireplace was removed. Some believe they were walled up to ward off evil spirits.

Lifeboat House

A splendid Victorian Lifeboat House with turret was built in 1882 on the site of the old Custom House in East Parade, Hastings Old Town. It replaced the earlier lifeboat house that was situated in Rock-a-Nore. Strangely, Hastings Borough Council built the boating lake between the Victorian lifeboat house and the sea which hindered launches and the building was eventually demolished in 1959. The current day lifeboat house was built in 1949.