Hastings & St Leonards Activity Book

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LOOk

The Hastings & St Leonards

ACTIVITY BOOK This book was created by JANE BENTLEY and ERICA SMITH who walked, explored, ate, drank, listed, noted, drew, doodled, painted, shopped, learned and cut & stuck things in to make it.

List…

We hope YOU enjoy filling in the gaps!

Paint

DRAW

learn WriTE

journal

eat

Doodle

explore

Walk describe sketch

Welcome to

Hastings & Hastings claims fame through its connection to the Norman Conquest of England. It is rich in history – one of the Medieval Cinque Ports and for centuries was an important fishing port.

It has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in Europe and is packed full of fun, interesting and quirky places.

This little book is a pointer to some of the things you can see and do in Hastings – and its sister town St Leonards. It is a starting point for you to explore, write and draw.

Use this book as a guide, a diary and a sketchbook.

St Leonards & Burtons’ St Leonards

An architectural feast… explore the eclectic shops, galleries and cafés in this area of faded grandeur and unexpected creativity.

Spend time walking, enjoy the green spaces – and take a dip in the sea!

St Leonards

Published by Go Local Guides info@golocalguides.co.uk © Jane Bentley and Erica Smith Fourth edition: May 2017 ISBN Nº 978-0-9954515-1-3

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A huge THANK YOU to everyone helped with information and advice.

St Leonards Hastings town centre & the West Hill

Don’t dismiss Hastings Town Centre as yet another familiar shopping area.

There is plenty to discover – don’t miss the America Ground, Alexandra Park or the spectacular views from the top of the West Hill.

HASTINGS Printed by Fastprint, St Leonards, East Sussex

Hastings Old Town & The Stade

A treasure trove of secret gardens, narrow twittens* and historical buildings.

There are small businesses with the best possible taste and a plethora of magical junk shops. Plus the Stade – home to the fishing fleet and the Jerwood Gallery.

Old Town

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St Leonards and Burtons’ St Leonards

St Leonards and Burtons’ St Leonards have a wealth of places to discover. Our favourite gems include Markwick Gardens – a members-only walled garden, and Marine Court – ‘The Ocean Liner Building’. At the time of its completion in the 1930s it was the largest block of flats in the country.

Take your time wandering up Norman Road and window shopping in the wonderful range of shops and galleries. Morning coffee in The Little Larder, lunch in Smiths or Love and afternoon tea in Shop will fuel you for a wander up the hill to Burtons’ St Leonards. This area was named after the visionary builder James Burton and his son, Decimus, who dreamed of creating a new seaside resort for the wealthy, royalty and aristocracy.

Explore St Leonards Gardens just behind the Royal Victoria Hotel and paddle in the sea by the Marine Pavilion, before retiring to the Horse & Groom for an early evening drink.

Bohemia (North East of St Leonards) is not as Bohemian as it sounds, but look out for the camp pink flamingo outside the butch ‘The Outdoorsman’ army surplus shop.

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Things to look out for… n

Marine Court (you can’t miss it!)

n The Georgian splendour of Burtons’ St Leonards

n A new wave of groovy graffiti

n Bottle Alley – a seaside

tunnel that takes you all the way to the Pier

n Hipsters with beards and babies!

n Hoodies with staffies n Charity shop heaven! n The best cafés

The Masonic Hall is host to some extraordinary events.

Look out for Outrageous Decadence New Year’s Eve parties

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Café Society 6

St Leonards is teeming with wonderful cafes.

Look out for Gratitude and Love Café in Norman Road; Poffleys and The Edge along Marine Court / Marina; Fika, Nico’s and Remy’s in Kings Road; Bonjour, Kassa, Graze on Grand and Smiths along the seafront in Grand Parade and Michala’s Cute Cakes at the bottom of London Road.

Shop in Norman Road and Open by I Love Mel in Grand Parade have cafés within gift shops Kassa has an optician within the café!

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INTERNATIONAL Eat around the world without leaving Saint Leonards!

Tasting notes:

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FLAVOURS

Lakshmi Mahal 1 Western Road TN37 6DG Delicious dishes from North and South India with a great vegetarian selection Food is cooked from fresh so service can be slow.

Gurkha Chef 20 Grand Parade TN37 6DN Fabulous Himalayan curries

La Bella Vista 8 Marine Parade TN38 0DD Lovely Italian food

Mama Putts 23 Kings Road TN37 6DU Afro-Caribbean cuisine – look out for music evenings and special events

Chinese Town 24 London Road TN37 6AJ A surprisingly lovely Chinese takeaway/eat-in with affordable prices and super-fast service

St Clements 3 Mercatoria TN38 0EB Local fish, but the menu always offers global cuisine

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The top end of Norman Road, and Kings Road (leading up to the station) are the main streets to find quirky shops, but new places are always popping up. Here are some that we like…

p o h S MARKET The first Saturday of the month in Kings Road April–November 10am–4pm

Shop Homeware 32–34 Norman Road TN38 0EJ

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ping

Bramwell Cole Upcycled fashion 42 Norman Road TN38 0EJ

Xanadu Vintage clothes 37 Norman Road TN38 0ED

CHARITY SHOP ALERT! Romanian Children’s Appeal…

Don’t walk past this spangly charity shop… there’s something for everyone – a great range of books, clothes and knick-knacks. Roomy changing area, friendly staff and bargains galore. Best find… a cerulean blue leather jacket for a fiver!

POSH SHOP ALERT!

Who’s Wearing What is an unexpected – and very popular – stylish boutique wedged between the charity shops on London Road.

It stocks fashion, accessories and gifts and offers easy to wear, affordable fashion for the season ahead.

Paisley & Friends Gifts & textiles 56 Kings Road TN37 6DY

St Leonards Antiques Antiques & treasures 45–46 Kings Road TN37 6DY

Open by I Love Mel Arty books & gifts 19 Grand Parade TN37 6DM

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Burtons’ As Patron Saint of prisoners and pregnant women, St Leonard is a symbol of hope for new beginnings.

His Feast Day is 6 November and is celebrated at the St Leonard pub in London Road.

The ‘new town’ of St Leonards was the inspiration of James Burton (1761–1831), and his son Decimus (1800–1881). They were famous architects in Bloomsbury, Tunbridge Wells and elsewhere.

James Burton conceived the town as a brand new seaside resort for the wealthy and it became instantly popular with royalty and aristocracy. www.burtonsstleonardssociety.co.uk

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St Leonards

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Burtons’ St Leonards 14

Burtons’ St Leonards places to explore…

The pyramid Burton Tomb The Masonic Hall St Leonards Gardens Clock House Crown House The Horse & Groom Mercatoria & Lavatoria Royal Victoria Hotel North Lodge Alan Turing’s childhood home in Upper Maze Hill

Famous Faker?

George Bristow: 1863–1947 worked as a taxidermist.

He prepared wild birds as display specimens for sale to ornithologists and collectors.

In 1962, an article in ‘British Birds’ cast serious doubt about the veracity of the unnaturally high level of recorded sightings of rare birds in the Hastings area during the time Bristow was working.

Consequently, Bristow became the central figure in the scandal known as the ‘Hastings Rarities Affair’, although it has never been proved that he was the instigator of these faked sightings.

There is a blue plaque on the house where he lived and worked in Silchester Road.

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St Leonards is stuffed with graffiti art… the shop shutters with big, colourful letters painted on, and the ‘Grow’ in Western Road are by Ben Eine… there’s a Banksy on the beach down from St Leonards Church and lots of stencilled animals populate the streets.

No-one knows the identity of Scrabble Man (or Scrabble Woman?) who leaves mysterious tiled messages in the unlikeliest of places!

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e Found at th

site of arson

Notable Sussex Women, Helena Wojtczak, hastingspress.co.uk

suffragette seaside town

Genteel St Leonards was a hotbed of political activity in the early 1900s. In the early hours of 15 April 1913, there was a serious arson attack by actress Kitty Marion on the MP’s house in Dane Road – because he opposed votes for women.

Elsie Bowerman has a blue plaque in Silchester Road. She was one of the first women barristers, a Titanic survivor and a high-profile suffragette.

Australian-born Muriel Matters lived next door to St Mary in the Castle in Hastings town centre.

She was famed for being the first woman to ‘speak’ in the House of Commons because in 1909 she chained herself to the grille of the Ladies Gallery.

The police had to remove the grille in order to free her.

Life

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eye candy Hastings Arts Forum 36 Marina TN38 0BU Lucy Bell Photography Gallery 46 Norman Road TN38 0EJ Project 78 Fine art 78 Norman Road TN38 0BJ Baker Mamonova Russian fine art 43 Norman Road TN37 6NH Fleet Gallery Fine art & furniture 53 Norman Road TN38 0EG Omega Studio Divine mid-century design, ceramics and jewellery 14 Grand Parade TN37 6DN The Space An empty lot full of installation art near St Leonards station St Johns Road TN37 6HP

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Bottle Alley This revolutionary double deck promenade was built in the early ’30s by Sidney Little, Hastings’ “Concrete King” it’s half a mile long, stretching from the Pier to Warrior Square.

The rear walls of the lower deck are faced with glass from broken bottles and it wasn’t long before some wag christened the covered lower promenade “Bottle Alley”.

Sidney Little was a pioneering recycler, his promenade extension utilised old tramway granite setts to face the walls that take the full force of the sea and the underground car parks were reinforced with old tram rails.

Extract from: www.1066.net/ bottlealley

Look out for the weather station and ‘Little Len’ on St Leonards seafront

For a whole year, musician David Francis took a ‘Ukelele Stroll’ down Bottle Alley every Sunday.

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Green spaces When you are tired of street life, take a break in one of the many parks & gardens

MARKWICK GARDENS

A private walled garden with public open days The streets of St Leonards are fringed with Red Valerian – latin name Centranthus ruber, or ‘Jupiter’s Beard’ or ‘Spur Valerian’.

Unlike true Valerian which is a sedative, it has no medicinal properties.

ST LEONARDS GARDENS

The heart of Burtons’ St Leonards

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GENSING GARDENS

Has a children’s play area

Explore Summerfields Woods

An area of natural woodland, just behind Hastings museum. The wood is in a steep valley.

There are a number of interesting features including a walled garden, and a ‘Roman bath’ (a folly built in the 1830s), two ornamental ponds, and a fort with a viewing point.

It is an interesting area to explore, especially in late spring when the bluebells are in bloom.

HORNTYE SPORTS PAVILION OVAL SKATE PARK

SUMMERFIELDS LEISURE CENTRE & SWIMMING POOL HASTINGS MUSEUM

WHITE ROCK GARDENS

FALAISE GYM

CLAMBERS PLAY CENTRE

WARRIOR SQUARE Home of the St Leonards Festival

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Beached

Beach Run! Hastings Park Run isn’t in a park, or even in Hastings!

The run starts on the promenade in West St Leonards at 9am every Saturday morning. You run along the prom and Bottle Alley to just beyond Hastings Pier before turning to run back to the start.

3 miles / 5 km total length.

It’s FREE, but register first:

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www.parkrun.org.uk

THE BEST PLACE TO SWIM…

Directly opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel, overlooked by the Azur Bar terrace is a beach with no rocky outcrops.

In summer months there is a life guard on duty.

There is also a shower block under Azur/Marina Pavilion.

Beach Huts for hire!

Ten pink & green chalets have been built on the Lower Promenade at Marina. The wooden chalets are available for seasonal weekly hire in the summer months.

To check availability and to book: contact the Tourist Information Centre on 01424 451111 or email hic@hastings.gov.uk

Be like Sid Beynon – make a pebble mosaic on the beach. Sid would sort the pebbles in to black, white and brown, then use them for mosaics. The dolphin mosaic near Azur is his memorial.

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MARINE COURT You can’t miss this enormous block of flats that looks like a 1930s ocean liner. Back in the day, the ‘passengers’ could hang out in the restaurants and ballrooms, ‘cruising’ from the comfort of their own homes!

In the 1960s it was home to The Cobweb and Witchdoctor nightclubs.

Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie and many other luminaries played here.

Today it is the home to the humble, the eccentric and the famous. It also houses a fantastic selection of independent shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants and bars.

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MARINE COURT HIGHLIGHTS Poffley’s Tea Rooms Half Man Half Burger La La Rookh seamstress Hastings Arts Forum … and lots of other galleries and artists’ studios

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Cycle or walk west, past the beach huts and on to Bexhill…

On the way, look out for the wreck of the Amsterdam, near the foot bridge.

Or visit the Filsham reedbeds and walk on to the village of Crowhurst.

The wreck of the Amsterdam is the most notable feature of the beach at Bulverhythe, the tops of its ribs being exposed in the sands and the peaty clay of the prehistoric forest.

This large Dutch East Indiaman ran ashore in a severe gale on Sunday 26 January 1749.

Beyond the 26

horizon

See if you can find a stone with a hole in it

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HASTINGS AND THE WEST HILL

Hastings Town Centre is so much more than the usual high street chainstores and eateries, although they can be found in the Priory Meadow shopping centre and surrounding streets.

The charred skeleton of Hastings Pier (following a fire in 2010) is currently undergoing radical reconstruction to create a 21st century pier.

If you fancy a swim, the award-winning Pelham Beach is perfect. During summer months, dogs are banned on the beach between the Pier and the Harbour Arm. Check the tide tables to be safe, and look out for the red and yellow warning flags. www.tidetimes.org.uk/hastings-tide-times The number of cafes, restaurants and attractions ensure that there is something for everyone. More energetic visitors can explore the West Hill where the ruins of Hastings’ Norman Castle sits. You can enjoy the same view of the English Channel as William the Conqueror did in 1066!

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Town Centre

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Cafe Society

The town centre cafe experience ranges from greasy spoons, through hipster hang-outs and into the arena of ladies who lunch…

Hoagies Reloaded An excellent, friendly and affordable ‘greasy spoon’ cafe 39 Robertson Street TN34 1HL Bullet Hipster cafe with great coffee and occasional evening events 38 Robertson Street TN34 1HT Cafe des Arts Very popular, roomy cafe 28–29 Robertson Street TN34 1HT The Cookhouse Cafe It’s easy to walk past this cafe, but it’s much better to walk in.

79 Queen’s Road TN34 1RL Waterfalls This cafe would be at home in Tunbridge Wells, but don’t let the air of respectability put you off! Vegetarian-friendly delicious savouries and cakes.

Upstairs at: 23 Robertson Street TN34 1HL

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FOOD FOR There was a time, not so long ago, when there was nowhere worth going to eat in Hastings town centre. Fortunately, times have changed! On Wednesdays and Thursday evenings, you can dine in style at ‘Coast’ – the training restaurant at Sussex Coast College Hastings – call 01424 458535 or e-mail restaurant@sussexcoast. ac.uk to book. Or try one of the options listed here.

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THE SOUL Pussy The Owl & the Cat Lounge reet 14 Robertson St TN34 1HL to find Climb the stairs oms a labyrinth of ro and with great food entertainment

Rustico 31 Robertson St TN34 1HT A fabulous, affordable, Italian restaurant

Comedian Jo Brand spent her teenage years in Hastings and her experiences inform her semiautobiographical novel “It’s different for girls”. Jo is known for her love of cake, which might partly be why she is Patron of local charity The Sara Lee Trust. The Sara Lee Trust does more valuable things than giving out free cake – help its work supporting people with long-term illnesses by buying from its shop in Cambridge Road. www.saraleetrust.org

Pissarro’s Wine Ba r 10 South Terrace TN34 1SA A town centre ge m– good food and re gular live music in a ve nue with a continenta l vibe.

rant Nur Restau n Street 13 Robertso TN34 1HL rnational Popular inte cuisine

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The America The roots of the America Ground lay in the weather. Back in 1287 a series of terrible storms wreaked havoc on Kent and Sussex, submerging forests, shifting the course of rivers and dramatically reshaping their coastlines.

Hastings was badly affected. Once the south’s best natural port, the storms blocked the town’s harbour with silt and pebbles, forming a huge shingle bank.

This new piece of land, which comprises the area now bounded by Robertson Street, Trinity Triangle, Carlisle Parade and Harold Place, fell just outside the boundaries of Hastings Borough – effectively making it a no-man’s land.

The locals soon realised that they could live on this land free from taxes and rents.

Consequently, many moved in, building a thriving but ramshackle community of shops, houses and workplaces.

By 1822, an estimated 1,000 people lived on the bank, forcing Hastings Borough into action.

Taking inspiration from the recent American Revolution, the residents reacted defiantly, declaring themselves independent from Hastings as the ‘twenty-fourth’ US state and hoisting the Stars and Stripes flag. The famous America Ground was born.

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Ground

& Trinity Triangle ‘Trinity Triangle’ is the little triangle of streets between the magnificent Trinity Church and the Brassey Steps. This hidden patch of Hastings houses the town’s wonderful library, and the beautiful old Printworks B&B, as well as some fabulous specialist shops.

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Hastings Town Centre has all the usual high street suspects in the Priory Meadow shopping centre (built on top of the old cricket ground), but it also has a surprising number of interesting independent shops, clustered around the Trinity Triangle and up Queens Road.

Don’t forget to explore quirky St Andrews Market, and the Queens Arcade where Logie Baird carried out his early television experiments.

Shopping…

Dyke & Dean: Cutting edge cookware and lighting 14 Claremont TN34 1HA Trinity Wholefoods: Workers’ Cooperative serving delicious healthy food to the masses 3 Trinity Street TN34 1HG Wow & Flutter: Books, comics, vinyl & artwork 8 Trinity Street TN34 1HG Two Snakes Tattoo Parlour: Far from your average inky skin doodles 8 Trinity Street TN34 1HG Borough Wine: A wine shop that sells books too!

34 Robertson Street TN34 1HT Thimbelinas: Haberdashery to dye for!

Sequins, feathers and fat quarters.

4 Russell Street TN34 1QU

MARKET Every Thursday in the town centre 9am–4pm

Queen Anne’s Arcade, Queens Road: A beautiful covered arcade with additional historical interest.

In 1924, John Logie Baird transmitted

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the first TV pictures from here!

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Hastings Johns Place, Bohemia Road TN34 1ET Telephone: 01424 451052 Hastings Museum is a short uphill walk out of the town centre, on the road to Bohemia – and it’s worth stretching your legs to visit!

The Museum is a rich and exotic mixture of paintings and artefacts with a great shop and super friendly and helpful staff.

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Hastings is the birthplace of television! Scottish inventor Logie Baird made his first successful transmission from here in 1923

Museum Famous Faker After the Canadian environmentalist, Grey Owl, died in 1938, the press had a field day revealing that the famous American Indian was in fact born and bred in Hastings!

As a school boy, Archie Belaney was fascinated by scouting and the tales of Hiawatha.

He moved to North America as a young man and reinvented himself as a hunter-turnedwriter and conservationist.

Robert Tressell wrote ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists’ in Hastings between 1906 & 1910.

The book is based on his experiences of working in the town as a signwriter and decorator.

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Hastings

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Castle

& St Mary in the Castle Hastings Castle, built in 1067, is Britain’s first Norman Castle.

Situated on the top of the West Hill, it commands beautiful views.

Directly below the castle, accessed from the seafront, is the amazing Regency church of St Mary in the Castle. This church-in-the-round was built in 1825. It is now an arts centre with a range of excellent live music events, fine art shows and a fine cafe restaurant.

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ST CLEMENTS CAVES

THe West hill

(smugglers adventure)

steps and tWittens to the old town

It is well worth the climb or the funicular ride up to the top of the West Hill for the stunning views down on to Hastings town… or to fly a kite… or to play football… or use the swings… or to picnic… or to visit the Castle… or to visit Smuggler’s Adventure.

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Set back from the West Hill, down a little lane, is the magical, autonomous world of The Beacon – a friendly, family-run art centre with weekly Sunday brunches, events and classes.

Visit the website to find out more: www.beaconhastings.com

west hill cafe

west hill lift ladies parlour

The Ladies Parlour is a grassy arena where it is thought that tournaments were held.

There was always a lady of distinction present at the events. It is said that the manifestation of a lady dressed in a shimmering white gown can still be seen on moonlit nights…

HASTINGS CASTLE

Children's play area

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Smugglers, caves Set amongst the labyrinth of tunnels and caves underneath the West Hill, Smugglers Adventure reveals the secrets of the bloodthirsty age of the smuggler.

The caves were originally sand mines and it was rumoured that smugglers used them as storehouses.

The caves were opened as a tourist attraction in 1827 and have been entertaining and frightening visitors ever since.

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& crime Located in 3,000 square feet of seafront caves is another shocking attraction for everyone fascinated by the dark world of CRIME! … see ingenious handmade weapons seized in a cell sweep in Bangu-Trez Prison, Brazil, learn about the last stand of Mexico’s Cocaine King and see the bullet produced in evidence against the Krays.

Palace Avenue Arcade, White Rock TN34 1JP

If you are fascinated by the spooky side of life, find out about Ghost Tours of Hastings and St Leonards at: www.hauntedexperiences.eu

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From dereliction to reinvention If you look around, you’ll see that Hastings Castle isn’t

the only beautiful but damaged structure. Here’s some town centre buildings which have risen phoenix-like

www.hpcharity.co.uk

from the ruins!

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The pier was built in 1872 by Eugenius Birch, was (allegedly) burnt down in autumn 2010 by two foolish lads and was re-opened in April 2016.

The Source on the seafront near the pier was a swimming pool and an ice-rink. It is now the world’s biggest subterranean BMX and skate park!

Palace Court starred in the film ‘Byzantium’ as a vampire-run B&B. It looks gothic and empty, but is currently undergoing renovation.

The old Hastings Observer building in Cambridge Road had a recent renaissance but is now closed again, awaiting planning permission for redevelopment.

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Alexandra Park Alexandra Park begins at the top end of Queens Road. It stretches west to

Silverhill in St Leonards, and north to Old Roar Gill. It was established in 1878 and is a classical Victorian pleasure park. All sorts of events are held in the park throughout the summer months, and there are areas for sports and leisure, a Peace Garden and a miniature railway. As the paths take you north to Old Roar Gill, the environment becomes more natural. It is a delightful park to explore, and a lovely way to traverse the town without using roads.

The bandstand has hosted all sorts of music – traditional and bizarre!

www.alexandraparkhastings.co.uk

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Bike it!

You can hire bikes from: High Tide Cycles, 6 Marine Court, St Leonards, Hastings Cycle Hire, St Andrews Market, Hastings and Seaside Cycles, opposite St Mary in the Castle on Hastings seafront

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Or let someone else’s legs do the hard work and book a rickshaw for a seafront journey!

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Hastings Old Discover the delights of Hastings Old Town, first settled in Saxon times, around 475 AD. The Old Town’s ‘net shops’ or ‘net huts’ are tall, black, wooden sheds which were built on the shingle beach to store nets and fishing gear. Their design is mirrored by the 21st century design of the Jerwood Gallery.

Inland, a labyrinth of narrow streets and twittens, with Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture are the home to quaint shops, cafés and galleries.

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Town

and The Stade

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The Stade means ‘landing place’ The steep gradient of the beach means that the fishing boats can slide into the sea at High Tide but they have to be hauled out on their return.

Each boat has a Winch Shed which is used to pull the boats out of the sea. Before winches, they depended on a capstan and a horse.

The Fishing Fleet is a perfect example of living history – keeping alive a thousand years of techniques and traditions. You can buy fresh fish from the fish shops along Rock-a-Nore Road, or straight from the Boys Ashore’s sheds on the beach.

Near the fishing beach is the Stade Open Space which is used for free performances and music events and food fairs through the summer.

The big circles on the Stade open space are a reminder of when capstans and horses were used to pull the boats ashore.

There are regular events and exhibitions in The Stade Hall.

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Flamingo Park Crazy Golf & Seaside Fun Good old-fashioned seaside entertainments are provided by Flamingo Park fun fair, the Crazy Golf courses, amusement arcades and the boating lake. One of the swan pedalos was purloined by writer Iain Sinclair and used for a pilgrimage to London – see the film ‘Swandown’.

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Everyone has their favourite chippy – here are some of ours…

Life Boat: 14 East Parade (seafront) TN34 3AL Blue Dolphin: 61 High Street TN34 3EJ Maggie’s: Rock-a-Nore – an elevated restaurant hidden amongst the net huts. Be warned – you have to book to eat at Maggies.

See if you can get lucky by calling 01424 430205.

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The healthy – and very affordable – option is fried fish fillets in a bun cooked up fresh

by Pat and Tush outside their ‘boat house’ in Rock-a-Nore

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eat Land of Green Ginger 45 High Street TN34 3EN

Porters Wine Bar 56 High Street TN34 3EN Cafe Maroc 37 High Street TN34 3ER Jerwood Gallery Cafe Rock-a-Nore TN34 3DW

The Crown Pub 64 All Saints Street TN34 3BN Boulevard Books 32 George Street TN34 3EA … a Thai restaurant in a bookshop – booking is recommended. If it is full, Siam2 next door is also good.

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You can spend lots of money going to see award-winning jazz pianist and singer Liane Carroll at Ronnie Scotts, but if you are lucky, you’ll find her playing at Porters on a weekday evening… just for the love of it!

There are SO MANY lovely cafés it is impossible to list them all.

For a quick and tasty snack in a magical garden, look out for Sweet Cheeks Kiosk, tucked down steps outside 55 High Street which leads to Brewers paint shop.

The Pelican Diner, 20 East Parade TN34 3AL is always popular, because it commands a lovely view over the seafront and the food is delicious.

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Shop There are lots of lovely things to buy – the Old Town shops will amaze and inspire you!

High Street: Made in Hastings Robert’s Rummage Vintage Bird fabrics Shimizu Little Treasures Hendy’s Home Store The Stone Corner

George Street: Butler’s Emporium Warp & Weft Sweet Shop & Tobacconist Courthouse Street: Vintage & retro market The Stade and Rock-a-Nore: Fresh fish!

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Shimizu, high up the High Street has the most exotic displays of flowers

Hendy’s Home Store in the High Street is chock-a-block with brushes and household items that haven’t changed since the 1940s

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LOOk

The Jerwood Gallery houses the collection of the Jerwood Foundation in a specially designed, award-winning gallery on Rock-a-Nore Road.

The collection is 20th and 21st century British art. There are temporary exhibitions as well as the permanent collection. Exhibiting artists have included Rose Wylie, the Chapman Brothers and Quentin Blake. There is an admission price, but it is free for locals on the first Tuesday of the month.

Within the streets of the Old Town you will find a plethora of small galleries with a big range of fine and graphic art.

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Old Town Galleries Jerwood Gallery Rock-a-Nore Road The Old Gallery 57 George Street Stables Theatre and Arts Centre The Bourne Marianne North (1830–1890) was a prolific Victorian biologist and botanical artist. Born in Hastings, her father was MP for the town, and she travelled extensively both with him, and after his death. She painted brightly coloured and botanically accurate plant and landscape paintings. To see her paintings, you will have to visit the special pavilion at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

Leigh Gallery 77 High Street Gallery 53 53 High Street Rebel Gallery 29 George Street

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Museums

This albatross is in the Fishermen‘s Museum, alongside the Winkle King and Biddy the Tubman

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Shipwreck Museum, Rock-a-Nore The Fishermen’s Museum, Rock-a-Nore Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street TN34 3AU

Famous Faker Born in Hastings, Titus Oates

Shirley Leaf & Petal Museum 58A High Street TN34 3EN

returned to the town in 1673 after being expelled from Cambridge, and became his father’s curate.

Following an intriguing career which also ended in disgrace, in 1678 he became infamous for his discovery of ‘The Popish Plot’. He claimed a group of Catholics were planning to kill Charles II. He was celebrated as ‘Saviour of the Nation’, but later was found guilty of perjury and in 1685 was

Why Rock-a-Nore?

sentenced to a life of severe

The name Rock-a-Nore was officially adopted in 1859 and derives from a former building “lyinge to the Mayne Rock against the north”. Rock-a-Nore Road runs east from Hastings Old Town, between The Stade and the cliffs.

Luckily for him, three years

physical punishment. later he was released from prison and granted a royal pension of £10 a week – the equivalent of about £850 a week today!

Titus Oates lived at Torfield House, at the top of the High Street in the Old Town.

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Party Tow Fat Tuesday On Shrove Tuesday, a little bit of New Orleans comes to the Old Town – with more music than you can shake a stick at!

Jack in the Green May Day Bank Holiday brings Jack through the town and up to Hastings Castle where he is sacrificed to bring Spring to town.

Pirate Day & Mermaids-on-the-Beach July sees the whole town dress like Pirates and/or Mermaids – not on the same day.

Old Town Festival Early August – nine days in the Old Town with different events every day including a beach concert, a fancy dress pram race, lots of parties and a carnival!

Sea Food & Wine Festival In September there is a weekend of delicious local sea food, wine and music on The Stade.

Hastings Day & Bonfire 14 October 1066 is the date of the Battle of Hastings! There is a week of cultural events which ends with the Hastings Bonfire and fireworks.

Hastings Storytelling Festival Look out for the storytelling festival in early November – stories for young and old!

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wn!

The people of Hastings love any excuse to dress up and have a party – and that is particularly true in the Old Town. Here are just some of the excuses to have a good time!

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Ups&dow Hastings has not one, but two funiculars.

These are short railway lines – or elevators – which carry people up the steep West and East hills.

West Hill Lift This is the UK’s steepest funicular railway. You can take the lift from George Street up to the top of the West Hill, near Hastings Castle.

East Hill Lift The East Hill Lift takes you from near the Fishing Museum up to Hastings Country Park.

Once up there, you can see beautiful views over the fishing beach. If you carry on to the East, you can walk through Hastings Country Park to the Fire Hills.

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There is a Beacon on the East Hill too…

This type of beacon was first constructed as part of an early warning system in 1588 when they were lit to warn the country of the coming of the Spanish Armada.

This one is used to commemorate VE Day, and events like the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It is lit each October by the Hastings Borough Bonfire Society, as part of their torchlit procession around the town. www.hbbs.info

wns

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Eye Spy...

The Old Town is full of strange things – see if you can find some of these – and don’t be afraid to ask for directions! Draw some of the other things you see on the beach and in the streets of The Old Town.

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The shiny silver winkle sculpture on Winkle Island

A mummified cat in a pub called ‘The Stag’ in All Saints Street

A house shaped like a piece of yellow cheese – off All Saints Street

The sign for an old pub called ‘The Kicking Donkey’, in Hill Street near St Clements Church

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HASTINGS COUNTRY PARK &

The Fire hills

Take the East Hill Lift or, if you are fit, climb Tamarisk Steps and you are on the threshold of Hastings Country Park. There are 345 hectares of ancient woodland, heathland and grassland with three miles of dramatic cliffs and coastline. Take a picnic and explore!

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Why the Fire Hills? … probably because when the gorse is in full flower, the hills glow like they are on fire!

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On the buses You really get to know your way around by riding the buses Buses from Hastings Railway Station to Old Town: 20 & 20A Buses from Hastings Railway Station to St Leonards: 20, 20A, 21, 21A, 22, 22A Buses to Burton’s St Leonards, and west to Bexhill: 98 & 99 For detailed information, visit: www.1066online.com/hastings-transport/buses-hastings.html www.stagecoachbus.com Or go to the Tourist Information Centre, Aquila House, on the seafront Breeds Place, Hastings TN34 3UY

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Affectionately known as Happy Harold this historic vehicle continues to make appearances at special events in the Hastings area and sometimes takes lucky members of the public for a ride.

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Over the You can take the bus or the train to these nearby towns.

If you are feeling fit, why not walk or cycle?

BEXHILL: 5 miles / 8 km West – visit the 1930s De La Warr Pavilion

BATTLE:

6 miles / 9.5 km Northwest – for Battle Abbey and the site of the Battle of Hastings

RYE:

12.5 miles / 20 km Northeast – a beautiful and historic medieval town

BATTLE

HASTINGS

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BEXHILL

horizon RYE

S TINGY PARK S A H NTR COU

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Sleep over

If you’ve come to Hastings on a day trip and just can’t tear yourself away, there are lots of wonderful places to stay – from Couchsurfing options and Air B’n’B through to palatial suites with crisp cotton sheets.

Here are three very special sleep-overs.

St Leonards: St Benedict Bed and Breakfast 81 Pevensey Road TN38 0LR Tel: 01424 434973 www.victorian-bed-and-breakfast.com High Victorian full-on fancy.

Fabulous supper events are an option.

Hastings Town Centre: The Printworks 14 Claremont TN34 1HA Tel: 01424 425532 www.theprintworkshastings.co.uk An amazing town centre B&B in a beautiful old redbrick printworks. A little bit of New York with local soul.

Hastings Old Town: Swan House 1 Hill Street TN34 3HU Tel: 01424 430014 www.swanhousehastings.co.uk A five-star B&B housed in a historic beamed property dating from 1490.

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UseFul inFormation Websites:

hastingsonlinetimes.co.uk – an online newspaper and events guide Hastings Flyer – tockify.com/hastings/pinboard – gig guide burtonsstleonardssociety.co.uk visit1066country.com 1066online.co.uk hastingspress.co.uk – historical Hastings, Sussex & British history

Cinemas: Electric Palace: 39A High Street, Hastings TN34 3ER Kino Teatr: Indie cinema/theatre/venue Norman Road, St Leonards Odeon: Queen’s Road, Hastings, Sussex TN34 1QP Hastings Independent Press: Local non-profit community newspaper for Hastings & St Leonards-on-Sea – FREE and available at shops & venues Wonky Women’s Institute: a W.I. with a difference! www.wonkywi.co.uk Hastings Borough Council: www.hastings.gov.uk Taxis: New Carmiles: 01424 441234 Swift Cars: 01424 422884 / 402402

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You might want to consider buying a Hastings Card to use as you explore. You can easily cover the £10 cost by claiming discounts and special offers in shops and venues across Hastings & St Leonards.

Visit www.hastingscard.co.uk to see all of the participating businesses or download the TownCityCards.com app from the App Store or Google Play.

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