Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea as a health and pleasure resort : with statistics and local information / edited by Thos. H. Cole ; meteorological report by H. Colborne.

Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hastings and St. Leonards-on-Sea as a health and pleasure resort : with statistics and local information / edited by Thos. H. Cole ; meteorological report by H. Colborne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    walls of a Roman City, with tlic characteristic rod tiles, looking as if fresh from the mason's hands. The Britons held tin's city of Anderida after the Komans left, till its capture by the Saxons, A.D. 491, who massacred every inhabitant; the walls have ever since stood desolate, saving such part as the Normans appropriated for their Castle—a castle destined to stand many a siege, from the time of WilHam Rufus till the Wars of the Roses. On the northern road, also about twelve miles distant, a knight, Avho had fought in the famous field of Crecy, built Bodiam Castle, whose ivy-clad walls stand, even now, almost perfect within the broad moat by which they are surrounded ; and Avithin five miles of Pevensey Station, or a comfortable carriage-drive from Hastings, is Herstmonceux Castle, founded by a warrior who had won renoAvn iit Agincourt—the first brick castle erected in the kingdom, and with its walls in wonderful preservation. Camber or Winchelsea Castle, the last Castle built in England, and the ancient towns of Winchelsea and Rye, richly deserve a visit. The wanderer, in their quaint, deserted and grass-grown streets, might Avell fancy himself transported to the times of Shakespeare and of Raleigh. In the season, this part of the county is well hunted—the East Sussex Foxhounds meet on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, the Bexhill Harriers on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the Southdown Pack on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Coursing matches also frequently take i)lace in the neighbourhood. The Prince of Wales has frequently hunted the district, and the Crown Princess of Germany was on one occasion presented with the brush. In fact, the visitor will find no lack of amusement—whether he be fond of hunting, archery, lawn tennis, or prefer concerts and theatrical entertainment at the Public Hall, the Warrior Square Concert Rooms, Pier Pavilion, or Theatre. Every effort is made to keep the town clear of professional vagrants, and a Mendicity Society has been in active organization for many years. Visitors who wish to help the need}^, and, at the same time, to protect themselves from imposition, should apply to the Superintendent of Police for Mendicity Tickets, which provide supper, bed, and breakfast to each recipient. Having enlarged on some of the causes which render this watering-place attractive to visitors in general, we now come more especially to the question of why it is to be recommended as a HEALTH RESORT. The first to single out Hastings as a desirable sea-side resort, on account of its remarkably sheltered position, was Dr. Baillie, in. 1790. In 1842, and again in 1850, Dr. Mackuess drew attention to the subject; Mr. J. C. Savery followed in 1859, entering into the question very exhaustively; in i)articular pointing out our excellent drainage, and also proving clearly that