The sad history of St Leonards Parish Church

Once again courtesy of Derelict In The UK we bring you photographs of iconic and deserted buildings, this time St Leonards Parish Church. Standing grand on the St Leonards seafront, this beautiful building was completed in 1961 to replace its predecessor destroyed by a direct hit from V-1 ‘doodlebug’. It originally had structural building problems […]

From land and sea the iconic structure that defines the St Leonards seafront

Stuart Baillie finds out about the history of a building that has always intrigued him…  I was standing on top of the East Hill at the weekend showing some friends who were visiting the town some of the landmarks of the area. They pointed west and asked, ‘what’s that?’ What they were asking about was of course Marine […]

The Concrete King’s million gallon masterpiece

Even today more than 30 years after it closed people still fondly remember ‘the old bathing pool’. It’s a place where memories were made. If this feature evokes some memories in you we’d love you to share them with us, or if you have old photographs we’d love to see them email us at tellmeyourstory@hastingsinfocus.co.uk […]

Taking everyone at face value

‘Can archdeacons go to heaven?’ was a question that exercised medieval minds because it was this rank of the clergy – between the parish clergy and the bishop – which dealt with financial matters.  Today’s archdeacons remain concerned with matters of finance and buildings but I hope that the current Archdeacon of Hastings – whose […]

Back to competitive action at HKA

Hastings Kickboxing Academy (HKA) hosted it’s first day show on Saturday July 24th at its new premises on Castleham Industrial Estate. Back to back action saw 28 bouts displaying a mixture of Kickboxing, K1 and Muay Thai. The event was attended by fighters representing clubs from eight martial arts organisations located throughout the South East, […]

Whatever happened to the Memorial Clock?

Those of you who are old enough to have been around may well remember the Memorial Clock writes Tom McCann. Commissioned after Prince Albert’s death from typhoid in 1861, the Albert Memorial clock tower was designed by Liverpudlian Edward Heffer. There had been a contest to find a designer and Heffer beat off competition from […]

Book a test! Hastings residents urged to book a test for any virus concern

Hastings residents are being urged to book a Covid test if they suspect they may have been exposed to the Covid-19 virus, as infection rates rise in the borough. Concern about the rise in cases and high transmission rates has prompted public health advice that anyone who thinks they may have been in close contact […]

Police action aimed at blocking County Lines drug activity

In searches carried out at Hastings Station last week designed to counter County Lines drug operations police seized drugs and an offensive weapon. Working with British Transport Police (BTP), Border Force and UK Immigration Enforcement, Sussex Police carried out a two-day enforcement and safeguarding operation aimed at the train network connecting Hastings and Eastbourne to […]

Council impose tough new conditions on town centre bar and music venue

Last month members of Hastings Borough Council’s Licensing Committee met to review the license of Crowley’s Bar in Havelock Road – the committee has now made its recommendations and they are far-reaching with the bar having had its weekend opening hours slashed from 2am to midnight. Representatives of Crowley’s had asked to remain open past […]