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Registered Charity Number 221623
Company Registration 611762
 Newsletter     Autumn 2010

Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street,
Hastings, East Sussex. TN34 3AU  Tel: 01424 424744

Old Town Week 2010 Another great Old Town Week and very successful for the OHPS thanks to Ian and Carol Porter and members and friends of the OHPS who worked so hard to raise funds for us during the week. So many charities benefit from events during this week. Ian has written below:-

The weather was on our side most of the time with record attendances at events throughout the week.  Alastair Hendy kindly opened his house at 135 All Saints Street again this year showing its continuing restoration, raising the massive sum of £1303.39 for the Society.  Well done Alistair and thank you very much for your kind efforts on our behalf.

This year was the second Hastings Pirate’s Day, and what a spectacular day it turned out to be.  All trains arriving at Hastings disgorged large numbers of Pirates onto the platform.  What on earth must the non-pirate passengers have thought to be going on in Hastings.   In the hopes of beating the world record of 1800 Pirates in one place, pirates were gathering on the beach at 12 noon to be counted by the Guinness Book of Records adjudicators.   The compound on the beach was estimated to hold some 5000 pirates, more than sufficient to break the record, but pirates kept arriving until it was unsafe to allow more in, by which time the record had been broken with 6166 pirates with many uncounted still queuing outside.  Hastings is sure to hold the World Record for years to come.

The Courthouse Street Fun Day gets bigger every year under the stewardship of Deeday White with non-stop entertainment during the day - a Barbeque, Wine & Cheese Lunch, Belly Dancing etc., and in the evening the Seaboot Race and Grand Charity Auction which raised 0ver £1800 for local charities and good causes.

The week ended with the colourful Carnival Procession headed by the Offshore Lifeboat after the crowds being thrilled by the daredevil antics of the Air Display team.

Ian Porter
Photo thanks to Marilyn Saklatvala

Our raffle was very successful and raised £260 towards the lift fund. The worthy winner was Dennis Collins – who of course immediately declined to accept the prize, however he was persuaded that it was fairly won and so should be accepted.

Hastings Week Programme at Hastings History House, 21 Courthouse Street, Hastings
 “Harold –the last Saxon King” a new exhibition for Hastings Week. The Bayeux Tapestry and the Diorama of the battle. There will also be an archaeological display. Exhibitions open all week 11-4

Saturday 9th 5.30 Vanessa King, Historian and Lecturer at Birkbeck College and most entertaining speaker will give an illustrated talk “Embroidering the Truth –the Bayeux Tapestry and 1066 events”. Tikets £2. refreshments available.

Sunday 10th 3pm Heather Grief will talk on “The Life and Death of Harold”. Heather is Secretary of the Hastings Local History Group and a Historian and has studied this period for many years. Tickets £2. [Tea included]

Tuesday 12th 11.am Coffee Morning and a chance to play the entertaining and informative Old Town Bingo game with Bruce Nichol. Great fun many cash prizes entry £4.00 includes refreshment.
2.30 Old Town Walk see above
Thursday 14th 4pm. showing of the Battle of Hastings film by kind permission of Dan Snow.
2.30 Old Town Walk see above

Friday 15th at 6.30pm Ken Brooks, local historian, geologist and author will give an illustrated talk on “The History of Ore”. Tickets £2. refreshments available.

Saturday 16th Book Fair 11-4 new books, local authors and good quality secondhand books for sale. Email ohps@ohps.org.uk or phone 01424 427718 if you are interested in having a stall.

Next Book Event at Hastings History House
Sat 16th October 11-4
Book Fair
Local authors and publishers will be bringing their books along to sell, as well as new stock at the History House – new and second-hand. Donations for our book sales gratefully received and enquiries from new stall holders welcome [some tables still available].

New Local Books on Sale at History House
“Bohemia Farm to Summerfield Estate: a History” by Heather Grief price £5.50
“History of St Helens Woods” by Edward Preston £10.

Produced in aid of the History House by Brian Lawes “Twittens of the Old Town” £2.50.

Lost Roads of the Old Town - a Map £3 from our summer exhibition.

The Latest Journal from HAARG £2.50 and their reprinted Old St Helen’s Recording Project £4 and Graveyard Inscriptions £3.

Heritage Open Days – were a welcome addition to the cultural calendar of Hastings and St Leonards. Thanks to development funding from English Heritage the town had a varied and interesting programme and our experience at the History House was that it attracted many new visitors to the town. The Lost Roads of the Old Town walk was over subscribed and will be repeated on Sunday 24th October 2pm from Hastings History House. The Lost Roads Exhibition will be back up from 11th November.

Old Town Walks – thanks to all our volunteer guides and organisers Raymond and Erica Barrett.
The final Tuesday walk of the summer programme will take place on 21st September. You have two more opportunities in Hastings Week Tues 12th and Thurs 14th 2.30pm top of the West Hill Lift. The OHPS has been running these since 1958 and they are a great way for people to get to know the town. We are happy to run walks for groups – either the Old Town Walk or one tailored to a particular theme. Ring Raymond and Erica on 420555 or come into the History House to make enquiries.

Dennis has been busy producing a series of bookmarks on Hastings History for us to sell at the History House and they are quickly becoming collectable. At only £1 each they are an excellent way to promote the history of Hastings and St Leonards and raise funds.

Thanks to Judie Wycherley for organising the
Winter Talks Programme

Volunteers – new volunteers welcome and needed, next training social 7pm 21st October, come along and see what’s involved or come in and see us at the History House anytime we are open.