Nelson Buildings
Standing at No's 78 to 81 High Street is a group of four buildings built in an 'H' shaped plan, constructed between the years 1816 and 1817 by John 'Yorky' Smith, a prominent local builder. The buildings are reputed to be the first speculative development by him, his earlier work all being government contracts. The foundation stone was laid by Mark Breeds, a member of the wealthy local land-owning ,banking and merchant family[1].
Possibly to elevate the status of the buildings and as a talking point (and obviously alluding to its name), a bust of Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson was placed in a niche high up on the buildings frontage. The two central buildings were named Trafalgar House (No 79) and Nelson House (No 80), though the entire block of 4 buildings was perhaps confusingly called Nelson Buildings. At the time of their construction the two outer buildings would have been commercial premises and the two central ones, residential. At some point in the 1860s or 1870s No 80 was converted into a shop with a new shopfront added (which it retains to this day) Both No's 78 and 81 would have had three storey 'bow' windows, though that on No 78 has been replaced in the late 1800s with a 'bay' window[1].
Building Users
From the 1930s through to at least the 1950s No 80 was an office for Dorset Dry Cleaners. Previously to that it in the 1920s it had been a General Provision Merchant run by Mr F Pollard. In 1957 No 81 opened as Gallery St Michel. In the early 1960s No 79 was an Antiques shop[1].
Images
- Images
Nelson Buildings 79 High Street 1942
Nelson Buildings 79-81 High Street 1942
Nelson Buildings 78-71 High Street 1962
Nelson Buildings 79-80 High Steet 1962
Nelson Buildings 78-80 High Street 1962
References & Notes
- ↑ a b c Facebook: Historical Hastings - Leigh Kennedy (retrieved 21 Aug 2023)
