1903 Roads Renaming and Renumbering
On the 17th of January 1903, the Hastings & St Leonards Observer carried a report on a Town Council meeting which gave details of an extensive programme of renaming and re-numbering roads[1]:== Renumbering == "The Roads Committee had re-considered their report of April last (1902) on the subject of numbering and renumbering certain houses, and also of naming and re-naming certain streets, and recommended that the houses in Alma Terrace, Baldslow Road, Battle Road. Bohemia Road. Canute Road, Cloudesley Road, Croft Road, De Cham Road, and Dudley Road, East Hill Passage, Ebenezer Road, Edmund Road, Godwin Road, Hollington Old Lane, Laton Road, London Road, St. Leonards (between North Road and Battle Road), Percy Road, Perth Road, Priory Road, and Rose Roads St. Helen's Crescent, Saxon (), Springfield, Strood and Vale Roads. Victoria Avenue, Waterloo Place, Wellington Cottages, (All Saints Street), and Woods Passage (All Saints Street), be renumbered as the case may require."
Renaming
"That Castle Road and Castle Hill (from bottom of Wellington Square to the West Hill) be known as Castle Hill Road: that Park Road () be renamed that the portion of the Sedlescombe Road beyond the junction with the road of the Battle and London Roads known as Sedlescombe Road North, and the portion south of that point as Sedlescombe Road South; that Union Street be included in Courthouse Street; that the streets at known as Wellington Road, Wellington Street and Wellington Terrace be respectively re-named Duke Road, Duke Street, and Duke Terrace, and the houses respectively numbered or renumbered as required.That Albert Road () be renamed Alberta Road: Cross street (Queen's Road) be renamed Elford Street; Cross Street renamed Stevenson Road; East street (St. Leonards) renamed Eastern Street; Middle-street () renamed Spring Street; North Road () re-named Poole Road; the portion of Park-road, lying west of the road across the Park, re-named Upper Park Road, and the remaining portion Lower Park Road; St. John's Road (Mount Pleasant Road) renamed) Calvert Road; Saxon Road (St. Leonards) be renamed Saxon Street; South Terrace (Hastings) be renamed Meadow Road; (the lower or South Road at Hollington Park be named Hollington Park Road, and the centre road (i.e. the road between Hollington Lane and the South Road) be named Avondale Road: and that Swan Lane (High Street) be re-named Swan Terrace
Discussion
Alderman Langham moved the adoption of the report, and said the object was to avoid the duplication of names. Committee had taken a lot of trouble, and had gone very carefully into the whole thing, and the alterations they recommended were made with the desire to prevent confusion. The numbering of houses was also an important matter which required to be looked to from time to time.Councillor Diton seconded.Councillor Hutchings expressed himself as not altogether satisfied with some of the recommendations. He thought the object was not only to prevent duplication of names, but also the doing away with a number of terraces which existed in some roads. The road opposite the Halton House Estate was an instance. There were several terraces there, and surely it would have been very easy have to have given one name for the whole thoroughfare.
Pelham Amendments
Councillor Pelham moved an amendment as follows:—"That the portion of Sedlescombe Road to the junction of the Battle and London Road be henceforth known The Green; that that portion north of that, to the junction of Silverhill Park Road, henceforth be known as High Street Silverhill; that that portion further north be called Sedlescombe Road as at present, and that the houses and shops accordingly re-numbered." in moving this Councillor Pelham said they had at Silverhill a rising neighbourhood, a business neighbourhood. That portion the name of which he suggested should be altered to High Street, was composed, for the most part, of shops. He felt sure that it was the unanimous wish of the people at Silverhill that should make these requests, and that it would give general satisfaction if the Council would grant it. They had High-street at Hastings, but that was a good way off. It would be a great advantage if they would encourage Silverhill tradesmen by naming that portion " High Street, Silverhill." It seemed to him an anomaly to begin Sedlescombe Road as at present near the top of Maze Hill, and then go on through to Silverhill. Sedlescombe Road South and Sedlescombe Road North would be such a long mouthful for business people to pronounce, and it would be much better to name the first part of Sedlescombe Road "The Green" he knew it used to be known "Gingerbread Green." Then they became little more fashionable—as people did in the West and they had St. Leonards Green." They would have High Street, Silverhill." and then, rightly, " Sedlescombe Road," which led to Sedlescombe.
Eaton Refutes
Councillor Eaton said there was one High Street in the borough, and that was quite enough. He did not want anything addressed to Mr. Charles Eaton, High Street, Hastings, to go to Silverhill. (Laughter, and applause) Councillor Harden, seconding Councillor Pelham's amendment, said that Sedlescombe Road from St. Leonards Green, Silverhill comprised a superior class of private houses, whereas the other portion chiefly consisted of shops, and it would be most confusing to have the road called Sedlescombe Road North and Sedlescombe Road South. He believed the residents in Sedlescombe-road from the Green to the junction were strongly opposed to that division, and that the occupants of the houses in Silverhill likewise objected.
Support for report as issued
Councillor Bradnam said no one could expect for one moment that the report of a Corporation Committee would be perfect. But he thought the Committee might be congratulated on the excellent report they had made. As the matter had been fully under consideration, he hoped the report of the Committee would not departed from. Any amendment in the matter could not be fairly considered, and if an amendment were adopted that day they might have to regret it afterwards. The matter had been under the consideration of the Committee for a considerable time. He considered it an excellent report, and had much pleasure in supporting it.
Further Amendment
Councillor Boutwood gave notice of another amendment.Alderman Tuppenney said one of the arguments favour of naming the road High Street, Silverhill, instead of Sedlescombe Road North or South, was that High Street, Silverhill, would be shorter, and that the other name was such a mouthful. He failed to see that. He failed to see any reason why the Committee's report should be departed from. It was proposed to name part of the road "The Green." He believed "The Green" proper was private property, and they had nothing to do with it; but they had to do with the roads. Since the place was prospering, and buildings had risen, it was proposed to add the words "North" and "South" in order to simplify matters. But it was now proposed to do away with a well-recognised name. He hoped the Committee's report would not be upset.Councillor Cooper, supporting Councillor Pelham, said there was at present a district known as The Green, and he thought it would be appropriate to continue the name to the end of Sedlescombe Road where it joined London Road. He quite agreed with Councillor Pelham that there should be some distingushing name to that part of Silverhill. In nearly every other place they would find the business of the town distinguished from the other part. High Street, Silverhill," weuld be quite sufficient to distinguish it from High Street, Hastings.Councillor Shoesmith hoped they would not have two amendments. If Councillor Pelham could see his way to call the part he wanted to call "High Street" "The Strand" or " Piccadilly ' —(laughter)— or anything like that, he believed they would be prepared to accept it; but they did not want two High Streets.Councillor Pelham— May I reply?
The Mayor— I cannot hear you, Councillor Pelham; you have moved an amendment, and must stand to it.
Councillor Pelham— I will accept "The Green" and " Sedlescombe Road."
Mayor—You cannot; get someone else to do it.
Voting
The voting was then taken as follows:— For Councillor Pelham's amendment, four; against, eighteen. The amendment was lost.
Boutwood Amendment
Councillor Boutwood moved an amendment that the portion of Sedlescombe Road to the junction of the road with Battle and London Roads be henceforth known as "The Green" and that the portion north of that be known as "Sedlescombe Road"
The Mayor—Have you got it in writing?
Councillor Boutwood replied in the negative.
Weston Amendment
Alderman Weston said there seemed little difference of opinion upon the report, but he thought all agreed with Councillor Bradnam that the Committee had taken great pains in formulating the report. Referring to the suggested alterations in the report. Alderman Weston said he would have thought, however, that the Committee would have found plenty of names in which there could be no chance of inconvenience. He was afraid the same inconveniences as before would arise through the change from Saxon Road to Saxon Street and East Street to Eastern Street. There were many individuals whose names might be perpetuated. The only name he saw was that of Mr. Elford, who was going to be perpetuated for all time. There were the names of Members of Parliament- Noble Road, Murray Street, or Shadwell Road, for instance, would have been distinct and appropriate. He moved that report be referred back to Committee for further consideration.
Voting
The voting was as follows; For Alderman Weston's amendment, 17; against, 19; the amendment was lost.
== Boutwood Amendment ==
Councillor Boutwood then put his amendment, remarking that the part which might be called "The Green" was comprised of residential property; the other part led to Sedlescombe, and might well be called Sedlescombe Road. He thought there was reason and common-sense in the suggestion.The Deputy-Mayor pointed out with reference to Councillor Hutchings' remarks there was no power on the part of the Council to prevent people who built a row of houses calling it a terrace. They might have 30 or 40 terraces on one road. He was not representing the Committee, but for his own personal views did not see much objection to Councillor Boutwood's amendment. As to the other name being "such a mouthful." they had been used to it, and were quite capable of using it; but if they liked they could do as country people did, and call it " Selscomb." (Laughter.)
Voting
Councillor Boutwood's amendment was carried by 18 votes against 12, and the report adopted as amended."
References & Notes
- ↑ Hastings & St Leonards Observer 17 January 1903 pg. 6
