Storm of 12 January 1899

The climax of the gale was reached, so far Hastings was concerned, at midnight on Thursday. At high tide the state of the elements grew alarming. St. Leonards pier literally shook to its foundations, and was frequently covered with water. The force of the waves wrenched up a great deal of the decking, and also displaced the wooden blocks which form a carriage drive to the Pavilion. The most important damage to the sea-wall was at Carlisle Parade. Here the force of the water displaced large blocks of stone coping, tearing away large masses of wall, and breaking and bending the iron railings. Before eleven o'clock the water began to flow towards the Memorial, and about half an hour afterwards the whole vicinity was flooded, so that boats were easily floated round to Middle street, a distance of over 800 feet from high-water mark. Many premises in this part of the town and also at St. Leonards ware flooded. This was the worst gale known in Hastings for a decade.