Wellington Square

From Historical Hastings
Wellington Square
Other Names
Former name(s)Wellington Place
Waterloo Square
Priory Field
Junctions
JunctionsAlbert Road
Castle Hill Road
Landmarks
Places of WorshipWellington Square Baptist Church

Wellington Square was formerly known as Wellington Place and Waterloo Square[1] and the lower end of the square (Nos. 1 to 3) was the site of Lime Kilns], the earliest of which was constructed circa 1780 - per Steve Peak - roughly on the site where Poundstretcher now exists[2], and the kilns surviving until around 1815; the Priory Field was incorporated roughly in the current location of the central green[3][4].

At the start of the 19th century, the area (including the Castle Gun Garden, Queen's Road, Stonefield Road etc) was in the hands of Sir Godfrey Webster, who sold the land to the Milward family around the early 1800s.

The land was subsequently purchased from Edward Milward by the banking firm Breeds, Farncomb, Breeds and Wenham about 1815. Finding there was good 'brick earth' there[5], they commenced building operations in around 1820, initially on the east and north sides.[6]. The square was adopted by the council in 1856[7], although following a protest from Mr. Shaddack and Mr. Farncomb that the west side should remain private, the order of adoption was amended to only cover the north and east sides[8]

Gardens

From the outset, Wellington Square has had a central garden area, as stated above roughly on the site what was known as the Priory Field. When the square was built, this was a subscription garden for residents only, surrounded by railings.[6]. An air-raid shelter is known to have been located within the garden area during WW2

Bus Terminus

Starting at some point in the 1930s, Wellington Square served as the bus terminus for the town. In order the buses would not roll down the hill should the brakes fail, there was a stock of wooden blocks stacked behind the telephone box on the south-east corner of the square to place in front of the rear wheels.


Images & Features

N.B. The 'features' tab, whilst returning buildings and business premises in this road is not operating correctly, therefore a 'Dev.Use' tab is in place to explore alternative ways of retrieving this data.

Images

 Street number ⠉FromYear ⠉FromRef ⠉ToYear ⠉ToRef ⠉
Glenroyde Hotel118501959
Mornington Mansions11959
Wellington College
Wellington Grammar SchoolHill House18781878
Wellington Square Baptist Church1838
OccupierNumberFromTo
Castle Hotel18201967

References & Notes

  1. ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol III
  2. ↑ Steve Peak: The America Ground, Hastings pp31-32 ISBN: 9780750997768
  3. ↑ Hastings of Bygone days and the Present (Henry Cousins 1911 ed.) pg.119 ISBN: 9789332862449 ESCC Library Google Books " Amazon
  4. ↑ Hastings of Bygone days and the Present (Henry Cousins 1911 ed.) pg.20 ISBN: 9789332862449 ESCC Library Google Books " Amazon
  5. ↑ Historic Hastings J.M. Baines
  6. ↑ a b a guide by 1066online.com: History of Hastings in East Sussex, UK - a guide by 1066online.com, accessdate: 4 November 2019
  7. ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 6 Chap. 56 pg. 28
  8. ↑ Brett Manuscript Histories Vol. 6 Chap. 56 pg. 36
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