The Plan of the Collier Lands is principally described by the names of the occupiers and the acreage, but I am enabled by the help of a plan also lent by the late Rev. W. C. Sayer-Milward and was made for Mr. Edward Milward, by Mr. John Shorter, in 1769, after the division of the Collier Estates amongst his children, in which plan the names of the localities and fields are given.
On the extreme left of the plan is White Rock, St. Michael's Rock with Wind Mill, The Priory House, and part of the Priory Farm on the West side of the Priory Stream, the Priory Bridge on the site of the Memorial, Water Mill House, on the site of the Gas Works, the Castle, the House of Mr. Edwd. Lintot, known as Bunger Hill House, near Ore Station, the Seat of John Collier, Esq., now known as "Old Hastings House," at the top of High Street, with its Gardens, Terraces, Lawns, and Summer House ; the house adjoining on the right is Torfield House, and the water opposite with ducks is meant by the draughtsman to represent the Bourne Stream or "The Slough." Opposite the House is the Wilderness with trees, the Cucumber Garden, and the Stables, now a Motor Garage. The small cottages on the left are in High Street. There has been little change at this spot.
Other landowners holding the adjoining land at this time were Sir Whistler Webster, Bart., of Battle Abbey, The Rev. Mr. Edwards, John Crouch, Francis Cruttenden, Gent., Richard Tutt, Edwd. Lintot, Gent, Luckings, Moor, Ward, Benjamin Meadows, Lutzman, Henry Sayer, Esq., and others.
The reader must bear in mind that the present Queen's Road was a mere rough farm road from the sea, and that the Priory Valley through which it runs were farm lands, hop gardens, etc., known as The Priory Farm, Brooklands, Water Mill Lands, Blacklands, Hole Farm, etc., and after development for building, become known as Meadow Road, St. Andrew's Road, etc.
No. 56 on the plan was the Stoney Field, now the site between north of Wellington Square and South of Stone Street, while the blank space between No. 56 and the sea, was called the Priory Field, now Wellington Square and part of Old Priory Farm, which occupied about 190 acres. No. 57 was called the Boot Field, from its shape, and formed part of the Cricket Ground. No. 58 called the Brook Field, now covered by St. Andrew's Square and Brook Street beyond this, the Water Mill Lands, now covered by the Gas Works, several fields called The Mill Banks, The Brook, the Lane Brook, and the Gate Field. These are known to old inhabitants as Murdock's Fields. The main artery leading from the Priory or that part of Old Hastings west of the Castle Ward, was for ages, and still is, called Priory Road. It practically ran from the Priory Bridge up Castle Lane over the West Hill right away past Halton Church, and the Barrack Ground to the junction with Old London Road near Mount Road. Then on to Fairlight, etc. Taking the plan from the Castle, -
