for the loss of the Stream, the inhabitants were provided with public pumps, which are still kept in order by the Corporation, and about the same time the East Well at Rock-a-Nore was constructed by public subscription. This is fed by a spring in the Cliffs. The late Mr. T. B. Brett remembered rough wooden bridges over the Stream near the Court House and Theatre, within the Town Wall, from East Bourne Street to Winding Lane, and at Upper Lane (now Waterloo Passage), and Lower Lane (now Bourne Passage).
Early Water Supply. In the " Collier Letters " it is recorded that in 1735 (just a hundred years prior to the closing of the Bourne Stream) an attempt at providing Hastings with a water supply was made. See extracts from " Collier Letters ".
Early Water Carriers. In a series of interesting letters from a visitor at Hastings, written to a friend in London, of his impressions of the town, about 1826, and published by George Wooll, 5, High Street, Hastings, is the following allusion to the sale of water: " Between High Street and All Saints' Street runs a small stream called the Bourne. If this stream were collected in the valley about a mile off in a reservoir, and conveyed in pipes to the town it would be a great improvement. When we walked that way and saw two large springs running to waste so near, and also having felt the want of water in our lodgings, owing to the man that goes round to sell it being sometimes late with his cart, we were very much astonished that the inhabitants should neglect this so long" This visitor's idea of a reservoir was carried out about ten years after by the Corporation providing the Water Works in Clive Vale, before mentioned.
A writer of a hundred years ago describes the Bourne as being partly choked up with brick bats, tin kettles, and bits of earthenware of all sorts and sizes. Another, " The Bourne Water must have been liquid poison, for all kinds of rubbish was shot into it, to be cleared away when the "Slough was let."
The open space was formerly the Market Place for horses, cattle, farm produce, and other commodities. Here was the gallows, the stocks, the whipping post, the Pound, and the Market Cross. The Torfield on the west side and the Pound Field and the Large Meadow on the Minnis Rock, on the east were open spaces for country carts and cattle. In the Chamberlain's account for 1645-6 are charges for 25 feet of timber, and for work done for setting up the gallows, and for a halter and ladder, and for four men on guard, and for 20s. for the executioner "for executing the woman."
Another case of the use of the whipping post is mentioned in the " Collier Letters," under date 1st May, 1742.
All Saints' Church, All Saints' Street, was formerly styled the Upper Church, to distinguish it from the Lower Church or St. Clement's, and forms one of the principal objects at the entrance of the town from Old London Road. It is considered to be of a later date than St. Clement's. The present building is said to -
