not escape to the sea, in consequence of the tide being nearly at the full. The railways at the Gensing and Bopeep stations were also under water. At Hastings, about 60 feet of the north-west boundary wall of the grounds of Halton House was washed down, the flower-beds destroyed and other damage wrought. Also, about forty feet of the east boundary wall of All Saints burial ground was thrown down (as some persons believed by lightning) by which damage was done to the tombstones. At the Cemetery, too, nearly, or quite 200 feet of the wall forming the roadside boundary, was washed down at three different places.
Cyclonic Storms – The Hastings News, of Sept. 27th, informed its readers that “since last Friday the predominant meteorological characteristics have been continuous strong winds and occasional gales from the south-west and west, with heavy and frequent falls of rain. Sunday was a thoroughly wet day. Wednesday, too, during several hours, there were heavy storms of rain, causing the water to run down our hill-sides in torrents and doing damage to a considerable extent. The fishing-boats have been obliged to remain wound up in idleness, and the luggers in the North Sea have been compelled to seek shelter in port.” How far this condition was foretold may be judged by the following forecast of the St. Leonards Gazette for the 22nd to the 26th of September, during which time the planet Mercury formed no fewer than six angulations with the other stellar orbs:- “Now Merc’ry’s swift, disturbing planet - A potent force displays, For rains and burly winds, we scan it, On this and three else days.”
Another Storm raged along the coast on Sunday November 10th, rising from a strong gale at 1 a.m., to a perfect hurricane at 7 a.m., thus making it dangerous to walk along the streets. Many persons were either forced off their feet or propelled against their will along the streets and avenues at their utmost speed, admidst(sic) the falling of slates and chimney-pot. It was from the latter that a person residing at the Mechanics’ Institute in the Norman road, had a hair-breadth escape. The Colonnade, Warrior square and the west end of Robertson street were particularly dangerous to pedestrians, and a(sic) the last named place a horse and carriage were brought to a dead halt by the force of the gale. Some damage was done at Kentish place, and at the new hotel, and in the Priory meadow a circus was blown down. Several fishing-boats in hastening for the shore got into collision, and vessels, owned by Mr. Parks and other local men, were reported to be missing or damaged. The weather forecast -
