Page:Volume 3 1840.pdf/57

St. Leonards a Happy Family - Innovation and Surprise at a Ball

Besides being a Member for the borough, Mr. Hollond was a member of the St. Leonards board of Commissioners, being elected and re-elected to the latter post more as a compliment than for his attention to its affairs. Anyhow, the only members who attended the meetings in 1845 were Decimus Burton, Alfred Burton, W. F. Burton, G. B Greenough, Thomas Brown, W. Waghorne, S. Chester, C. H. Southall, Major Jeffries, G. F. Jarman, R. Deudney and Caps. Davies. These gentlemen in their official capacity appeared to share in the general prosperity of the year; for, at their first quarterly meeting on-the 25th of March, the Committee reported, somewhat exultingly, that they had been able to pay the whole of the interest due on bonds, as well as the income-tax, clerk’s salary, collector's commission, and tradesmen’s bills. But to this satisfactory statement there was the usual rider that the efforts to obtain further loans were still unsuccessful, and that the provision in the Act of Parliament for establishing a sinking-fund was still impossible to be complied with. In another matter the Committee were more hopeful. They had been in communication with Mr. Scrivens, and were led to believe that the town could be more effectually lighted at the same expense. The sequel of this was an arrangement with the Gas Company for forty lamps to be lighted all the year, less 60 moonlight nights, for £163, instead of fifty lamps, half the year, for £150. The new arrangement was soon complained of by the townspeople, and a resolution was passed by the Commissioners “That the Gas Company be reminded that the town is not properly lighted according to contract.“ This reminder appeared to have no effect, and at a later meeting the Clerk was directed to renew the application for a better supply, and if necessary to take such steps as might be advisable to enforce the performance of the contract. Drainage matters were also taken into consideration, and Mr. Burton was requested to supply a copy of the plan of the town in his possession, with a description of all drains and gratings. That gentleman probably complied with the request, and he did something more, viz., beached and otherwise improved at his own expense the Westhill ​road​ from Miss Morley's house (West-hill Lodge) to the house then in course of erection for Miss Moore, afterwards known as Davenham. The Commissioners’ old enemy, Neptune, was now and again troublesome, as he had been aforetime, and in the month of September, as though he were enraged at the persistent encroachment upon his domain, he unceremoniously repeated his breaching antics upon the parade wall. Instructions were, however, given to Messrs. Hughes and Hunter to repair the damage, which, with great exertions, they accomplished in a few hours at an expense of over £20. About three months later, viz., Dec. 28th, the sea became furiously restive under the impulsion of a severe gale, but the tide was not so high on that occasion, and the parade-walls suffered no material damage. The gale was a very severe one, and at Pevensey Sluice a Dutch East-Indiaman was blown ashore, where it became a total wreck. Excepting one man, the crew of 36 were all saved, but the coast between Pevensey and Hastings was strewn with indigo, sugar, coffee, silks, etc. The Commissioners effected many minor improvements during 1845 which need not be described, and they recommended that clauses be inserted in the “ Brighton, Lewes and Hastings Railway Act” and the “ Hastings, Rye and Ashford Extension Act, 1845,” for securing a supply of water to the town and for providing a station at St. Leonards.

Having referred to the resolutions of the St.Leonards Commissioners in connection with the railways then in course of construction it will be appropriate to quote a resolution passed at a vestry meeting held at the New England Bank (a public-house the site of which is now occupied by the West-Marina railway station)

“That it would be highly desirable to concur with the Railway Company now forming a station at Bopeep, in making a straight line of ​road​ between the Fountain Inn, and Harley Shoot, or such part thereof as may be arranged, and in raising the whole or such part as may be made to a level with the railway station; and that the surveyors be authorised, with the consent of the proprietors and occupiers of the premises over which the line of ​road​ will pass, to permit the Railway Company to raise and form such ​road​, the surveyors fencing and beaching it, if necessary, at the expense of the parish.”

This resolution was passed on the 27th of March, but ere the company’s work was thus forward, namely, January 21st, a public dinner was provided at the Fountain Inn, and presided over by Mr. Clitheroe, to celebrate the commencement of operations at the western part of St. Leonards. Later in the year (Nov. 3),an influential meeting was held at Hurstgreen to promote the direct South-Eastern line from Tunbridge Wells to Hastings and Rye; seconded, a few days after, by a similar advocacy at the last named town.

The parish officials for St. Mary Magdalen were Chas. Neve and H. P. Hutchings, overseers; John Austin and Harry Hurst, surveyors of highways; C. V. Levett and Wm. Noon, assessors; and T. B. Baker, vestry clerk. Mr. Hutchings filled the office of overseer from March to August, when, in consequence of “moving out of the district,” his place was supplied by Edward Mitchell. The rates levied during the year were two for the poor at 6d.; and; one each for borough and highway at 6d.

I have mentioned the dinner to celebrate the commencement of the railway station, and I must not forget that there was a feast of a more pretentious character held in the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms on New-Year’s Day. The Rev. James Murray — who had been about four years curate of St. Leonards church, and had exerted himself every winter to collect funds for a distribution of coals to poor people - was mainly instrumental in getting the wherewithal for a bountiful dinner of Christmas fare for 250 children of the parochial schools and their parents. The provisions consisted of 250lbs. of beef, with a suitable quantity of vegetables; 280lbs. of Plum-pudding, and some casks of ale. The scene was enlivened by a band of music, and at the close, cheers were given by the recipients for their benefactors — the Bishop of Chichester, the Rev. J. Murray, the ladies, and the schoolmaster and mistress.

Not only was the Rev. James Murray active in benevolent movements during his curacy at St. Leonards (1840-46), but he was also earnest and energetic in the discharge of his minsterial duties. He was one of the clergymen who took part in the formal ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new Fairlight church on the 19th of May, 1845. The other ministers present on that occasion were the Rev. W. Pearse, rector of Fairlight (who arranged the service); Rev, C. S. Faught, Rector of Ore; Rev. H. S_ Foyster, Rector of All Saints; Rev. H. W. Simpson, Vicar and Rector of Bexhill; and the Rev. T. Vores, Incumbent of St. Mary’s-in-the-Castle. These at the time of writing have all passed to that other world to prepare souls for whieh’ they laboured for many years. The foundation-stone of the new church was laid by Mrs. Milward (afterwards Lady Waldegrave), who contributed a thousand pounds towards the cost of erection, Mr. Lucas-Shadwell also giving £500, together with the stone used in its construction. The ceremony consisted of singing and prayer, preceded by a procession of school-children, the clergymen above named, the churchwardens, and the architect, in whose hands were the plans and coins. The weather was unusually cold for the time of year, thus giving, it may be, a keen appetite for the luncheon at the Vicarage, which terminated the proceedings, The church previously existing on the same site was taken down a few weeks before, but not without a protest from the inhabitants, some of whom declared its demolition to be a sacrilege. It was, however, a mean and uninviting Structure, consisting of a chancel, nave and low square tower, composed of bricks, and in the style, apparently, of the 12th century. It might well give place to the larger and more elegant edifice commenced in 1845, finished in 1846, and represented by an engraving in the next chapter.

If the supplanting of a plain and dilapidated ​building​ by one of handsomer design more in accord with modern requirements was thought to be a sacrilege, what will be said of a deed committed in the same year within the walls of a church nearer home, an outline of which is as follows:- On the morning of Tuesday, March 25th, it was discovered that the St. Leonards parish church had been burglariously entered by forcing open the door which led to the vestry-room at the back. Also that a bottle of communion-wine had been consumed, the school donation boxes emptied of their contents, seats removed, a vault uncovered, and the receptacle of a dead body wrenched open. The last named was composed of three coffins, the inner one being of lead. This outrage had been effected with the aid of a pickaxe and a crowbar, but even with such formidable implements the labour must have been great. The coffins contained the remains of a lady named Eliza Dansee Mushet, a native of Gomar, in Africa, who had married a gentleman of fortune, and had come to St. Leonards, with the hope of recovering — from pulmonary disease, but who expired at the age of 22 years, and was interred on the Friday preceding the desecration. It had been stated that the corpse had been buried with the jewels. which the lady had possessed; and to rob the dead of those Valuable articles was the object of the intruders. Such report was, however, without foundation, and the misguided men were disappointed of their booty. The said men were two in number, and having been traced, were committed for trial. Bad as were the actions of the evildoers, they did not bear out the many exaggerated accounts which were circulated at the time; and it was fortunate for the husband of the deceased lady that he left St. Leonards on the same morning, quite uninformed of what had happened.

A more agreeable theme is that of public amusements, the principal of which in the year under consideration were the races, the regatta, the archery meetings, the horticultural exhibitions, the Whit~ Monday processions, and sundry balls and banquets, The Annual Races ware held on the 18th and 19th of September, Musgrave Brisco, Esq., and Alfred Burton, Esq., being the stewards, and the weather of the first day, with its storms of wind and rain, being as unsuitable as could well be. It did not, however, much interfere with the attendance at the ball which in the evening was held at the Swan. The same may be said of the ball with which the grand archery meeting terminated on the 17th of August in honour of the natal day of the Duchess of Kent, the weather of that day being similarly unfavorable(sic) to that on which the Races were held. The winners on that occasion were Miss Mackay and Capt. Davies of the 1st Victoria prizes, and Miss C. B​road​head and Mr. W. G. Flood of the 2nd ditto. Miss Mackay and Mr. Flood also carried off the 1st Society’s prizes, whilst Miss Helen Wood and Mr. G. W. Wills took the 2nd. Miss Shewell and Mr. G. Gordon won the 1st prizes for Subscribers and Visitors, and Miss Wanklyn and Mr. Legeyt the 2nd. The prizes were distributed by G. B. Greenough, Esq., the President at that time. Among those who witnessed the sports were their Serene Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Oldenburg and their suite, all of whom had been staying at the Victoria Hotel. These distinguished visitors offered a handsome prize to be shot for at a bye meeting in celebration of their birthdays. The prize was won by Miss Helen Wood. Four special prizes had been previously given by Mrs. B​road​head, the lady of a wealthy family at that time residing at 64 Marina, The last-named prizes were won respectively by Miss Mackay, Miss Parry, Dr. Burton and Miss Davies. - The same unfortunate weather also came on the Regatta day, Angust 26th, which prevented the sports taking place, excepting a sailing match. The boats were started at 10 a.m, in a strong S.W. wind, and ere they had proceeded far on the course — twice round two buoys moored off the Victoria Hotel and Bexhill — they were drenched, as were some of the people on shore, by one of the heaviest downpours of rain which had occurred for many years. The race occupied five hours, the winners being Swain’s “Three Sisters“ and Cobby’s “Ella Nancy.”

The Archery balls and Race balls were not the only terpsichorean festivities of the period, another annual event of that character being the ball at the Assembly Rooms in connection with the Adelaide Lodge of Oddfellows. These balls were usually arranged by the officers and a few other members of the Lodge under a guarantee fund, whilst the profits accruing from the same were applied to the Widow and Orphans’ Fund of the society. In the present case the surplus was between seven and eight pounds, and the date of the entertainment was the 13th of February. I need hardly say that the banners and regalia of the Lodge, and the scarves, honours and other insignia of the members, added to the permanent adornments of the rooms, gave a brilliancy to these annual events unsurpassed by any similar scenes which the St. Leonards people had an opportunity of witnessing. They were occasions too of unalloyed pleasure to all concerned. But, alas! how have the mighty fallen! The balls have long since been discontinued, the object of their philanthropy has long since ceased to be the recipient of the annual benefit, and but very few persons are now living who participated in the pleasure. The town was then but seventeen years of age, and the subsequent period has made sad gaps in the social community which then existed. I use the word advisedly, for there was more genuine sociality when the inhabitants were comparatively few and were intimately known to each other as a sort of happy family who soothed each other’s sorrows and shared each other’s joys.

Where are now the neighbourly gatherings, irrespective of creeds and politics—the fireside circles of friendly intercourse—the private dancing parties during the winter and the occasional picnics during the summer—and, above all, the musical meetings ‘in their round of reciprocity at each other's dwellings? I ask, Where are they? and Echo answers “Where!” The response of a younger generation ‘would probably be “You had no Pleasure Pier, no ‘theatre, no temperance entertainments, no railway-excursions, no Blue-ribbon and Salvation Armies, and consequently no such means for religious revivals and recreative reunions as are open to our latter-day folk.” True! and yet for all that, the social life of St. Leonards at the time of writing is not to be compared with that of 1845, when each member of that smaller community was more in sympathy with his fellow and less solicitous for personal or party advantages. But I am digressing. It is my will not to forget that the Oddfellows’ ball above described was witness to a novel innovation, and one which may be even regarded as an outcome of the sociality which then prevailed. In a school room at 17 (now 69) Norman ​road​, a select, but not exclusive bi-weekly quadrille-practice was attended, not only by young people, but also by many middle aged inhabitants, who, although otherwise good dancers, had not learnt the more fashionable terpsichorean exercises, St. Leonardensis, I am vain enough to say, was the dancing-master, and there are still a few survivors who are ready to attest the fact that his system was a successful one. But the trainer, in that as in many other things, was nothing if not practical; for after thoroughly drilling the quadrillers in the recognised ”First Set,” ”Lancers”, ”Caledonians,” &c., he composed the music and presented the figures of many other sets of. quadrilles, in which both novelties and antiquities were introduced, and in which the whole of the executants were kept moving from beginning to end. As this was an event in which History is barely likely to repeat itself, and as, moreover, it -