Page:Volume 3 1840.pdf/59

From Historical Hastings
This page has been proofread


to William to see how he receives this addition to his power. A little behind the Bishop, a monk holds up the banner that was sent by the Pope, and appears to say 'you owe your victory to this.' Behind the body of Harold a soldier points to a bloody arrow as the one that caused his death, he having been shot through the eye. The Normans are distinguished by their heads being shaven, as the monks in Italy are to this day. The Anglo-Saxons [are recognised] by their long hair and long beards, with battle-axes. The Normans are covered with different sorts of armour, and many [appear] with the bow.

In the foreground are dying and dead in various groups. To the left of the picture, a herald on horseback sounds the trumpet of victory. The middle is full of figures to show the manner of fighting. The Normans are pursuing their enemies in all directions. In the distance [are] the hills of Hastings, the sea, &c. At the first view of a picture like this, I cannot give you the description I wish. I must see it again. One is too ready to find fault. I look at the beauties first, and would say of this that the heads of William, the Bishop of Bayeux, and those of two figures kneeling, are exceedingly characteristic. After the battle-piece there is nothing but portraits...A large picture of Sir Godfrey Webster in an old English dress, and opposite is Lady Webster, with a large dog near her. These are by Wilkin, who also painted the battle-piece”

At a much later date (1897) the said picture was much talked about, and the question was asked, what had become of it? I then sent to the local press as a sort of reply my own reference thereto which appears in this history since which it is satisfactory to know the painting has been got down from the lumber loft of the Municipal ​building​s and after undergoing a process of repairing and cleaning has been hung in the Central Drill Hall.

Mr. E. Marshall, Librarian of the Brassey Institute, corroborates the statement of ”Cosmopolite” that the picture was painted by F. W. Wilkin, who, he also says, belonged to a family of artists, and while engaged in a truthful rendering in water colours of copies of the old masters, he received an order to paint, in oil, on a very large scale, the Battle of Hastings. This, when completed, in 1820, was exhibited at Spring Gardens. It was regarded as a great effort, but was viewed as deficient in effect in consequence of the seeming motionless attitude of the figures. Horsfield, however in his "History of Sussex" speaks of it as one of the best historical paintings he had met with.

Deaths and where buried in 1845

Whilst writing this history for serial publication in the Gazette I had to say that More than one reminder has reached me from constant readers that it is a long time since I described the growth of the town in ​building​ operations. This is not strictly accurate, although it must be admitted that a general review of structural augmentation has, not been-submitted since the year 1839 was treated of, Commencing, as it were, with no pre-intention of giving so copious a description of the rise and progress of the town and its associations, my materials were in no way arranged therefor; and if I have not kept my readers so well posted up in some minor matters. of detail as some of them desire, I excuse myself on the ground of being forced by the eagerness of friends and the interest evinced by the public into a more complete retrospect than was originally contemplated, When another year has been brought under notice. seven years will have elapsed between that date and 1839, when a description of the houses and inhabitants was given, It may then be convenient to again review the topographical situation, thereby showing the very considerable changes which were effected during that septennial period. In the mean time, I bring the year 1845 to a close, as I have done several of its predecessors, with an alphabetic list of deaths and places of interment in St. Leonards and its neighborhood(sic), so far as they have come to my knowledge.

Avery, James, 15 months, March 31, St. Leonards.
Atwood, Elizabeth, 74 years, Sept. 21, St. Leonards.
Brett, Frederick, 15 mos., March 9, St. Leonards.
Burt, Emily, 8 mos., April 22, St. Leonards.
Barnes, Edward, 75 years, Feb. 18, Bexhill.
Butcher, Benjamin, 89 years, March, Bexhill.
Beeching, Ann, 84 years, June, Bexhill.
Butterworth, Hy. Whiting, 31 years, March 4, St. Marv’s-in-Castle.
Bird, Jane, 54 years, daughter of W. W., Ksq., of Cape of Good Hope, Catacombs of St. Mary-in-the-Castle, Jan. 18.
Baker, Lady Harriet, 53 years, widow of Sir Fredrick Francis, Bart., and youngest daughter of Sir John Simeon,Bart.,Nov. 16, in the catacombs of St. Maryin-the-Castle.
Breeds, Thos. James, a Hastings merchant, 75 years, May 24, All Saints.
Crowhurst, John, 74 years, June 13, Bexhill.
Collins, Joseph, 71 years, May 21, All Saints.
Carpenter, Thomas, 74 years, Aug. 15, All Saints.
Clark, John, 39 years, Oct., All Samts.
Cornelius, Jane, 7 years, March 28, St. Leonards.
Dundas, Rt. Hon. William, 84 years, Nov. 16, St. Leonards.
Doyle, Georgiana, 20 years, Feb. 20, St. Mary-in-Castle.
Dake, William, surgeon and Alderman, of Hastings, aged 68, Jan. 8, Battle.
Day, Richard Esq., of Bexhill, son-in-law of Alderman Duke, 46 years, Dec. 8, Battle.
Edwards, Charles King, 2¾ years, Jan. 21, St. Leonards
English, Adelaide, 7 weeks, Feb. St. Leonards.
Friend, James, 5 weeks, March 5, St. Leonards.
Frazer, Hugh Mary Ann, 24 years, Oct. 2, St. Leonards.
Foord, Ann, 2¼ years, Nov. 16, St. Leonards.
Foster, Ann, 40 years, Noy. 22; All Saints.
Freeman, Mary, of St. Mary-in-Castle, 47 years, Oct. 8, All Saints.
Faller, Edward, of St. Mary-in-Castle, 30 years, March 27, All Saints.
Gristwood, Mary, 3 mos., April 11, St. Leonards.
Gardiner, William, 17 years, Sept. 15, All Saints,
Gallop, Ann, 70 years, Sept. 1, All Saints.
George, Sarah, of St. Mary-in-Castle, 33 years, Oct.11, 11 Saints.
Grant, Stephen, 24 years, April 2, All Saints.
Graham, Jane Amelia, 22 years, daughter of J. G., Esq., Jan. 3, St. Mary-in-Castle.
Hooper, Isaac, 15 weeks, March 8, St. Leonards.
Hyland, Margaret Catherine, 14 years, July, St. Leonards
Hill, Thomas, 25 years, Dec. 6, St. Leonards.
Hubert, Henry, of Westminster, 88 years, June 26, Halton.
Jaffray, Elizabeth, relict of Captain, 76 years, Nov. 17, St. Mary-in-Castle.
Le Geyt, Jane 64 years, Oct. 5, St. Leonards.
Latter, Elizabeth, of St. Clement’s, 85 years, Dec. 7, All Saints.
Lock, Charles, of St. Mary-in-Castle, 18 years, August, All Saints,.
Lodge, Martha, 88 years, daughter of Edward, Esq., and Mary, March 3, St. Mary's cemetery. Her mother, aged 81, buried at same place 11 months before.
Mushet, Elizabeth Dausee, a Indy of colour, 22 years. March 14, St. Leonards Church.
Mills, William, 64 years, Nov. 12, All Saints.
Maybourne, Martha Sarah, 18 years, Nov. 8, All Saints.
Moore, Thomas, 27 years, July 16, All Saints,
Mann, George, 39 vears, June 15, All Suints.
Marris, William, Esq., of Gray's Inn, Oct. 19, St. Mary-in-Castle.
Norman, William, 36 years, July 4, All Saints.
North, Capt. Dudley, 42 years, brother of Frederick, Esq., M.P., Jan. 25.
Penfold, Brutus Henry, 29 years, April 15, St. Leonards.
Price, David, 63 vears, Aug. 25, St. Leonards,
Phillips, Jacob, of St. Mary-in-Castle, 68 years, Dec. 20, All Saints.
Piper. John, of St. Clement’s, 26 years, Dec. 2, All Saints.
Poole, Ann, 52 years, April 30, All Saints.
Phillips, George Tichbon, 3 mos., Feb. 24, All Saints,
Phillips, Jacob, a barrister, 67 years, Dec. 19, All Saints.
Prior, John, 81 vears, Dec. 22, Bexhill.

-