Hermits Cave

[daveyhairbear]

Hi

My parents originally came from the Hastings area and I was taken on holiday there a number of times as a small child in the 70's.

I remember going on a walk from Hastings to Fairlight along a footpath near the coast.

I was shown a "cave" carved into the sandstone, long since bricked up, and was told that it was inhabited by a "Hermit" in the 30's. It must have been somewhere around Fairlight Glen or nearby and was pretty well overgrown.

I can't find any reference to it on the internet..can anyone shed any light on this "Hermits Cave", the location or photographs? Who used to live there?

[jean_utting]

we think the hermits cave,
was near lovers seat at fairlight.

[daveyhairbear]

Many thanks for your reply!

Sounds about right. Apparently the bloke that used to live there had a big bushy beard!

Does anyone know if the cave is still there?

[john]

[quoted]
daveyhairbear wrote:
Hi

My parents originally came from the Hastings area and I was taken on holiday there a number of times as a small child in the 70's.

I remember going on a walk from Hastings to Fairlight along a footpath near the coast.

I was shown a "cave" carved into the sandstone, long since bricked up, and was told that it was inhabited by a "Hermit" in the 30's. It must have been somewhere around Fairlight Glen or nearby and was pretty well overgrown.

I can't find any reference to it on the internet..can anyone shed any light on this "Hermits Cave", the location or photographs? Who used to live there?
[/quoted]


i used to live in Clivevale for a number of years and used to* play* all over the hills. the cave you mention was just over the hill to the left as you went down from the top of the hill from hastings old town, i lived in the area from 1956-1962 so i knew the area fairly well. we ( friends etc.. ) used to camp all over the hills and fairlight every summer and most holidays, with ex mod tents from malcom mitchells shop in high street old town.the cave was before you got to the coast guard cottages( some still occupied). we used to get in the caves at rockanore and there was a passage through to the hermits cave. quite dangerous but we never thought anything of it ! the council blocked it all in eventually. a tramp lived for several years in the cave and my nan used to run the white rock restuarant and used to give him food reguarly.he was very well spoken and thought of. hope this helps.

[Terry]

I don't know anything about a hermit in the 30s, it was a bit before my time, but I found these reports from over 100 years ago at http://www.hastingschronicle.com/

Hermits in the Glen
From the Hastings Mail of 20/08/1904
Hermit hunting: The Mail said It is well authenticated that two hermits live in Ecclesbourne Glen and probably several others not so far traced. One hermit has his dwelling a little before the wood of the glen is entered and almost facing the mouth of the gulley under a little footbridge that spans the chasm worn by centuries of water run. He dwells in a cave at the top right hand corner as viewed from the footpath and was immediately asked when discovered for a nominal rent from the landlord the Rev Mr Milward. He pays 22s 6d rent and half a crown to the tax authorities for his little allotment and cave dwelling. He has been given a modern stove. The Daily Chronicle reporter found another hermit within 100 yards of this hermits presence, inside the wood high up on the bank and with a great rock dividing its entrance. He has moved his bed to the outer walls and underneath a couch of dried grass for his recumbent body. It is said he makes a welkin ring with terrible noises in the dead of night. Several times the local authority have locked him up, fined him, smoked him out of his caves and threatened him. Those not traced apparently have no permanent home but can be seen gathering limpets at low tide.

Ecclesbourne Glen Hermit
From the Hastings Mail of 17/04/1909
The Mail described how a disappointed man had been living in solitude for some 12 or 14 years in a rock cavern on an allotment on the west side of Ecclesbourne Glen. He was a tall man with long grey hair, abundant side whiskers, a heavy grey beard and a moustache, and was clothed in the ordinary manner and not as had been said in red-skins. His allotment was the last but one of about five when walking inland through the glen in the direction of the little bridge and ascent, and it possessed a large rock cavern which was in grim reality The Hermitage. The other allotment gardens were worked by fishermen and others who were only occasionally in the glen. When pestered on Easter Sunday morning by a number of youths the hermit entered his cavern, which admitted no daylight, and shut the door. He had a very retiring disposition and spoke to few, even when spoken to. He had a very occasional visit from a silent friend, and the Mail learned that the hermits name was Hancock, an educated man who was once in business in London. He was said to be between 50 and 60 years of age and on his death his friend it was understood would become entitled to all his earthly possessions. The latter included a diary written by the hermit which told of his sad life. The Hermitage was said to be a very comfortable constructed residence, with books forming a large portion of its appointments. The hermit did his shopping before 8 oclock in the morning.