St Leonards proposal 1860

[david_russell]

There is a 1982 booklet by Barry Funnell called 'Burton's St Leonards, the contribution of Decimus Burton'. Decimus Burton was the son of James Burton founder of St Leonards.

Decimus Burton like his father, was also an architect and continued the building of St Leonards after his father's death in 1837. He was responsible for many buildings both before and after the date of this map. (1860)

As it says Markwick Terrace was a part of the Eversfield Estate not part of Burton's St Leonards. The map is odd because it proposes changes to both estates when the Eversfield Estate was in many ways restricted.

In 1840 Burton purchased from the Eversfield Estate a large area of land to the east. This stretched from Mercatoria up Kenilworth Road to St John's church and back down Maze Hill. The purchase gave him right of development over the land still further east to Pevensey Road. Silchester, Carisbrooke and Stockleigh roads for example were built in the 1870s by the Eversfield Estate but only with Burton's permission.

The point is that most of the proposals on this map, certainly in St Leonards and to the east, could not have taken place and didn't. So I dont understand the point of the map.

There are a number of other odd things aswell, but later.

The Eversfield Estate architect, Francis Fowler, is listed in the Sussex Directory for 1866 at 2 St Margarets Road. He is credited with designing the Queen's Hotel (1862).

[david_russell]

The archivist at Hastings museum tells me they have a map with Fowler's name on it. I think it is probably another copy of this one but I havn't seen it.
No other info.

[Anonymous1]

Maybe it was just a pipedream on paper. Seems strange that some of the properties are marked as let though.

I may print off a copy and head down the museum.

[david_russell]

The archivists name is Alison Hawkins.

ahawkins@hastings.gov.uk.

When she says 'no other info' I think she means 'I dont know of any other info'. But the place is Alladin's Cave, full of stuff. So there might be more if you look ?

Local History Room weds and frids 10am-4pm.

[david_russell]

I get the feeling that perhaps the two estates, Burton's and Eversfield's were in competition expanding their property. Burton's western boundary was the Fountain, (1837, which is marked) a lot of the north was Eversfield's. Perhaps at one point they did a deal and this map was a result and then later it all fell through ??? Only a theory.

What does the word 'let' mean ? Rented or sold property ? As for the streets on the west of London road they were all built and occupied by the mid/late 1830s after the expulsions from America Ground. But they are not marked as 'let'. But then perhaps they didnt count as they were only 'Plebs' !! (and original drinkers from the Carlisle !!)

I know the 'History House' in Courthouse Street has a list of properties removed from America Ground and rebuilt there.

[patrick]

When did the Left side of Mews Road get demolished ? thus making it possible to enter Maze Hill Terrace and the Lawns and Stanhope Place for motorised traffic..Was there an archway for horse traffic previous to any demolition ?

[david_russell]

Not sure I understand you Patrick. The left side of Mews Road going up was composed of some older buildings then blocks of flats known as Victoria Buildings which were demolished in the 1960s I think. Archway why ? The stables for the Victoria Hotel were in the mews so horses must have been able to get through ?. The stable employees were customers of the Coach and Horses in Mews Road.

[Anonymous1]

Another map of St Leonards in 1873, There does seem to be an arch between Mews rd and Maze Hill terrace, its the part of the terrace with a cross through it:-

http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/history/19/slmap.htm

[david_russell]

The first Ordnance Survey maps were published in 1873. Could this be one of them ?

[patrick]

Re. the 1873 map I notice that where the National School was at the top of Mercatoria and which is now a mosque, there is a cross where the archway is..I noticed that in Stanhope Place there seems to be an empty space where now number 7 is..There are only 13 houses on the map so one has been added on and number 7 has become number 8..No. 5 was a fly proprietor which momentarily took me by surprise but in 1896 there seems to be quite a lot of these about..At No. 7 was Miss H.R. a masseuse,perfectly respectable I am sure in that day and age.At No.8 was a private school run by the Misses Case,I wonder how many pupils they had? Does LH mean a lodging house ? 4 of them..