Priory mews

[Spice.180]

I am looking for any information about priory mews which I believe was off priory street. I'm not sure if it was where the multi-story car park is or across the road. My great grandad lived there before he moved to Bedford in about 1916. His name was Owen Spice and he was a carriage driver. So if there is any info or photos of this time I would be most grateful.

[Geoff]

There doesn't seem to be much information about Priory Mews as far as I can find. It seems to be listed as off Priory Street in the 1901 Census.

[Spice.180]

Thank you Geoff, I don't suppose there is anywhere I could find out about the carriage drivers of Hastings and St Leonard's

[Gerry Glyde]

The name Mews would indicate a side turning off of a main street, sometimes tnrough an arch. This would fit in with him being a carriage driver because the Mews would allow for storage of the carriage. I seem to remember that a pub half way up Havelock Rd parallel to Priory St. had such an arch or of which a room was above the opening and backed on to Priory Street. I often went from the back of the pub after seeing a mate who lived there and went down the passage to Priory Street that Ithink is now called something ........Quarter.

[Geoff]

Interestingly elsewhere on the net I see that Priory Mews is mentioned as being in the Holy Trinity area. Although it's only a few hundred yards away it's definitely not the same area.

Sorry Spice, I have no knowledge on Carriage Drivers

[Richard]

Priory Street was on the site of the old Augustinian Priory (of the Holy Trinity).
The car park was built in 1969.
I have heard that carriages were at one time raised by a mechanical 'Lift' between the lower coast road and the higher ground near ESK.

I can look this "mews" up on the street directories but it may take me a day or two.

[Spice.180]

Thank you for the info so far. The only other thing I know is that his family were all in the same business and they moved about through Hastings and St Leonard's

[Gerry Glyde]

Contact Hastings Reference Library on 0345 60 80 196

Ask to be put through to Hastings, as the number goes through to a call centre
They have a set of Historical Maps for the period and should be able to identify the exact location. I can not find mine for the start of the century.

http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyr ... pr2012.pdf

[Richard]

On looking at various street directories at Hastings Library I note the following:
The only "Mews" mentioned (being between property no's 17 & 18 Priory Street) was a 'Cambridge Mews'.
There were about 7 properties and in 1910 there were listed as follows:
1. Randall, Edwin, Cab. propietor
2. Jayne, Horace W
3. Dyer, S.F. carman
4. ?
5. ?
6. Townsend, Thos.
7. Barry, Richard, carman

'Cambridge Mews' is mentioned in all the other Directories. (1900, 1910, 1920, 1930)

[Gerry Glyde]

It seems as if Priory Mews was known by two different names of Cambridge and Priory.

In the 1901 census Priory Mews is shown along with Royal Mews, both between the listing for 17 and 18 Priory Street. Owen Spice is listed as living at 7 and is shown as previously said, a Carman. His neighbours at 5 and 6 respectively were Shelly and Fellows who were also Carmen.

There are four other Carmen in the Mews as well as an Edwin Randall living at No 1 who was listed as a Fly Proprietor which some will know was a form of carriage for one or two people. The business of Fly or Carmen of all of them may have been owned by Randall.

The listing directly after Priory Mews and Royal Mews was 18 Priory Street. I have not been able to find either Priory or Royal in the 1911 census although that may be because of the search facility.

By 1911 census Owen and his wife Fanny were living in Lewisham in London and their children had all left home.