Dump at bottom of Cornfield Terrace

[Richard]

Does anyone know why its called 'Tower Road'?

[Derek Jempson]

There was, perhaps still is, a square-sided tower near the top of Tower Road (the Bohemia Road end). I have always assumed that the tower gave the road its name.

[Richard]

I read somewhere that the Tower Pub was named after a tollgate (with tower) that stood nearby on London Road.
That makes a good story for the psssible name of Tower road, but who knows if it is true!
Actually, on second thoughts it all sounds a bit dreary, the stories of what the locals got up to, drinking pots of gin and eating welsh rarebits, and joining in with mock funeral processions and 'Bohemia Bonfire Boys' marches , sounds much more fun!!.

[ColinL]

" The Tower House, so called in 1864 from the curious tower upon it, and Pay Gate stood at 251 London Road, opposite the present schools"

(M Baines, Historic Hastings)

[whiffler]

1875 - Note the octagonal building ... presumably the tower. Compare size to the plot of the Tower Hotel/pub.

[Richard]

The coming of the railways must have finished off the Turn Pikes, which were probably a much-unloved and relatively expensive route into St. Leonards' town.