Westgarth, 145 Marina, St Leonards on sea

[listercat]

Does anyone know anything about the building at the west end of Marina. It is the final building in the terrace that curves round the block before Grosvenor Gardens starts, Caves Road is to the rear. I think that it was built around 1880 as a decent hotel and gradually went downhill over the years, becoming a rooming house (and possibly a popular hang out for the local ladies of negotiable affection). At some point in the 1960s it was converted into flats and now contains 10 flats of varying size. I am trying to find out who built it, what it's past history is and some names of anyone who worked in the hotel or lived there when it was changed into flats. If anyone has any information I would love to hear it. This forum has been a real help over the last few months during my move down here from London and I hope someone can help with this enquiry. Thank You. Jenni

[Gerry Glyde]

Hi Jenni
One of the other posters will be able to find the date of the building itself.

In 1911 it was let as a Boarding House. There were 13 rooms including the kitchen but excluding toilet, bathroom and scullery. Boarding Houses were usually a cut above Lodging Houses. 145 was occupied by a Mrs Tennent and her two unmarried daughters age, 28 & 30. All three of them were of "independent means" that is relying on their own income rather than of a trade/employment. Mrs Tennent was described as a wife rather than a head of household that would indicate they were mid term length visitors and a husband was elsewhere, perhaps at their usual home. The daughters were born in Surrey and she in Wales.

In addition there was a chauffeur and his wife who were noted as being visitors. The boarding house was run by a Mr & Mrs Hemstead and their daughter who was a waitress, possibly in the house although it is not clear. The chauffeur may have been employed by the Tennents, although they may have been employed by a family locally who were also visiting. The rooms would be serviced and it is likely that meals would be brought up to them rather than eating communally.

Such houses were often for mid-term lets of a few months for a holiday for those that could afford that length of time. It was not unusual in that period for Hastings & St Leonards to have many visitors who stayed for that length of time. Such people were listed in the local press as "Mr & Mrs XYZ and their daughters will arrive on such and such ad day and will stay a....... Mrs ABC and the Misses ABC will arrive for three months on ... Mr ABC will visit at weekends. The larger hotels published lists in the newspapers of guest arrivals and departures.

As a comparison 144 Marina was let as three separate apartments. One apartment was occupied by a teacher of Pianoforte, (there were many of them locally-possibly due to the number of private schools) and her sister who was living on private means. They occupied 6 rooms. A 4 room apartment was occupied by a married school caretaker and two adult daughters, the remaining 4 rooms were let by a retired lady and her adult daughter who again lived on private means. No 143 was a private nursing home consisting of 17 rooms for 4 lady patients and the staff.

That will give you an idea of the place at the time

[Richard]

A picture at least - the end building with name above the door.

To find the date i will need to look at the street directories unless Gerry has other ideas.

[Gerry Glyde]

Someone and I thought it was you often finds planning permissions on the County Council website. East Sussex CC site goes over my head! Did you not find that sort of info about University School?

[Richard]

Gerry I can't quite remember how I accessed some of the previous information.
However, looking at records listed in 'The Keep' I noticed a couple of items of general interest relating to the property in question:

1. In 1867 a Mr. Samuel Hopkins of 144 Marina applied to build two cottages at 'Bo Peep' and also Offices at Archway, so presumably he was a builder or architect.

2. In 1871 the same person sent a letter to the 'Improvement Commissioners' asking for a reduction in his rates.
It seems there were some general complaints along the Marina frontage, about drainage issues and by the later 1880's to around 1910 private drains eventually had to be built.

This assumes that the numbering system did not change but it now appears that much of the Marina was built by the 1860's.

[listercat]

Thank you Richard and Gerry for all this information, I now have somewhere to start researching 145/146 Marina. I have lived in St Leonards now for three months and the urge to find out more about the building is now surfacing, in fact the history of the whole area is very appealing. I never really feel at home until I know the history around me so I shall enjoy delving into the past of this interesting building. So thanks once again for your time on this and if you come across anything else I would be grateful to hear of it. I am also looking for any info on West Grosvenor Gardens, Caves Road, Sussex Road or Marina if any other forum users have any. Jenni

[Gerry Glyde]

Hello Jenni
Whilst I have the info to hand I have attached a copy of the 1911 census for 145 and also 146 as you also mentioned it. Hastings Reference Library has a whole shelf of books about H & St L and is worth a look.

Enjoy your new home

[Chris in 1066]

Hi Jenni
When I first moved to Hastings in 1984, I was looking for a property to buy and I was sent/given the particulars of the top floor flat at 145 Marina.
Upon first inspection I liked the flat, but it wanted a lot of work to bring it up to the 21st century standards - i.e. Old Stone sink in kitchen, no hot water system and things like that. If I remember correctly that Bay Window was rather high up and when you sat down it was difficult to see out of it without straining your neck - (after looking at green fields for over 40 years I now wanted to look out to sea whilst I drank my cup of tea) and that was the main reason I turned it down - SEA VIEWS

For more local history info see my site:

http://www.rootschat.com/history/hastings

Chris in 1066

[Geoff]

To add a bit of confusion I have an image that shows Westgarth Hotel to be a much bigger affair, situated further along the Marina.

[Richard]

There must have been a modest 'Westgarth Boarding House' at the Western end of 'Marina' and a much bigger 'Westgarth Hotel' further along to the east somewhere, which is quite a long stretch until Grand Parade.
The architecture has changed a lot since then, anyone any ideas where it was located?