A TIMELINE OF HASTINGS HISTORY
By Tim Lambert
10th Century Hastings is a small but important town with its own mint
1101 The Danes sack Hastings
1339 The French burn Hastings
1377 The French burn Hastings again but the town soon recovers
1563 Plague strikes Hastings
1589 Queen Elizabeth grants Hastings a charter (a document giving the town a mayor and corporation)
1619 Hastings Grammar School is founded
1720 Hastings has a population of about 1,500
1794 The first guide to Hastings is published and the town develops as a seaside resort
1797 Marine Parade is built
1801 Hastings has a population of 3,175
1820 A body of men are given powers to pave, clean and light the streets
1820s Pelham Place, Castle Street and Wellington Place are built
1830 Hastings gains its first newspaper. Hastings also gains gas light.
1833 Hastings gains a piped water supply
1851 Hastings has a population of 17,000. The railway reaches Hastings.
1858 Holy Trinity Church is built
1862 Queens Hotel is built
1872 Hastings pier is built
1879 A museum is founded in Hastings
1881 Hastings Town Hall is built
1882 Alexandra Park is built. The first electric light in Hastings is switched on.
1883 St Mary Star of the Sea is built
1891 West Hill Lift is built
1901 The population of Hastings is 62,000
1902 East Cliff Railway is built
1923 Royal East Sussex Hospital is built
1927 White Rock Pavilion is built
1938 Marina Court is built
World War II In Hastings 154 people are killed by bombing
1951 The corporation buys Hastings Castle
1856 The Fishermens Museum opens
1985 White Rock Theatre opens
1986 The Shipwreck Heritage Centre opens
1993 A new fish markets is built
1996 Priory Meadow Shopping Centre opens
2000 Underwater World opens
2001 Hastings skate park is built