Hastings Old Town: Ancient Streets Filled with History

Thursday, 5 December 2024 09:42

By James Forryan

Steeped in history, Hastings Old Town offers the opportunity to discover fascinating ancient streets – full of remarkable buildings and interesting shops. James Forryan reports on this delightful destination Steeped in history, Hastings Old Town offers the opportunity to discover fascinating ancient streets – full of remarkable buildings and interesting shops. James Forryan reports on this delightful destination

The historic town of Hastings will be forever associated with the pivotal battle of 1066 that took place nearby between Harold II and William the Conqueror, ushering in the era of Norman rule and changing the course of British history. But the story of Hastings’ ‘Old Town’, as it is known locally, goes back much further.

The earliest written reference to the town (spelled Haestingas) dates back to 771, in an account of an incursion into King Alfred’s territory by Offa, King of Merica, where Hastings became one of 32 fortified towns – knowns as burhs – that would form a bulwark against future invasions.

By the time the Normans rolled into town, Hastings had already become an important fixture on the South coast as one of the ‘cinque ports’ – a confederation of five key harbours thought to have been established during the reign of Edward the Confessor. Along with Dover, Hythe, New Romney and Sandwich, Hastings not only became an important trading port, but also provided ships and sailors a position to defend England’s coast from invaders for several hundred years.

Nestled between two cliffs serviced by funicular railways, Hastings Old Town is fronted by a beach known as The Stade, used for birthing fishing boats for over a thousand years and home of the largest beach- based fishing fleet anywhere in Europe. The Old Town itself originally comprised – and is still centred around – the narrow High Street and its parallel counterpart All Saints Road, where many impressive Tudor buildings can be found. These days, those narrow streets, along with nearby George Street, have become home to a wealth of independent shops, cafés and restaurants that draw tourists from across Sussex and beyond – as well as an impressive selection of pubs bursting with character and history.

The Old Town also hosts an intriguing array of local events throughout the year, such as the historic Jack in the Green festival held in the spring around the May Day weekend, and the impressive bonfire celebrations that take place from mid-October. More recent additions to the line- up of annual events include the Fat Tuesday Festival, which incorporates live music, Mardi Gras and other festivities, as well as a Christmas shopping event held across the first weekend in December.

With other local attractions such as Hastings Country Park and the Marline Valley Nature Reserve nearby, Hastings certainly lives up to its motto Urbis Et Ruris Concordia – or ‘town and country in harmony’.

Hastings Old Town: Ancient Streets Filled with History

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