3-071-161 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Jottings at the opening of the new Townhall at Hastings, 1881. 'The Town Hall; The Opening Ceremony...The opening of the new Townhall of Hastings, on Wednesday week, was made the occasion of a successful demonstration. The new buildings comprise a range of offices for the borough officials, an annexe for the police business, and two spacious chambers, to be used respectively as a police court and a council chamber. The main entrance is in Queen's-road...The Townhall is a Gothic building, of local blue stone, with Bath dressings. It is highly creditable to Mr. H. Ward, the architect...The opening ceremony took place about one o'clock in the Council Chamber. The Mayor of Hastings, Mr. Alderman Gausden, entered the room in his robes, accompanied by Mr. Gregory, M.P., Sir Edward Watkin, Chairman of the South-Eastern Railway, Mr. John Shaw, Mr. Myles Fenton, and Mr. J. P. Knight, Traffic Manager of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway, and Mr. Alderman Winter, Deputy Mayor. Many of the local clergy, gentry, and tradesmen were present'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.