ENTRANCE FROM THE LONDON ROAD To WILL IUCAS SHADWELL ESQ In testimenu of respect for his kindness & for his early patronage of this work Engraved by R.Wallia. Treef CHAPTER IV. THE town of Hastings lies in a valley, sheltered on every side, except the south, by lofty hills and rocks; on which latter side it gradually opens to the sea. To this peculiarity' and favourableness of aspect and situation, may be attributed the mildness and salubrity of its air, which render it so well calculated for sea-bathing, and the restoration of health and convalescence. To this cause also, added to the numerous fine walks and rides in its vicinity, it doubtless owes the eminent attractions it possesses to visitants and strangers; the influx of whom, of late years, both for the purposes of health and pleasure, has greatly contributed to its rising consequence. The entrance to the town by the London road, from Fairlight Down, presents a view as delightfully fine and picturesque, as is, perhaps, any where to be met with, and which impresses, on approaching it, the fullest ideas of the beauty of the place and its surrounding scenery. It opens on a smooth terrace from the Down, with an extensive prospect of Pevensey Bay, Beechy-head, the Bourne-hills, and an almost boundless view of the sea; the town itself, in a valley, occupying the foreground, and approached by an avenue of lofty trees, which form a sort of natural arch, (1) by which you are conducted to its entrance. (2) The features of this enchanting prospect begin to disclose themselves in the ride from Battle, presenting an almost unvaried scene of hills and dales on every side, verdant and rich in cultivation; the hills not rugged and precipitous, but gently undulating, and their (1) See annexed plate. (2) It is a matter of regret that much of the beauty of this avenue has been latterly diminished, by a neglect of it, which has occasioned several of the trees to fall into decay and perish, for want of timely care and attention to their preservation. slopes forming innumerable vallies; each with its separate and distinct features of landscape and rural objects and scenery. These are still further heightened on a nearer approach to, and view of the town itself, where the romantic hills on its sides, its ruined castle and the beach; its venerable churches, and the fine expanse of sea by which the view is bounded, all combine in forming a picture, both inland and marine, of almost unrivalled richness, harmony, and beauty. The town consists principally of two streets, HIGHSTREET, and ALL SAINT'S-STREET, each about half-amile in length, running parallel nearly north and south, and separated by a small rivulet, called the Bourne, the source of which is probably not traced, but which runs into Hastings in a narrow and inconsiderable stream, and empties itself into the sea. These main streets are intersected by various smaller ones, or, more properly speaking, alleys, which contain the dwellings of the fishermen and other poor inhabitants of the place. From the spirit of improvement, and increase of building, which have displayed themselves of late years, and which still continue, in a considerable degree, to distinguish this place; there are, comparatively, few old habitations remaining in the town, and those possess but little interest in an antiquarian point of view. If any them form an exception, it is, perhaps, those at the bottom of All Saint's-street, which, having the long diagonal gableends descending from their roofs, the characteristic of the houses of Elizabeth's time, it may be inferred, as well as other similar buildings here, are of that age; and which is stated to have been the prevailing style of architecture of the houses in the whole town, forty or fifty years ago. of Upon some of these old dwellings the dates are still remaining. One in High-street has that of 1610, and another in Church-street, St. Clement's, the date 1616. But these kind of low buildings, with gable-ends, are now gradually disappearing, and giving place to erections of a superior class. Three of them, opposite to the Town-hall, have been pulled down very recently, and so considerable in value is the ground on which they stood, that the freehold of it has been sold at |