W. G. Mops. PELHAM PLACE AND CRESCENT. Te JOSEPH KAY, ESQ. ARCHITECT. This View of the Buildings now erecting under his direction is most respectfully and gratefully inscribed by Published by G Meja Kennington 1824. Printed by B. Miller, nothing more clearly evinces the increasing encouragement that Hastings offers for a spirit of enterprize, than the advancement, by his lordship, of a plan of so much beauty and importance, attended with such extraordinary expence in forming the ground. This has since been followed by the destruction of the bold and impending cliffs still farther to the westward of this site, even to a much greater extent, in proportion to the quantity of ground obtained. Castle-street, and York-buildings, lead from hence to the Priory-bridge. The former is well sheltered from the north by the Castle-cliff. The Castle-hotel is situated near this street, and is a spacious and handsome inn, recently built, previously to which the Swan and the Crown were the only inns of importance in Hastings. (1) There are in it, likewise, several good houses and convenient lodgings. York-buildings are situated in a valley to the west of the Marine Parade, and are open to the north, south, and west, and slightly sheltered from the east. They are neat, well arranged houses, and, as well as the houses in Castle-street, are for the most part supplied with excellent water. (2) WELLINGTON PLACE Adjoins the Castle-hotel, and consists of a double range of very handsome houses, forming two sides of a square, with an oval shaped plantation in front. It is well sheltered from the east by the Castle-cliff, but open to the north, south, and west. The views of the surrounding country, Beachy-head, and the sea, from this spot, are particularly picturesque. (1) It may be noticed here, as a fact somewhat curious, that the number of alehouses in Hastings, instead of increasing with its population, as is almost universally the case with other places, has, within the last half century, been decreasing in an astonishing degree. In 1735, the town contained no less than twenty of these places of entertainment, whilst their number at the present period does not exceed half-a-dozen. (2) In 1733, “A proposal was made by Mr. H. Carleton to supply the town with water, by pipes, from a convenient place in the watercourse; which was agreed to."-Corporation Records. It appears, however, that in a very short time afterwards the pipes were taken up, and the plan finally relinquished. On the Priory-ground, and nearly parallel with the shore at a small distance, are situated the ROPE WALKS, which extend from 120 to 150 fathoms in length. They are surrounded by cottages recently erected, all of them commanding near views of the sea, and which, though constructed in a variety of styles, are most of them neat airy buildings. A fine natural harbour opens to the sea near this spot, apparently capable of being rendered, by the assistance of art, a most excellent and capacious haven. Blucher-place, the Castle, and Beach-cottages, Meadowcottages, White Rock-place, Caroline-place, and several other clusters of new buildings at this extremity of the town, all of them commanding beautiful marine views, it is sufficient barely to mention, as proofs of the great increase of Hastings within the last few years. MARINE PARADE. Returning from hence by the Beach-cottages, we come to the Marine-parade. This beautiful walk, which is 500 feet long, and commands a most extensive view of the sea, Beachyhead, and Pevensey-bay, was designed by Mr. Barry, a respectable inhabitant here, who kept a public library, and who began it opposite his own premises, for the accommodation of his visitors. The plan being generally approved of, it was considered proper to extend it, and a public subscription being entered into for that purpose, other parts were formed, at different periods, and the Marine-parade, as represented in the annexed view, was completed in 1812. This is justly considered one of the finest promenades on the coast, and calculated as it is so eminently to promote the health and pleasure both of the inhabitants and visitants of Hastings, must always occasion its spirited projector to be held in grateful remembrance. THE FORT, or Battery, which is situated at the eastern extremity of the Parade, was built about the year 1760, on a part of the Stone-beach, which was granted to the ordnance by the Corporation of Hastings in the year 1759, at which |