Blue Plaques Trail
St Leonards
56. (and 62) Queen Victoria
Warrior Square
Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, London, on 24 May 1819. She was the only daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III. Her father died shortly after her birth and she became heir to the throne because the three uncles who were ahead of her in succession - George IV, Frederick Duke of York, and William IV - had no legitimate children who survived.
Warm-hearted and lively, Victoria had a gift for drawing and painting; educated by a governess at home, she was a natural diarist and kept a regular journal throughout her life. On William IV's death in 1837, she became Queen at the age of 18.
Queen Victoria is associated with Britain's great age of industrial expansion, economic progress and, especially, empire. At her death, it was said, Britain had a worldwide empire on which the sun never set.
In the early part of her reign, two men influenced her: her first Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, and her husband, Prince Albert, whom she married in 1840. Both men taught her much about how to be a ruler in a 'constitutional monarchy' where the monarch had very few powers but could use much influence.
Albert took an active interest in the arts, science, trade and industry; the project for which he is best remembered was the Great Exhibition of 1851, the profits from which helped to establish the South Kensington museums complex in London.
Her marriage to Prince Albert brought nine children between 1840 and 1857. Most of her children married into other Royal families of Europe.
The queen gave her patronage to the town, after she made a visit. Her signature can still be seen in the guest book at the Royal Victoria Hotel and a statue to commemorate her visit still stands on the seafront at Warrior Square. The statue was erected in 1902.
57. Queen Adelaide
Adelaide House, 23 Grand Parade
The daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, Queen Adelaide married the Duke of Clarence in 1818 who was later to become King William IV in 1830.
The Queen came to St. Leonards as a new widow after the King died on 20th June 1837. She came to St. Leonards – the new fashionable seaside resort with which she was familiar and stayed at 23 Grand Parade for some months. At the time Grand Parade was known as Adelaide Place, so it was an appropriate retreat for the mourning Queen. The house was later renamed Adelaide House.
She took an active interest in local affairs and contributed generously towards the cost of providing an organ for Mr Burton’s Proprietary Chapel, later to become St. Leonards Parish Church.
Queen Adelaide died in 1849.
58. Eastern Boundary
Promenade/Marina
The stone marking the Eastern Boundary of St. Leonards was established as an alternative the archway that used to divide the two areas. The archway was established to clearly define the boundary between Burton’s St Leonards and Hastings. When the archway was demolished, a marker was put in place to show the Eastern Boundary of St Leonards.
59. St. Leonards Pier
Promenade/ Marina Car Park
The pier at St Leonards stood at the site by the Marina from 1891 until 1951. In its time it as an incredibly popular attraction and in fact the venue was the first site in Hastings to show films.
60. Conqueror’s Stone
Promenade/ Marina opposite Royal Victoria Hotel
William the Conqueror is supposed to have dined on the stone, now found on the promenade opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel. The stone, as the tale goes, was the only flat surface that William could find on which to dine in the hilly surroundings of St Leonards. The stone has moved locations several times. Its original location is believed to have been in the pond that was previously on the site of the Royal Victoria Hotel. Later, it was to be used as a feature in St Leonards garden by Burton. In 1988, the stone was moved back to its original location.
61. James Burton
Royal Victoria Hotel
James Burton lived from 1761 until 1837 and was probably one of the most significant builders of Edwardian London. In 1828 he started building a new seaside town at St Leonards, based closely on his ideas and experiences at Regents Park. Although Burton’s primary trade was as builder, he also designed many buildings himself, particularly at St Leonards. Some of these designs are available for viewing at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. (http://www.hmag.org.uk/burton/)
Burton had grand designs for St Leonards, and this is certainly apparent in the town today. The Royal Victoria Hotel is one of Burton’s most striking designs, along with the Assembly rooms, now known as the Masonic Hall. There is much more to Burton’s St Leonards and his designs still attract many visitors to the area.
Along with his son, Decimus, James spent a significant period of his life in the town. He died in St Leonards in 1837, at Allegria a house in St Leonards Gardens. His son Decimus, who continued his father’s trade and became a successful builder, lived at St Leonards Lodge on Maze Hill.
For more information about Burton’s St Leonards please see (Burton St Leonards)
67. Warrior Square Station
Warrior Square Railway Station
69. Robert Tressell
241 London Road
See number 43
70. George Monger V.C.
25 Tower Road
The only local man to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. George Monger joined the 23th Regiment, later the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as a drummer boy and was sent out to India where he won his VC during the Siege of Lucknow in 1857. At the age of seventeen he was one of the youngest recipients of this award. After leaving the Army, he came to Hastings with his wife and family and lived in Tower Road, St Leonards where he died in 1887.
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