Architecture of the Old Town
All types of architectural design, from medieval to Victorian, jostle for attention in the Old Town.
The two oldest churches, All Saints' and St Clement's, are the only survivors of the seven churches which used to stand in Hastings in medieval times.
St Clement's, which serves as the Borough Church, is the earliest. The perpendicular style building dates from the end of the 14th century. The interiors of both churches are full of interest.
The Roman Catholic Church of St Mary Star-of-the-Sea is in High Street. It was built on the instructions of the distinquished Victorian poet Coventry Patmore as a memorial to his wife. Patmore considered it to be his ideal of church architecture.
The Old Town Hall, with its arched windows and huge clock hanging above the pavement, is at the lower end of High Street. The arches used to be open and a market was held there. The building was later used as Hastings' first police station. It is now the Old Town Museum.
One of the oldest buildings in the Old Town stands at the southern end of The Bourne. The Court House is thought to have been constructed around 1450. The present recently-constructed buildings in The Bourne have been carefully designed to fit in with the overall architecture of the Old Town.
All Saints' Street has many notable buildings. One of the oldest is the timber framed Tudor dwelling known as Shovells, reputedly the home of the mother of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Commander of the Channel Fleet. Other fine examples of Tudor building stand at the sea end of the street.
An architectural oddity can be found just off All Saints' Street, where stands the obviously named Piece of Cheese. The tiny yellow wedge-shaped building conveniently fills the corner of Starr's Cottages.
There are many passages leading off the main streets in the Old Town. All have buildings of interest and are all worthy of exploration.
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