148-506: Hastings Town Hall is a municipal building in Queen's Road, Hastings , East Sussex , England. The town hall, which was the meeting place of Hastings Borough Council , is a Grade II listed building . The first town hall in the town was built at the expense of local members of parliament, John Pulteney and Peter Gott , in the High Street in 1700. It was replaced by a stuccoed structure which
296-457: A "bailiff, jurats, and commonalty". Its importance was such that it also gave its name to one of the six Rapes or administrative districts of Sussex. By a Charter of Elizabeth I in 1589 the bailiff was replaced by a mayor, by which time the town's importance was dwindling. In the Georgian era , patronage of such seaside places (such as nearby Brighton ) gave it a new lease of life so that, when
444-416: A Frankish pope. Adrian disclaims all belief in the rumour, but it is clear it had been a concern to him. The enemies of Offa and Charlemagne, described by Adrian as the source of the rumour, are not named. It is unclear whether this letter is related to the legatine mission of 786; if it predates it, then the mission might have been partly one of reconciliation, but the letter might well have been written after
592-467: A Mercian victory, but there is no evidence for Offa's authority over Kent until 785: a charter from 784 mentions only a Kentish king named Ealhmund , which may indicate that the Mercians were in fact defeated at Otford. The cause of the conflict is also unknown: if Offa was ruling Kent before 776, the battle of Otford was probably a rebellion against Mercian control. However, Ealhmund does not appear again in
740-418: A charter of Ecgberht's on the grounds that "it was wrong that his thegn should have presumed to give land allotted to him by his lord into the power of another without his witness", but the date of Ecgberht's original grant is unknown, as is the date of Offa's revocation of it. It may be that Offa was the effective overlord of Kent from 764 until at least 776. The limited evidence for Offa's direct involvement in
888-414: A charter that freed ecclesiastical lands from all obligations except the requirement to build forts and bridges—obligations which lay upon everyone, as part of the trinoda necessitas . Offa's Kentish charters show him laying these same burdens on the recipients of his grants there, and this may be a sign that the obligations were being spread outside Mercia. These burdens were part of Offa's response to
1036-509: A coin. Only three gold coins of Offa's have survived: one is a copy of an Abbasid dinar of 774 and carries Arabic text on one side, with "Offa Rex" on the other. The gold coins are of uncertain use but may have been struck to be used as alms or for gifts to Rome. Many historians regard Offa as the most powerful Anglo-Saxon king before Alfred the Great . His dominance never extended to Northumbria , though he gave his daughter Ælfflæd in marriage to
1184-521: A decade at Charlemagne 's court as one of his chief advisors, and corresponded with kings, nobles and ecclesiastics throughout England. These letters in particular reveal Offa's relations with the continent, as does his coinage , which was based on Carolingian examples. Offa's ancestry is given in the Anglian collection , a set of genealogies that include lines of descent for four Mercian kings. All four lines descend from Pybba , who ruled Mercia early in
1332-404: A decline. As a seaport, Hastings' days were finished. Hastings had suffered over the years from the lack of a natural harbour, and there have been attempts to create a sheltered harbour. Attempts were made to build a stone harbour during the reign of Elizabeth I , but the sea destroyed the foundations in terrible storms. The fishing boats are still stored on and launched from the beach. Hastings
1480-514: A different settlement, most likely that based on the Roman remains at Pevensey . Evidence of prehistoric settlements have been found at the town site: flint arrowheads and Bronze Age artefacts have been found. Iron Age forts have been excavated on both the East and West Hills. This suggests that the inhabitants moved early to the safety of the valley in between the forts. The settlement was already based on
1628-465: A great earthen barrier that runs approximately along the border between England and Wales . It is mentioned by the monk Asser in his biography of Alfred the Great: "a certain vigorous king called Offa ... had a great dyke built between Wales and Mercia from sea to sea". The dyke has not been dated by archaeological methods, but most historians find no reason to doubt Asser's attribution. Early names for
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#17328552230041776-539: A kingdom of Anglo-Saxon England , from 757 until his death in 796. The son of Thingfrith and a descendant of Eowa , Offa came to the throne after a period of civil war following the assassination of Æthelbald . Offa defeated the other claimant, Beornred . In the early years of Offa's reign, it is likely that he consolidated his control of Midland peoples such as the Hwicce and the Magonsæte . Taking advantage of instability in
1924-518: A large transient workforce. Many of the people coming into Hastings at this time settled on some waste-ground to the west of the main town called the America Ground . This land, originally a shingle spit created by the great storm of 1287, was declared to be Crown Property after an inquiry held at Battle during 1827 and the land was cleared in preparation for the development of this area of land by Patrick Francis Robertson . Like many coastal towns,
2072-513: A long tradition of joint kingship, with east and west Kent under separate kings, though one king was typically dominant. Prior to 762 Kent was ruled by Æthelberht II and Eadberht I ; Eadberht's son Eardwulf is also recorded as a king. Æthelberht died in 762, and Eadberht and Eardwulf are last mentioned in that same year. Charters from the next two years mention other kings of Kent, including Sigered , Eanmund and Heahberht . In 764, Offa granted land at Rochester in his own name, with Heahberht on
2220-474: A pair of tall stained glass lancet windows with bar tracery with cusped circles (with bars radiating from a central rose window ) on the first floor with a gable above. The doorway and the windows on the first floor, including those in the outer bays which also employed paired lancet windows, were all flanked by colonettes. Four carved panels were erected on the eastern side of the building illustrating "Hastings Fishermen boarding French Pirates", "The Landing of
2368-474: A pendant. The variety of these depictions implies that Offa's die-cutters were able to draw on varied artistic sources for their inspiration. Offa's wife Cynethryth was the only Anglo-Saxon queen ever named or portrayed on coinage, in a remarkable series of pennies struck by the moneyer Eoba. These were probably derived from contemporary coins from the reign of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VI , who minted
2516-544: A possible iron-working site near Blacklands Church in the town – the old name of 'Ponbay Bridge' for a bridge that used to exist in the area is a corruption of 'Pond Bay' as suggested by Thomas Ross (Mayor of Hastings and author of an 1835 guide book). With the departure of the Romans, the town suffered setbacks. The Beauport site was abandoned, and the town suffered from problems from nature and man-made attacks. The Sussex coast has always suffered from occasional violent storms; with
2664-423: A request that his son Ecgfrith should also marry Charlemagne's daughter Bertha: Charlemagne was outraged by the request, and broke off contact with Britain, forbidding English ships from landing in his ports. Alcuin's letters make it clear that by the end of 790 the dispute was still not resolved, and that Alcuin was hoping to be sent to help make peace. In the end diplomatic relations were restored, at least partly by
2812-474: A row of terraced houses. The new building was the subject of a design competition which was won by the local architect, Henry Ward . It was designed in the English Gothic style and officially opened by the mayor, Councillor W. F. Revill, on 7 September 1881. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with three bays facing onto Queen's Road; the central bay featured an arched doorway, a stone balcony and
2960-485: A series showing a portrait of his mother, the later Empress Irene , though the Byzantine coins show a frontal bust of Irene rather than a profile, and so cannot have been a direct model. Around the time of Jænberht 's death and replacement with Æthelheard in 792–93, the silver currency was reformed a second time: in this "heavy coinage" the weight of the pennies was increased again, and a standardised non-portrait design
3108-524: A struggle between Offa and Charlemagne, but the disparity in their power was enormous. By 796 Charlemagne had become master of an empire which stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Hungarian Plain , and Offa and then Coenwulf were clearly minor figures by comparison. The nature of Mercian kingship is not clear from the limited surviving sources. There are two main theories regarding
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#17328552230043256-546: A transformation of the Mercian economy away from its origins as a grouping of midland peoples. The burhs are forerunners of the defensive network successfully implemented by Alfred the Great a century later to deal with the Danish invasions. However, Offa did not necessarily understand the economic changes that came with the burhs , so it is not safe to assume he envisioned all their benefits. In 749, Æthelbald of Mercia had issued
3404-449: A twelfth-century chronicler, records that in 771 Offa defeated "the people of Hastings", which may record the extension of Offa's dominion over the entire kingdom. However, doubts have been expressed about the authenticity of the charters which support this version of events, and it is possible that Offa's direct involvement in Sussex was limited to a short period around 770–71. After 772, there
3552-449: A vision of English unity; and what he left was a reputation, not a legacy." It is now believed that Offa thought of himself as "King of the Mercians," and that his military successes were part of the transformation of Mercia from an overlordship of midland peoples into a powerful and aggressive kingdom. Offa died on 29 July 796, and may be buried in Bedford , though it is not clear that
3700-438: A witness on charters and presides at synods without Hygeberht, so it appears that Offa continued to respect Canterbury 's authority. A letter from Pope Adrian to Charlemagne survives which makes reference to Offa, but the date is uncertain; it may be as early as 784 or as late as 791. In it Adrian recounts a rumour that had reached him: Offa had reportedly proposed to Charlemagne that Adrian should be deposed, and replaced by
3848-450: Is " Cfb " (Marine West Coast Climate/ Oceanic climate ). Some of the areas and suburbs of Hastings are Ore , St Leonards , Silverhill , West St Leonards , and Hollington . Ore, Silverhill and Hollington were once villages that have since become part of the Hastings conurbation area during rapid growth. The original part of St Leonards was bought by James Burton and laid out by his son,
3996-517: Is a seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, 24 mi (39 km) east of Lewes and 53 mi (85 km) south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings , which took place 8 mi (13 km) to the north-west at Senlac Hill in 1066. It later became one of the medieval Cinque Ports . In the 19th century, it was a popular seaside resort , as
4144-505: Is another site of biological interest, with alluvial meadows, and the largest reed bed in the county, providing habitat for breeding birds. It is in the West St Leonards ward, stretching into the parish of Crowhurst . The final SSSI, Hastings Cliffs to Pett Beach, is within the Ore ward of Hastings, extending into the neighbouring Fairlight and Pett parishes. The site runs along the coast and
4292-463: Is no evidence that Northumbria was ever under Mercian control during Offa's reign. Offa was frequently in conflict with the various Welsh kingdoms. There was a battle between the Mercians and the Welsh at Hereford in 760, and Offa is recorded as campaigning against the Welsh in 778, 784 and 796 in the tenth-century Annales Cambriae . The best known relic associated with Offa's time is Offa's Dyke ,
4440-518: Is no further evidence of Mercian involvement in Sussex until c. 790, and it may be that Offa gained control of Sussex in the late 780s, as he did in Kent. In East Anglia, Beonna probably became king in about 758. Beonna's first coinage predates Offa's own, and implies independence from Mercia. Subsequent East Anglian history is quite obscure, but in 779 Æthelberht II became king, and was independent long enough to issue coins of his own. In 794, according to
4588-522: Is no record of an independent ruler after 740. Offa was probably able to exert control over the kingdom of Lindsey at an early date, as it appears that the independent dynasty of Lindsey had disappeared by this time. Little is known about the history of the East Saxons during the 8th century, but what evidence there is indicates that both London and Middlesex, which had been part of the kingdom of Essex, were finally brought under Mercian control during
Hastings Town Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
4736-487: Is noteworthy for two reasons: it is the first recorded consecration of any English king, and it is unusual in that it asserted Ecgfrith's royal status while his father was still alive. Offa would have been aware that Charlemagne 's sons, Pippin and Louis , had been consecrated as kings by Pope Adrian , and probably wished to emulate the impressive dignity of the Frankish court. Other precedents did exist: Æthelred of Mercia
4884-461: Is of both biological and geological interest. The cliffs hold many fossils and the site has many habitats, including ancient woodland and shingle beaches. As with the rest of the British Isles and Southern England, Hastings experiences a maritime climate with mild summers and mild winters. In terms of the local climate, Hastings is on the eastern edge of what is, on average, the sunniest part of
5032-554: Is possible Jænberht refused to perform the ceremony, which took place in 787. Offa had a dispute with the Bishop of Worcester , which was settled at the Council of Brentford in 781. Many surviving coins from Offa's reign carry elegant depictions of him, and the artistic quality of these images exceeds that of the contemporary Frankish coinage. Some of his coins carry images of his wife, Cynethryth —the only Anglo-Saxon queen ever depicted on
5180-421: Is possible that Offa and Æthelbald were from the same branch of the family. In one charter Offa refers to Æthelbald as his kinsman, and Headbert, Æthelbald's brother, continued to witness charters after Offa rose to power. Offa's wife was Cynethryth , whose ancestry is unknown. The couple had a son, Ecgfrith , and at least three daughters: Ælfflæd, Eadburh and Æthelburh. It has been speculated that Æthelburh
5328-557: Is probable that he ceded the overlordship of Haestingas to Ine as part of the treaty. In 771 King Offa of Mercia invaded Southern England, and over the next decade gradually seized control of Sussex and Kent. Symeon of Durham records a battle fought at an unidentified location near Hastings in 771, at which Offa defeated the Haestingas tribe , effectively ending its existence as a separate kingdom. By 790, Offa controlled Hastings effectively enough to confirm grants of land in Hastings to
5476-400: Is referring to the report of the legatine mission in 786, which issued statutes that the Mercians undertook to obey. At the start of the 8th century, sceattas were the primary circulating coinage . These were small silver pennies, which often did not bear the name of either the moneyer or the king for whom they were produced. To contemporaries these were probably known as pennies, and are
5624-454: Is said to have nominated his son Coenred as king during his lifetime, and Offa may have known of Byzantine examples of royal consecration. Despite the creation of the new archdiocese, Jænberht retained his position as the senior cleric in the land, with Hygeberht conceding his precedence. When Jænberht died in 792, he was replaced by Æthelheard, who was consecrated by Hygeberht , now senior in his turn. Subsequently, Æthelheard appears as
5772-495: Is that Ecgfrith "has not died for his own sins; but the vengeance for the blood his father shed to secure the kingdom has reached the son. For you know very well how much blood his father shed to secure the kingdom on his son." It is apparent that in addition to Ecgfrith's consecration in 787, Offa had eliminated dynastic rivals. This seems to have backfired, from the dynastic point of view, as no close male relatives of Offa or Ecgfrith are recorded, and Coenwulf , Ecgfrith's successor,
5920-532: Is the classical style church of St Mary in the Castle (its name recalling the old chapel in the castle above) now in use as an arts centre. Building the crescent and church necessitated further cutting away of the castle hill cliffs. Once that move away from the Old Town had begun, it led to the further expansion along the coast, eventually linking up with the new settlement of St Leonards . Such extensive development needed
6068-657: Is the venue of the yearly pantomime and throughout the year hosts comedy, dance and music acts. The Stables stages more local productions and acts as an arts exhibition centre. An additional theatre is located in Cambridge Road, the Henry Ward Hall in a space shared with the His Place church in what used to be the Robertson Street United Reformed Church . There is a small four screen Odeon cinema in
Hastings Town Hall - Misplaced Pages Continue
6216-427: Is unrecorded. Æthelbald was initially succeeded by Beornred , about whom little is known. The continuation of Bede comments that Beornred "ruled for a little while, and unhappily", and adds that "the same year, Offa, having put Beornred to flight, sought to gain the kingdom of the Mercians by bloodshed." It is possible that Offa did not gain the throne until 758, however, since a charter of 789 describes Offa as being in
6364-659: The Abbey of St Denis, in Paris. But, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 1011 relates that Vikings overran "all Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Haestingas", indicating the town was still considered a separate 'county' or province to its neighbours 240 years after Offa's conquest. During his reign, Athelstan established a royal mint in Hastings in AD 928. The start of the Norman Conquest was
6512-556: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , "King Offa ordered King Æthelberht's head to be struck off". Offa minted pennies in East Anglia in the early 790s, so it is likely that Æthelberht rebelled against Offa and was beheaded as a result. Accounts of the event have survived in which Aethelberht is killed through the machinations of Offa's wife Cynethryth, but the earliest manuscripts in which these possibly legendary accounts are found date from
6660-451: The Battle of Hastings , fought on 14 October 1066, although the battle itself took place 6 mi (9.7 km) to the northwest at Senlac Hill. William had landed on the coast between Hastings and Eastbourne at Pevensey. It is thought that the Norman encampment was on the town's outskirts, where there was open ground; a new town was already being built in the valley to the east. That "New Burgh"
6808-538: The Bristol Channel . The total length of this section is about 64 miles (103 km). Other earthworks exist along the Welsh border, of which Wat's Dyke is one of the largest, but it is not possible to date them relative to each other and so it cannot be determined whether Offa's Dyke was a copy of or the inspiration for Wat's Dyke. The construction of the dyke suggests that it was built to create an effective barrier and to command views into Wales. This implies that
6956-553: The Chronicle ' s "three years" is an error, and should read "thirteen years", which would mean Egbert's exile lasted from 789 to 802, but this reading is disputed. Eadburh is mentioned by Asser , a 9th-century monk who wrote a biography of Alfred the Great : Asser says that Eadburh had "power throughout almost the entire kingdom", and that she "began to behave like a tyrant after the manner of her father". Whatever power she had in Wessex
7104-705: The Ismere Diploma , for example, where Æthelric, son of king Oshere of the Hwicce, is described as a " subregulus ", or subking, of Æthelbald's. The eighth-century monk and chronicler the Venerable Bede wrote a history of the English church called Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum ; the history only covers events up to 731, but as one of the major sources for Anglo-Saxon history it provides important background information for Offa's reign. Offa's Dyke , most of which
7252-492: The Rape of Hastings , one of the six administrative divisions of Sussex. As a borough, Hastings had a corporation consisting of a "bailiff, jurats, and commonalty". By a charter of Elizabeth I in 1589, the bailiff was replaced by a mayor. Muslim scholar Muhammad al-Idrisi , writing c.1153, described Hastings as "a town of large extent and many inhabitants, flourishing and handsome, having markets, workpeople and rich merchants". By
7400-509: The kingdom of Kent to establish himself as overlord, Offa also controlled Sussex by 771, though his authority did not remain unchallenged in either territory. In the 780s he extended Mercian Supremacy over most of southern England, allying with Beorhtric of Wessex , who married Offa's daughter Eadburh , and regained complete control of the southeast. He also became the overlord of East Anglia and had King Æthelberht II of East Anglia beheaded in 794, perhaps for rebelling against him. Offa
7548-492: The kingdom of Sussex comes from charters, and as with Kent there is no clear consensus among historians on the course of events. What little evidence survives that bears on Sussex's kings indicates that several kings ruled at once, and it may never have formed a single kingdom. It has been argued that Offa's authority was recognised early in his reign by local kings in western Sussex, but that eastern Sussex (the area around Hastings) submitted to him less readily. Symeon of Durham ,
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#17328552230047696-618: The parliamentary constituency of Hastings and Rye ; the current MP, since July 2024 , is Helena Dollimore of the Labour and Co-operative Party . Prior to 1983, the town formed the Hastings parliamentary constituency by itself. Hastings, it is thought, was a Saxon town before the arrival of the Normans: the Domesday Book refers to a new Borough : as a borough, Hastings had a corporation consisting of
7844-619: The sandstone beds, at the heart of the Weald , known geologically as the Hastings Sands, meet the English Channel , forming tall cliffs to the east of the town. Hastings Old Town is in a sheltered valley between the East Hill and West Hill (on which the remains of the Castle stand). In Victorian times and later the town has spread westwards and northwards, and now forms a single urban centre with
7992-476: The "Bedeford" named in that charter was actually modern Bedford. He was succeeded by his son, Ecgfrith of Mercia , but according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Ecgfrith died after a reign of only 141 days. A letter written by Alcuin in 797 to a Mercian ealdorman named Osbert makes it apparent that Offa had gone to great lengths to ensure that his son Ecgfrith would succeed him. Alcuin's opinion
8140-438: The 10th century, when this title was standard for kings of England. The best evidence for Offa's use of this title comes from coins, not charters: there are some pennies with "Of ℞ A" inscribed, but it is not regarded as definite that this stood for "Offa Rex Anglorum." In Anglo-Saxon England , Stenton argued that Offa was perhaps the greatest king of the English kingdoms, commenting that "no other Anglo-Saxon king ever regarded
8288-423: The 11th and 12th centuries, and recent historians do not regard them with confidence. The legend also claims that Æthelberht was killed at Sutton St. Michael and buried four miles (6 km) to the south at Hereford , where his cult flourished, becoming at one time second only to Canterbury as a pilgrimage destination. To the south of Mercia, Cynewulf came to the throne of Wessex in 757 and recovered much of
8436-458: The 760s when Offa is known to have intervened in Kent. Offa rescinded grants made to Canterbury by Egbert, and it is also known that Jænberht claimed the monastery of Cookham , which was in Offa's possession. In 786 Pope Adrian I sent papal legates to England to assess the state of the church and provide canons (ecclesiastical decrees) for the guidance of the English kings, nobles and clergy. This
8584-412: The 7th century. Offa's line descends through Pybba's son Eowa and then through three more generations: Osmod, Eanwulf and Offa's father, Thingfrith. Æthelbald, who ruled Mercia for most of the forty years before Offa, was also descended from Eowa according to the genealogies: Offa's grandfather, Eanwulf, was Æthelbald's first cousin. Æthelbald granted land to Eanwulf in the territory of the Hwicce, and it
8732-502: The 8th century. It is unlikely that Offa had significant influence in the early years of his reign outside the traditional Mercian heartland. The overlordship of the southern English which had been exerted by Æthelbald appears to have collapsed during the civil strife over the succession, and it is not until 764, when evidence emerges of Offa's influence in Kent, that Mercian power can be seen expanding again. Offa appears to have exploited an unstable situation in Kent after 762. Kent had
8880-706: The Cinema de Luxe in Hastings, and the Elite Cinema in St. Leonards, featured in a 1942 legal case, Regal (Hastings) Ltd v Gulliver , a leading case heard in the High Court and the Appeal Court , and ultimately resolved in the House of Lords , on the issue of company directors ' duty of loyalty to the company they direct. Offa Offa (died 29 July 796 AD) was King of Mercia ,
9028-548: The Franks. Charlemagne's letter also refers to exiles from England, naming Odberht, who was almost certainly the same person as Eadberht Præn , among them. Egbert of Wessex was another refugee from Offa who took shelter at the Frankish court. It is clear that Charlemagne's policy included support for elements opposed to Offa; in addition to sheltering Egbert and Eadberht he also sent gifts to Æthelred I of Northumbria . Events in southern Britain to 796 have sometimes been portrayed as
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#17328552230049176-620: The French and their Defeat", "Queen Elizabeth Granting the Charter to the Corporation" and "Cinque Port Ships Going to meet the Armada". Internally, the principal rooms were the council chamber and the mayor's parlour. The area became a county borough , with the town hall as its headquarters in 1888. The mayor, Councillor E. Armitage Hocking, received the colours of the 5th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment at
9324-634: The Hastings Bonfire Society stages a traditional Sussex Bonfire which includes a torchlight procession through the streets, a beach bonfire and firework display. Hastings Pirate Day takes place in July every year. Hastings, as of November 2017, still holds the Guinness World Record for the most pirates in one place. Other events include the Hastings Beer and Music Festival , held every July on
9472-407: The Mercians who built it were free to choose the best location for the dyke. There are settlements to the west of the dyke that have names that imply they were English by the 8th century, so it may be that in choosing the location of the barrier the Mercians were consciously surrendering some territory to the native Britons . Alternatively, it may be that these settlements had already been retaken by
9620-513: The Northumbrian king Æthelred I in 792. Historians once saw his reign as part of a process leading to a unified England, but this is no longer the majority view: in the words of historian Simon Keynes , "Offa was driven by a lust for power, not a vision of English unity; and what he left was a reputation, not a legacy." His son Ecgfrith succeeded him after his death, but reigned for less than five months before Coenwulf of Mercia became king. In
9768-809: The Oval (Previously Alexandra Park), the Hastings Musical Festival held every March in the White Rock Theatre , the International Composers Festival split between Hastings and Bexhill during August and the Hastings International Chess Congress . There is also a small Wildman event in late January. There are two main theatres in the town, the White Rock Theatre and the Stables Theatre. The White Rock theatre
9916-493: The Priory Quarter, which still remains unfinished but now houses Saga offices, bringing 800 new jobs to the area. Hastings has an Army Cadet Force (ACF) detachment which is part of Sussex ACF . This detachment is based in the old Territorial Army Unit Building on Cinque Ports Way, and is affiliated to PWRR . Hastings also has a Royal Air Force Air Cadet Squadron, 304 (Hastings) Squadron of Sussex Wing RAFAC, based in
10064-704: The Priory Quarter. In 2002 the Hastings and Bexhill task force, set up by the South East England Development Agency , was founded to regenerate the local economy, a 10-year programme being set up to tackle the local reliance on public sector employment. The regeneration scheme saw the construction of the University Centre Hastings , (now known as the University of Brighton in Hastings) the new Sussex Coast College campus and construction of
10212-671: The UK, the stretch of coast from the Isle of Wight southeastern coast Sandown Bay to the Hastings area. Hastings, tied with Eastbourne, recorded the highest duration of sunshine of any month anywhere in the United Kingdom – 384 hours – in July 1911. Temperature extremes since 1960 at Hastings have ranged from 34.7 °C (94.5 °F) in July 2022, down to −9.8 °C (14.4 °F) in January 1987. The Köppen climate classification subtype for this climate
10360-481: The Welsh, implying a defensive role for the barrier. The effort and expense that must have gone into building the dyke are impressive, and suggest that the king who had it built (whether Offa or someone else) had considerable resources at his disposal. Other substantial construction projects of a similar date do exist, however, such as Wat's Dyke and Danevirke , in what is now Germany as well as such sites as Stonehenge from millennia earlier. The dyke can be regarded in
10508-611: The West Saxon throne. Even if Offa did not assist Beorhtric's claim, it seems likely that Beorhtric to some extent recognised Offa as his overlord shortly thereafter. Offa's currency was used across the West Saxon kingdom, and Beorhtric had his own coins minted only after Offa's death. In 789, Beorhtric married Eadburh , a daughter of Offa; the Chronicle records that the two kings combined to exile Egbert to Francia for "three years", adding that "Beorhtric helped Offa because he had his daughter as his queen". Some historians believe that
10656-421: The additional hazard of longshore drift (the eastward movement of shingle along the coast), the coastline has frequently changed. The original Roman port is probably now under the sea. Bulverhythe was probably a harbour used by Danish invaders, which suggests that -hythe or hithe means a port or small haven. From the 6th century AD until 771, the people of the area around modern-day Hastings, identified
10804-505: The agency of Gervold, the abbot of St Wandrille . Charlemagne sought support from the English church at the council of Frankfurt in 794, where the canons passed in 787 at the Second Council of Nicaea were repudiated, and the heresies of two Spanish bishops, Felix and Elipandus , were condemned. In 796 Charlemagne wrote to Offa; the letter survives and refers to a previous letter of Offa's to Charlemagne. This correspondence between
10952-454: The ancestry of Mercian kings of this period. One is that descendants of different lines of the royal family competed for the throne. In the mid-7th century, for example, Penda had placed royal kinsmen in control of conquered provinces. Alternatively, it may be that a number of kin-groups with local power-bases may have competed for the succession. The sub-kingdoms of the Hwicce , the Tomsæte and
11100-413: The annual payment of 365 mancuses that Offa promised to Rome. There are other Western copies of Abbasid dinars of the period, but it is not known whether they are English or Frankish. Two other English gold coins of the period survive, from two moneyers, Pendraed and Ciolheard: the former is thought to be from Offa's reign but the latter may belong either to Offa's reign or to that of Coenwulf, who came to
11248-422: The architect Decimus Burton , in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off. It also included a central public garden, a hotel, an archery, assembly rooms and a church . Today's St Leonards has extended well beyond that original design, although the original town still exists within it. The population of the town in 2001 was 85,029, by 2009 the estimated population
11396-414: The assignment of those lands to laypeople. In the 770s, an abbess named Æthelburh (who may have been the same person as Offa's daughter of that name) held multiple leases on religious houses in the territory of the Hwicce ; her acquisitions have been described as looking "like a speculator assembling a portfolio". Æthelburh's possession of these lands foreshadows Cynethryth 's control of religious lands, and
11544-450: The available funds. Today a fractured seawall is all that remains of what might have become a magnificent harbour. In 1897, the foundation stone was laid on a large concrete structure, but there was insufficient money to complete the work and the "Harbour Arm" remains uncompleted. In fact, during World War II, it was partly blown up to discourage possible use by German invasion forces. Between 1903 and 1919 Fred Judge FRPS photographed many of
11692-495: The award of a pallium to Lichfield depended on "deception and misleading suggestion". Another possible reason for the creation of an archbishopric at Lichfield relates to Offa's son, Ecgfrith of Mercia . After Hygeberht became archbishop, he consecrated Ecgfrith as king; the ceremony took place within a year of Hygeberht's elevation. It is possible that Jænberht refused to perform the ceremony, and that Offa needed an alternative archbishop for that purpose. The ceremony itself
11840-476: The beach at Hastings in Sussex at approximately 00:45, directly in front of the Queens Hotel. The wreck was an attraction until it was dismantled in 1921. In the 1930s, the town underwent some rejuvenation. Seaside resorts were starting to go out of fashion, Hastings perhaps more than most. The town council set about a huge rebuilding project, among which the promenade was rebuilt, and an Olympic-size bathing pool
11988-626: The border territory that Æthelbald had conquered from the West Saxons. Offa won an important victory over Cynewulf at the Battle of Bensington (in Oxfordshire ) in 779, reconquering some of the land along the Thames. No indisputably authentic charters from before this date show Cynewulf in Offa's entourage, and there is no evidence that Offa ever became Cynewulf's overlord. In 786, after the murder of Cynewulf, Offa may have intervened to place Beorhtric on
12136-458: The city. Offa's diplomatic relations with Europe are well documented, but appear to belong only to the last dozen years of his reign. In letters dating from the late 780s or early 790s, Alcuin congratulates Offa for encouraging education and greets Offa's wife and son, Cynethryth and Ecgfrith . In about 789, or shortly before, Charlemagne proposed that his son Charles marry one of Offa's daughters, most likely Ælfflæd . Offa countered with
12284-499: The coins referred to in the laws of Ine of Wessex . This light coinage (in contrast to the heavier coins minted later in Offa's reign) can probably be dated to the late 760s and early 770s. A second, medium-weight coinage can be identified before the early 790s. These new medium-weight coins were heavier, broader and thinner than the pennies they replaced, and were prompted by the contemporary Carolingian currency reforms. The new pennies almost invariably carried both Offa's name and
12432-458: The contemporary Frankish currency. Coin portraits of Offa have been described as "showing a delicacy of execution which is unique in the whole history of the Anglo-Saxon coinage". The depictions of Offa on the coins include a "striking and elegant" portrait showing him with his hair in voluminous curls, and another where he wears a fringe and tight curls. Some coins show him wearing a necklace with
12580-554: The culmination of the Maydayrun —tens of thousands of motorcyclists having ridden the A21 to Hastings. The yearly carnival during Old Town Week takes place every August, which includes a week of events around Hastings Old Town , including a Seaboot race, bike race, street party and pram race . In September, there is a month-long arts festival 'Coastal Currents' and a Seafood and Wine Festival. During Hastings Week held each year around 14 October
12728-452: The designated boundaries of Hastings, and development on the outskirts is resisted by Rother council whose administrative area surrounds Hastings. Rother has a policy of urban expansion in the area immediately north of Bexhill, but this requires infrastructure improvements by central Governments which have been under discussion for decades. This situation has now become the subject of parliamentary consideration. Ethnicity in 2001 Until
12876-528: The development of tourism, fishing was Hastings' major industry. The fishing fleet, based at the Stade , remains Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet and has recently won accreditation for its sustainable methods. The fleet has been based on the same beach, below the cliffs at Hastings, for at least 400, possibly 600, years. Its longevity is attributed to the prolific fishing ground of Rye Bay nearby. Hastings fishing vessels are registered at Rye , and thus bear
13024-504: The dyke in both Welsh and English also support the attribution to Offa. Despite Asser's comment that the dyke ran "from sea to sea", it is now thought that the original structure only covered about two-thirds of the length of the border: in the north it ends near Llanfynydd , less than five miles (8 km) from the coast, while in the south it stops at Rushock Hill , near Kington in Herefordshire, less than fifty miles (80 km) from
13172-765: The end of the Saxon period, the port of Hastings had moved eastward near the present town centre in the Priory Stream valley, whose entrance was protected by the White Rock headland (since demolished). It was to be a short stay: Danish attacks and huge floods in 1011 and 1014 motivated the townspeople to relocate to the New Burgh. In the Middle Ages Hastings became one of the Cinque Ports ; Sandwich , Dover and New Romney were
13320-411: The establishment of a rival archdiocese at Lichfield . The issue must have been discussed with the papal legates in 786, although it is not mentioned in the accounts that have survived. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports a "contentious synod" in 787 at Chelsea , which approved the creation of the new archbishopric. It has been suggested that this synod was the same gathering as the second council held by
13468-418: The extent of power achieved by Offa, a Mercian. That power can be seen at work in charters dating from Offa's reign. Charters were documents which granted land to followers or to churchmen and were witnessed by the kings who had the authority to grant the land. A charter might record the names of both a subject king and his overlord on the witness list appended to the grant. Such a witness list can be seen on
13616-512: The first half of the 8th century, the dominant Anglo-Saxon ruler was King Æthelbald of Mercia , who by 731 had become the overlord of all the provinces south of the River Humber . Æthelbald was one of a number of strong Mercian kings who ruled from the mid-7th century to the early 9th, and it was not until the reign of Egbert of Wessex in the 9th century that Mercian power began to wane. The power and prestige that Offa attained made him one of
13764-469: The first, followed by Hastings and Hythe then Rye and Winchelsea . At one point 42 towns were directly or indirectly affiliated with the group. In the 13th century, much of the town and part of Hastings Castle was washed away in the South England flood of February 1287 . During a naval campaign of 1339 , and again in 1377, the town was raided and burnt by the French, and seems then to have gone into
13912-406: The historical record, and a sequence of charters by Offa from the years 785–89 makes his authority clear. During these years he treated Kent "as an ordinary province of the Mercian kingdom", and his actions have been seen as going beyond the normal relation of overlordship and extending to the annexation of Kent and the elimination of a local royal line. After 785, in the words of one historian, "Offa
14060-427: The kingdom between 765 and 776 includes two charters of 774 in which he grants land in Kent; but there are doubts about their authenticity, so Offa's intervention in Kent prior to 776 may have been limited to the years 764–65. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "the Mercians and the inhabitants of Kent fought at Otford " in 776, but does not give the outcome of the battle. It has traditionally been interpreted as
14208-412: The later medium coinage. There is also evidence that coins were issued by Eadberht , who was Bishop of London in the 780s and possibly before. Offa's dispute with Jænberht may have led him to allow Eadberht coining rights, which may then have been revoked when the see of Lichfield was elevated to an archbishopric. The medium-weight coins often carry designs of high artistic quality, exceeding that of
14356-433: The legates, but historians are divided on this issue. Hygeberht , already Bishop of Lichfield , became the new archdiocese 's first and only archbishop, and by the end of 788 he received the pallium , a symbol of his authority, from Rome. The new archdiocese included the sees of Worcester , Hereford , Leicester , Lindsey , Dommoc and Elmham ; these were essentially the midland Anglian territories. Canterbury retained
14504-452: The letters "RX" ( R ye, Susse X ). There are now various industrial estates that lie around the town, mostly on the outskirts, which include engineering, catering, motoring and construction; however, most of the jobs within the Borough are concentrated on health, public services, retail and education. 85% of the firms (in 2005) employed fewer than 10 people; as a consequence the unemployment rate
14652-514: The light of these counterparts as the largest and most recent great construction of the preliterate inhabitants of Britain. Offa ruled as a Christian king, but despite being praised by Charlemagne 's advisor, Alcuin , for his piety and efforts to "instruct [his people] in the precepts of God", he came into conflict with Jænberht , the Archbishop of Canterbury . Jænberht had been a supporter of Ecgberht II of Kent , which may have led to conflict in
14800-550: The local seat of government after the formation of the enlarged Hastings Borough Council in 1974. The borough council subsequently established modern municipal offices at Aquila House in Breeds Place (renamed Muriel Matters House in 2016); however, following an extensive refurbishment, the town hall was re-opened as the local register office in March 2016. Hastings Hastings ( / ˈ h eɪ s t ɪ ŋ z / HAY -stingz )
14948-420: The men of the southeast turned to him "because earlier they were wrongly forced away from his relatives". This is likely to be an allusion to Ealhmund, and may imply that Ealhmund had a local overlordship of the southeastern kingdoms. If so, Offa's intervention was probably intended to gain control of this relationship and take over the dominance of the associated kingdoms. The evidence for Offa's involvement in
15096-473: The mission, sent by the legates to Pope Adrian , gives details of a council held by George in Northumbria, and the canons issued there, but little detail survives of Theophylact's mission. After the northern council George returned to the south and another council was held, attended by both Offa and Jænberht, at which further canons were issued. In 787, Offa succeeded in reducing the power of Canterbury through
15244-460: The mission. Offa was a generous patron of the church, founding several churches and monasteries, often dedicated to St Peter . Among these was St Albans Abbey , which he probably founded in the early 790s. He also promised a yearly gift of 365 mancuses to Rome; a mancus was a term of account equivalent to thirty silver pennies, derived from Abbasid gold coins that were circulating in Francia at
15392-499: The more suburban area of St Leonards-on-Sea to the west. Roads from the Old Town valley lead towards the Victorian area of Clive Vale and the former village of Ore , from which "The Ridge", marking the effective boundary of Hastings, extends north-westwards towards Battle . Beyond Bulverhythe , the western end of Hastings is marked by low-lying land known as Glyne Gap, separating it from Bexhill-on-Sea . The sandstone cliffs have been
15540-515: The most significant rulers in early medieval Britain , though no contemporary biography of him survives. A key source for the period is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , a collection of annals in Old English narrating the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The Chronicle was a West Saxon production, however, and is sometimes thought to be biased in favour of Wessex; hence it may not accurately convey
15688-419: The name of the moneyer from whose mint the coins came. The reform in the coinage appears to have extended beyond Offa's own mints: the kings of East Anglia , Kent and Wessex all produced coins of the new heavier weight in this period. Some coins from Offa's reign bear the names of the archbishops of Canterbury, Jænberht and, after 792, Æthelheard. Jænberht's coins all belong to the light coinage, rather than
15836-429: The only reason the papacy agreed to the creation was because of the size of the kingdom of Mercia. Both Coenwulf and Leo had their own reasons for representing the situation as they did: Coenwulf was entreating Leo to make London the sole southern archdiocese, while Leo was concerned to avoid the appearance of complicity with the unworthy motives Coenwulf imputed to Offa. These are therefore partisan comments. However, both
15984-520: The pattern was continued in the early 9th century by Cwoenthryth , the daughter of King Coenwulf . Either Offa or Ine of Wessex is traditionally supposed to have founded the Schola Saxonum in Rome, in what is today the Roman rione , or district, of Borgo . The Schola Saxonum took its name from the militias of Saxons who served in Rome, but it eventually developed into a hostelry for English visitors to
16132-466: The population of Hastings grew significantly as a result of the construction of railway links and the fashionable growth of seaside holidays during the Victorian era . In 1801, its population was a mere 3,175; by 1831, it had reached over ten thousand; by 1891, it was almost sixty thousand. The last harbour project began in 1896, but this also failed when structural problems and rising costs exhausted all
16280-559: The port when the Romans arrived in Britain for the first time in 55 BC. At this time, they began to exploit the iron (Wealden rocks provide a plentiful supply of the ore), and shipped it out by boat. Iron was worked locally at Beauport Park , to the north of the town. It employed up to one thousand men and is considered to have been the third-largest mine in the Roman Empire . There was also
16428-512: The railway allowed tourists and visitors to reach the town. Today, Hastings is a popular seaside resort and is still a fishing port with the UK's largest beach-based fishing fleet. Its estimated population was 91,100 in 2021. The first mention of Hastings is found in the late 8th century in the form Hastingas . This is derived from the Old English tribal name Hæstingas , meaning 'the constituency (followers) of Hæsta'. Symeon of Durham records
16576-622: The reduction in status of his subject kings, sometimes to the rank of ealdorman . He was ultimately unsuccessful, however; Ecgfrith only survived in power for a few months, and ninth-century Mercia continued to draw its kings from multiple dynastic lines. There is evidence that Offa constructed a series of defensive burhs , or fortified towns; the locations are not generally agreed on but may include Bedford , Hereford , Northampton , Oxford and Stamford . In addition to their defensive uses, these burhs are thought to have been administrative centres, serving as regional markets and indicating
16724-577: The reign of Æthelbald. Both Æthelbald and Offa granted land in Middlesex and London as they wished; in 767 a charter of Offa's disposed of land in Harrow without a local ruler as witness. It is likely that both London and Middlesex were quickly under Offa's control at the start of his reign. The East Saxon royal house survived the 8th century, so it is probable that the kingdom of Essex retained its native rulers, but under strong Mercian influence, for most or all of
16872-450: The river valley further to the north. There are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the borough; Marline Valley Woods , Combe Haven and Hastings Cliffs To Pett Beach . Marline Valley Woods lies within the Ashdown ward of Hastings. It is an ancient woodland of Pedunculate oak — hornbeam which is uncommon nationally. Sussex Wildlife Trust own part of the site. Combe Haven
17020-546: The same building. The town also has a Sea Cadet squadron, T.S. Hastings . This sits adjacent to the Army and Air Cadet building on the seafront. The site features a climbing wall and other training facilities. Throughout the year many annual events take place in Hastings, the largest of which being the May Day bank holiday weekend, which features a Jack-in-the-Green festival (revived since 1983) and usually falls around 1–3 May, and
17168-438: The sees in the south and southeast. The few accounts of the creation of the new archbishopric date from after the end of Offa's reign. Two versions of the events appear in the form of an exchange of letters between Coenwulf , who became king of Mercia shortly after Offa's death, and Pope Leo III , in 798. Coenwulf asserts in his letter that Offa wanted the new archdiocese created out of enmity for Jænberht; but Leo responds that
17316-456: The size of Offa's territory and his relationship with Jænberht and Kent are indeed likely to have been factors in Offa's request for the creation of the new archdiocese. Coenwulf's version has independent support, with a letter from Alcuin to Archbishop Æthelheard giving his opinion that Canterbury's archdiocese had been divided "not, as it seems, by reasonable consideration, but by a certain desire for power". Æthelheard himself later said that
17464-499: The subject of considerable erosion in relatively recent times: much of the Castle was lost to the sea before the present sea defences and promenade were built, and a number of cliff-top houses are in danger of disappearing around the nearby village of Fairlight . The beach is mainly shingle , although wide areas of sand are uncovered at low tide. The town is generally built upon a series of low hills rising to 500 ft (150 m) above sea level at "The Ridge" before falling back in
17612-502: The territory as that of the Haestingas tribe and a kingdom separate from the surrounding kingdoms of Suth Saxe ("South Saxons", i.e. Sussex) and Kent . It worked to retain its separate cultural identity until the 11th century. The kingdom was probably a sub-kingdom, the object of a disputed overlordship by the two powerful neighbouring kingdoms: when King Wihtred of Kent settled a dispute with King Ine of Sussex & Wessex in 694, it
17760-521: The thirty-first year of his reign. The conflict over the succession suggests that Offa needed to re-establish control over Mercia's traditional dependencies, such as the Hwicce and the Magonsæte . Charters dating from the first two years of Offa's reign show the Hwiccan kings as reguli , or kinglets, under his authority; and it is likely that he was also quick to gain control over the Magonsæte, for whom there
17908-422: The threat of "the pagan seaman". Offa issued laws in his name, but no details of them have survived. They are known only from a mention by Alfred the Great , in the preface to Alfred's own law code. Alfred says that he has included in his code those laws of Offa, Ine of Wessex and Æthelberht of Kent which he found "most just". The laws may have been an independent lawcode, but it is also possible that Alfred
18056-508: The throne in 796. Nothing definite is known about their use, but they may have been struck to be used as alms. Although many of the coins bear the name of a moneyer, there is no indication of the mint where each coin was struck. As a result, the number and location of mints used by Offa is uncertain. Current opinion is that there were four mints, in Canterbury , Rochester , East Anglia and London. The title Offa used on most of his charters
18204-415: The time came with the reform of English local government in 1888, Hastings became a County Borough , responsible for all its local services, independent of the surrounding county, then Sussex (East); less than one hundred years later, in 1974 , that status was abolished. Hastings Borough Council is now in the second tier of local government, below East Sussex County Council . Hastings is situated where
18352-453: The time. Control of religious houses was one way in which a ruler of the day could provide for his family, and to this end Offa ensured (by acquiring papal privileges) that many of them would remain the property of his wife or children after his death. This policy of treating religious houses as worldly possessions represents a change from the early 8th century, when many charters showed the foundation and endowment of small minsters, rather than
18500-496: The town became one of the most fashionable resorts in Britain, brought about by the assumed health-giving properties of seawater, as well as the local springs and Roman baths. Once this came about, the town expanded, westwards only as there was little space left in the valley. It was at this time that the elegant Pelham Crescent and Wellington Square were built; other building followed. In the Crescent (designed by architect Joseph Kay )
18648-406: The town centre include Queens Road, Wellington Place and Robertson Street. There are plans to expand the retail area in Hastings, which includes expanding Priory Meadow and creating more retail space as part of the Priory Quarter development. Priory was intended to have a second floor added to part of the retail area, which has not happened yet and so far only office space has been created as part of
18796-459: The town hall on 5 August 1914 before the unit was deployed to France at the start of the First World War , and the then mayor, Councillor William Perrins, set out from the town hall to meet King George V on his visit to the town near the end of the war on 30 August 1918. The town hall continued to serve as the headquarters of the county borough council for much of the 20th century and remained
18944-524: The town's events and disasters. These included storms, the first tram, visit of the Lord Mayor of London, Hastings Marathon Race and the pier fire of 1917. Many of these images were produced as picture postcards by the British Postcard manufacturer he founded now known as Judges Postcards . The German submarine U-118 was towed loose in a storm in the early morning of 15 April 1919 and ran aground on
19092-589: The town, located opposite the town hall; however, there are plans to build a new multiplex cinema as part of the Priory Quarter development in the town centre. The town has an independent cinema called the Electric Palace located in the Old Town and a restored cinema in St Leonards called the Kino Teatr. The new luxury 'Sussex Exchange' Cinema, bar and conference venue is situated in St. Leonards. The Regal cinema and
19240-498: The two kings produced the first surviving documents in English diplomatic history. The letter is primarily concerned with the status of English pilgrims on the continent and with diplomatic gifts, but it reveals much about the relations between the English and the Franks . Charlemagne refers to Offa as his "brother", and mentions trade in black stones, sent from the continent to England, and cloaks (or possibly cloths), traded from England to
19388-447: The unidentified Gaini are examples of such power-bases. Marriage alliances could also have played a part. Competing magnates, those called in charters "dux" or "princeps" (that is, leaders), may have brought the kings to power. In this model, the Mercian kings are little more than leading noblemen. Offa seems to have attempted to increase the stability of Mercian kingship, both by the elimination of dynastic rivals to his son Ecgfrith, and
19536-495: The victory of Offa in 771 over the Hestingorum gens , that is, "the people of the Hastings tribe." Hastingleigh in Kent was named after that tribe. The place name Hæstingaceaster is found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle entry for 1050, and may be an alternative name for Hastings. However, the absence of any archaeological remains of or documentary evidence for a Roman fort at Hastings suggest that Hæstingaceaster may refer to
19684-423: The witness list as king of Kent. Another king of Kent, Ecgberht , appears on a charter in 765 along with Heahberht; the charter was subsequently confirmed by Offa. Offa's influence in Kent at this time is clear, and it has been suggested that Heahberht was installed by Offa as his client. There is less agreement among historians on whether Offa had general overlordship of Kent thereafter. He is known to have revoked
19832-412: The world at large with so ... acute a political sense". Many historians regard Offa's achievements as second only to Alfred the Great among the Anglo-Saxon kings. Offa's reign has sometimes been regarded as a key stage in the transition to a unified England, but this is no longer the general view among historians in the field. In the words of Simon Keynes , "Offa was driven by a lust for power, not
19980-449: Was "rex Merciorium", or "king of the Mercians", though this was occasionally extended to "king of the Mercians and surrounding nations". Some of his charters use the title "Rex Anglorum," or "King of the English," and this has been seen as a sweeping statement of his power. There is debate on this point, however, as several of the charters in which Offa is named "Rex Anglorum" are of doubtful authenticity. They may represent later forgeries of
20128-627: Was 3.3% ( cf. East Sussex 1.7%). However, qualification levels are similar to the national average: 8.2% of the working-age population have no qualifications while 28% hold degree-level qualifications or higher, compared with 11% and 31% respectively across England. Hastings main shopping centre is Priory Meadow Shopping Centre , which was built on the site of the old Central Recreation Ground which played host to some Sussex CCC first-class fixtures, and cricketing royalty such as Dr. W. G. Grace and Sir Don Bradman . The centre houses 56 stores and covers around 420,000 ft . Further retail areas in
20276-517: Was 86,900. Hastings suffers at a disadvantage insofar as growth is concerned because of its restricted situation, lying as it does with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the north. Redevelopment of the area is partly hampered by the split administration of the combined Hastings and Bexhill economic region between Hastings and Rother District councils. There is little space for further large-scale housing and employment growth within
20424-452: Was a Christian king who came into conflict with the Church, particularly with Jænberht , the Archbishop of Canterbury . Offa persuaded Pope Adrian I to divide the archdiocese of Canterbury in two, creating a new archdiocese of Lichfield . This reduction in the power of Canterbury may have been motivated by Offa's desire to have an archbishop consecrate his son Ecgfrith as king, since it
20572-416: Was built on the same site and completed in 1823. It was arcaded on the ground floor to allow markets to be held, with an assembly room on the first floor. In the 1870s, following significant population growth largely associated with the seaside tourism industry, civic leaders decided to procure a more substantial town hall: the site they selected was a triangular plot in Queen's Road which had been occupied by
20720-557: Was erected. The latter, regarded in its day as one of the best open-air swimming and diving complexes in Europe, later became a holiday camp before closing in 1986. It was demolished, but the area is still known by locals as "the Old Bathing Pool". The 2021 census reported 91,497 inhabitants. Hastings returned two Members of Parliament (MPs) from the 14th century until 1885, since when it has returned one. Since 1983, it has been part of
20868-437: Was founded in 1069 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book as such. William defeated and killed Harold Godwinson , the last Saxon King of England, and destroyed his army, opening England to the Norman conquest. William ordered a castle to be built at Hastings, probably using the earthworks of the existing Saxon castle. Hastings was shown as a borough by the time of the Domesday Book (1086); it had also given its name to
21016-568: Was introduced at all mints. None of Jænberht's or Cynethryth's coins occur in this coinage, whereas all of Æthelheard's coins are of the new, heavier weight. There are also surviving gold coins from Offa's reign. One is a copy of an Abbasid dinar struck in 774 by Caliph Al-Mansur , with "Offa Rex" centred on the reverse. It is clear that the moneyer had no understanding of Arabic as the Arabic text contains many errors. The coin may have been produced to trade with Islamic Spain ; or it may be part of
21164-713: Was no doubt connected with her father's overlordship. If Offa did not gain the advantage in Wessex until defeating Cynewulf in 779, it may be that his successes south of the river were a necessary prerequisite to his interventions in the south-east. In this view, Egbert of Kent's death in about 784 and Cynewulf's death in 786 were the events that allowed Offa to gain control of Kent and bring Beorhtric into his sphere of influence. This version of events also assumes that Offa did not have control of Kent after 764–65, as some historians believe. Offa's marital alliances extended to Northumbria when his daughter Ælfflæd married Æthelred I of Northumbria at Catterick in 792. However, there
21312-514: Was probably built in his reign, is a testimony to the extensive resources Offa had at his command and his ability to organise them. Other surviving sources include a problematic document known as the Tribal Hidage , which may provide further evidence of Offa's scope as a ruler, though its attribution to his reign is disputed. A significant corpus of letters dates from the period, especially from Alcuin , an English deacon and scholar who spent over
21460-412: Was the abbess who was a kinswoman of King Ealdred of the Hwicce , but there are other prominent women named Æthelburh during that period. Æthelbald, who had ruled Mercia since 716, was assassinated in 757. According to a later continuation of Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica (written anonymously after Bede's death) the king was "treacherously murdered at night by his own bodyguards", though the reason why
21608-512: Was the first papal mission to England since Augustine had been sent by Pope Gregory the Great in 597 to convert the Anglo-Saxons. The legates were Bishop George of Ostia , and Theophylact, the bishop of Todi . They visited Canterbury first, and then were received by Offa at his court. Both Offa and Cynewulf , king of the West Saxons, attended a council where the goals of the mission were discussed. George then went to Northumbria, while Theophylact visited Mercia and "parts of Britain". A report on
21756-444: Was the rival, not the overlord, of Kentish kings". Mercian control lasted until 796, the year of Offa's death, when Eadberht Præn was temporarily successful in regaining Kentish independence. Ealhmund was probably the father of Egbert of Wessex , and it is possible that Offa's interventions in Kent in the mid-780s are connected to the subsequent exile of Egbert to Francia. The Chronicle claims that when Egbert invaded Kent in 825,
21904-529: Was then just a small fishing settlement, but it was soon discovered that the new taxes on luxury goods could be avoided by smuggling; the town was ideally located for that purpose. Near the castle ruins, on the West Hill, are " St Clement's Caves ", partly natural but mainly excavated by hand by smugglers from the soft sandstone. Their trade was to come to an end with the period following the Napoleonic Wars , for
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