The Cinque Ports

Hastings History

Deep below the town centre lies the original port of Hastings; possibly the premier port of the whole Confederation until the Great Storm in 1287 ruined its harbour.  The town then moved eastward between the shelter of the East and West Hills and today the Old Town is full of charm with half-timbered houses, narrow streets and passageways, known locally as 'twittens'.  Hastings is home to Europe's largest and oldest beach-launched fishing fleet, keeping alive over a thousand years of techniques and traditions.  The fishermen's shingle beach, known as the Stade is cluttered with fishing boats, tackle, outbuildings and net shops - a group of tall, thin weather-boarded huts built for drying fishing nets and storing equipment.

Things to see in Hastings:

• The Stade - home to Europe's largest beach-launched fishing fleet and the historic 'Net Huts'
• Shipwreck and Coastal Heritage Centre - opened in 1986 by the Nautical Museums Trust
• Fishermen's Museum - housed in a former church on the beach
• Smugglers Adventure - the history of smuggling, bootlegging and gangs in Hastings
• Old Town Hall Museum - a walk back in time through the history of the Old Town
• Hastings Museum and Art Gallery - 'Coasting': Turner and Bonington on the Shores of the Channel
• Hastings Castle - the first norman fortress to be built after the Battle of Hastings
• Ghost Walk - learn about the 19th century local fisherman Joseph Swain

Further Information:

• The Cinque Ports
• Hastings History
• Rye History
• Winchelsea History
• East Sussex Smugglers
• Walks/Outdoor Activities