New Stade dues were fixed by the Council.

The first long-living Hastings newspaper was published for the first time. The Hastings and St Leonards News, based in 42 George Street, cost 3 pence. It was published initially by William Ransom jnr, but that August he became ill and his father, William Ransom snr, took over. The first letter in the News complained about the large number of “street beggars” in the town, causing “a serious annoyance to visitors, and therefore an injury to the prosperity of the place”.

Mayday – May 1 – was celebrated around the town, with the “shovel and broom gentry” in their “annual bal masque”. A wide range of characters, including Jack in the Green and the “characters of the soot bag”, were “tripping it on the light fantastic toe”.

Launch of the new 10 ton pleasure yacht British Lion on May 1 from the shipyard at Caroline Place, becoming the largest public pleasure boat on the beach. Built for Messrs Payne and Bumstead.

Hastings magistrates gaoled a man for a week for begging. He was in a “miserably ragged condition”, with one foot bound up, and his head “all in an uproar”.

A long account is given of a stagecoach ride from London to Hastings.

A letter in the News claimed that people could live in Hastings unemployed for the 7 or 8 months of winter, thereby attracting “the idle and ill-disposed to make our town their home”. Many other letters in coming weeks echoed these sentiments.

The newly-built National Schools opened in St Leonards.

A High Street resident complained bitterly about the fishing class: “I would more especially direct your attention to the juniors; those chiefly from the age of 10 or 12 to 30: to their disgusting language, poured forth with stentorian lungs: to their obscene practices, even in broad daylight, and of which, from my own windows, I have been a daily witness.” The editor of the News was particularly concerned about “the deep depravity of morals which characterises that unhappy class”, the “victims of ignorance and vice”.

Hastings Council clamped down on the expanding beach trades by creating tough new bye-laws regulating the use of the beach by pleasure boats, their capstans and bathing machines, and introducing charges for them. Ladies bathing machines were the only facilities allowed to use the beach in front of Pelham Place.

This was Whit Monday, the liveliest day in the town’s annual calendar. Large numbers of people came in from the surrounding countryside, and all kinds of fun, games and events took place. The three benefit societies hold processions and rural sports were on the East Hill. A ghost of the traditional two-day Whitsun fair was held in the Fishmarket (the fair was dying out).

A one-legged, homeless and unemployed sailor was gaoled for a week for begging.

Two Hastings fishermen, Joseph Swaine and Mark White, were drowned when their boat Henry was run down at night three miles off Fairlight by another vessel, probably a large brig sailing out of Rye Harbour.

Reopening of the Town Hall in the High Street after renovation.

A wooden battery and 32 pounder cannon were landed at the Coastguard’s 40th Martello Tower, near West Marina railway station.

Hastings Council was told that Union Street, uniting the High Street and All Saints Street by extending Courthouse Street, was finished; £455 was spent on buying properties and then clearing them away, particularly 86 All Saints Street and three cottages in its garden. The town’s stocks had to be moved, as they were in the way; they were placed closer against the gaol at the end of the original Courthouse Street. The stocks were last used in 1848, and were removed in 1853.

Thomas Mann, a fishing boy aged 13, was sent to Battle House of Correction for 14 days for stealing a turnip from a field at Ore, and for the physical attempts by his friends to stop him being arrested.

The News carried a letter complaining about the “dreary” state of the Priory Ground.

Hastings Regatta was held today.

The St Leonards Mechanics Institution was formed in the last few days.

The old St Michael’s parish, centred on the White Rock area, was disfranchised for a year – overseer’s oversight.

A lifeboat for Shoreham, built near Tackleway by Hastings boatbuilder George Tutt, was launched.

A third gasholder had been erected at the Gas Works, off Queens Road. It was 60 feet in diameter and 18 feet deep, weighing 19 tons. Iguanodon skeletons were found.

This was the last issue of the News in 1848; it started again on Friday January 5 1849.

Launch of a large 48 ton fishing vessel, built in the Priory Valley by Mr Winter for Messrs Blacklock of Lydd.