The Hastings area was a centre for ironworking even before Roman times. After the Romans
invaded Britain around 40AD the Classis Britannica (Roman Fleet) developed the industry and
had bloomeries throughout the area. Their main settlement at current day Beauport exported
by itself 30,000 tons of iron into the Roman Empire, most of this was sent via the harbour
at current day Pebsham / Bulverhythe . The Romans left Britain around 406AD and left a
power vacuum, which was initially controlled by the Romano British until the Saxons arrived.
The name Hastings or more correctly Hasting is derived from a Saxon warlord whose name
was Haesta ( Hasting meaning the fort of Haesta ) who took over the area
around 475AD. Haesta and his decendants also oversaw the export of iron, which made
Hastings rich and even though they were defeated by King Offa of Mercia in 771AD
( Symeon of Durham ) the area remained quite independant and isolated. There is limited
evidence of Hasting before this time as it is likely that any written records were destroyed
by King Offa .
Hastings remained an important area as Hastingsceastre is mentioned in the Burghal Hideage
of 890AD which is a list of King Alfred forts. Hastings is described as 500 hides which would
provide a defensive wall about 2000 feet long. This fort is likely to have been eroded away
many years ago from the East Cliffs . Aethelstan recorded that a mint was at Hastings in
924AD so the area must have remained quite important.
Hastings can be found at the heart of 1066 country, and it is recorded that it was the
nearest large settlement to the Battlefield at the current town of Battle . The
Normans landed near here possibly at Bulverhythe or Crowhurst before their march to
Hooe , Ninfield and finally Battle where they defeated King Harold on October 14th 1066AD .
Hastings Old Town is the center of this Historic Cinque Port which hasn't changed for many years
so giving the feel of an ancient maritime port. The fishing fleet still goes off into the
channel to fish and this harvest is available to both locals and tourists . The old black
painted net shops which were used to dry the nets before nylon was invented are still kept
which adds a great deal to the feel of Hastings Harbour .
Tourists are well catered for by the amusements that are found on the Stade , and numerous
eating places and restaurants providing for their culinary needs. The pier is currently not
accessible to the general public, but plans are afoot to renovate this outstanding attraction.
St Leonards was created in the 1850s when the railways came to Hastings, and providing an
escape to a gentile resort for those people working in London and its surrounds.