The Stade
Although it was one of the Cinque Ports, Hastings has never had a good harbour and has always been in danger of coastal erosion. Boats have traditionally been stored and launched from the beach, as can be seen in this photograph taken in 1870 .
Fishing has always been an important part of the economy of Hastings. It still has the largest beach launched fishing fleet in the country, with over 25 boats based on the Stade. This comes from the Anglo Saxon meaning launching place.
By the start of the C19th, Hastings was beginning to develop as a fashionable sea side resort and this lead to a series of clashes between the fishermen and the corporation.
In 1834, the first sea defence groyne was built beneath the cliffs at Rock-a-Nore, to protect the old town from increasing flooding by the sea.
A large amount of shingle pilled up on the west side of the groyne, increasing the amount of usable beach.
The fishing boats along with their net shops for storing equipment were based here along with the fish market.
The Stade is still the base for the Hastings fishing fleet.
To the west, pleasure boats are berthed on the beach with the boating lake and amusement parks.
A model in the Fisherman’s museum gives a good impression of an aerial view of the Stade.
Boats were originally hauled up onto the beach above high tide mark using horse capstans. These had an oak frame with an elm winding drum. A hawser was attached to the capstan and then hooked onto a small hole at the bottom of the bows of a boat. A horse was tied to the capstan’s long bar and walked in circles winding the hawser round the large central post. Two horses were used for larger boats. The horses were owned by the Corporation and stabled in what is now the Shipwreck Museum.
Horse capstans were later replaced by motor driven winches in small tarred sheds, or tractors.
This area was also used to mend nets and sails. Fishermen’s wives would take in laundry from local guest houses to supplement income and would hang it out to dry between the boats.
Fish is still sold from shacks along Rock-a-Nore.
Behind these are the net shops (#2). These form double rows with large gaps between allowing boats could be hauled up close to the cliff.
Near the fishing museum is an anchor from about 1812 which has been rescued from the sea bed.
There is also a massive boulder with a ring that was used to tie up boats.
In the C18th and early C19th, smuggling was rife along the coast and if a fisherman was caught, his boat would be confiscated and sawn in two. Many of the half boats were used as stores, or even as primitive living quarters. Half Sovereign Cottage outside the Fisherman’s Museum is a modern reconstruction made for the museum.
The other half of the boat is a net shop.
There are a series of information boards about the history of the Stade.
Although it was one of the Cinque Ports, Hastings has never had a good harbour and has always been in danger of coastal erosion. Boats have traditionally been stored and launched from the beach, as can be seen in this photograph taken in 1870 .
Fishing has always been an important part of the economy of Hastings. It still has the largest beach launched fishing fleet in the country, with over 25 boats based on the Stade. This comes from the Anglo Saxon meaning launching place.
By the start of the C19th, Hastings was beginning to develop as a fashionable sea side resort and this lead to a series of clashes between the fishermen and the corporation.
In 1834, the first sea defence groyne was built beneath the cliffs at Rock-a-Nore, to protect the old town from increasing flooding by the sea.
A large amount of shingle pilled up on the west side of the groyne, increasing the amount of usable beach.
The fishing boats along with their net shops for storing equipment were based here along with the fish market.
The Stade is still the base for the Hastings fishing fleet.
To the west, pleasure boats are berthed on the beach with the boating lake and amusement parks.
A model in the Fisherman’s museum gives a good impression of an aerial view of the Stade.
Boats were originally hauled up onto the beach above high tide mark using horse capstans. These had an oak frame with an elm winding drum. A hawser was attached to the capstan and then hooked onto a small hole at the bottom of the bows of a boat. A horse was tied to the capstan’s long bar and walked in circles winding the hawser round the large central post. Two horses were used for larger boats. The horses were owned by the Corporation and stabled in what is now the Shipwreck Museum.
Horse capstans were later replaced by motor driven winches in small tarred sheds, or tractors.
This area was also used to mend nets and sails. Fishermen’s wives would take in laundry from local guest houses to supplement income and would hang it out to dry between the boats.
Fish is still sold from shacks along Rock-a-Nore.
Behind these are the net shops (#2). These form double rows with large gaps between allowing boats could be hauled up close to the cliff.
Near the fishing museum is an anchor from about 1812 which has been rescued from the sea bed.
There is also a massive boulder with a ring that was used to tie up boats.
In the C18th and early C19th, smuggling was rife along the coast and if a fisherman was caught, his boat would be confiscated and sawn in two. Many of the half boats were used as stores, or even as primitive living quarters. Half Sovereign Cottage outside the Fisherman’s Museum is a modern reconstruction made for the museum.
The other half of the boat is a net shop.
There are a series of information boards about the history of the Stade.
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