HASTINGS, a parliamentary and municipal borough and market-town of England, county of Sussex, 64 miles from London by the road, and 74 by the Hastings branch
of the South-Eastern railway; in official proceedings ranks as the first of the Cinque Ports. Hastings lies on the sea-coast at the mouth of the Bourne, a small stream which intersects the town. An amphitheatre of hills and cliffs shelters it on every side except the S., where it lies open to the sea. Its climate is thus both mild and equable, and annually attracts a large number of invalids. During the bathing season great crowds of visitors flock to the town, for whose comfort every provision has been made in the shape of hotels, libraries, baths, and promenades. The town originally consisted of two main streets, separated by the Bourne, but since it became a favourite summer resort many handsome streets and squares have been added to it. It has also been lighted with gas and paved, and the sewerage, at one time notoriously bad, has of late been much improved. The principal public buildings are the ancient parish churches of All Saints and St Clements, the town-hall, custom-house, and gaol. There are also chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics, Baptists, Independents, Methodists, and other sects. Besides two endowed schools, there are British, national, and infant schools. The permanent residents in the town are chiefly engaged in fishing and boat-building, in both of which they are reputed to have much skill; but much of the prosperity of Hastings now depends on the influx of summer visitors. Of late years these have so much increased in number that for their accommodation houses have been built over the whole ground extending between Hastings and the little town of St Leonards. A few years ago, St Leonards was only a small village about a mile distant from Hastings, but it is annually increasing with great rapidity, and as its population is included in that of its larger neighbour, it is now considered as forming a part of it. The most striking part of the town is the Marina, a handsome street with a covered colonnade looking towards the sea. The united parades of Hastings and St Leonards are not surpassed, if indeed they are equalled, by any other sea-walks in England. The scenery in the neighbourhood of the town is charmingly picturesque. Among the places of interest in the vicinity may be mentioned Bulverhite, where William the Conqueror landed from France; the ruins of the old fortress on the high cliffs overhanging the town on the W.; and Battle Abbey, which, though it takes its name from the fight of Hastings, is 7 miles distant from the town. (See BATTLE.) The corporation consists of a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors. The borough returns two members to parliament. Pop. of parliamentary borough (1851), 17,011; of municipal, 16,966; number of registered electors, 976.