The Brett Manuscripts have been transcribed by Rod Lavers as part of "Hastings Local History Resource"

Rod has over the years been working on a number of things to try and help anyone doing local history research with the intention to eventually be able to electronically search through the indexes of all the Hastings history books and antiquarian guide books, all at the same time, and to further know what Hastings pictures, drawings and photos were already in print or in private collections, and what subject matter they showed. This would all then be combined in order to help others with their archaeological and local history research.

Thank you Rod, I am happy to be able to publish your work.

Chapter Sixty Five : St.Leonards 1861 Page l

Commissioners' Meetings - Vestry Meetings - Archery Meetings – Adelaide Lodge of Oddfellows - Accidents at St.Leonards (fatal and otherwise) - Desperate Leaping and Wonderful Escape - Atmospheric Changes (the lowest recorded temperatures) - Storms and floods - Concerts and Musical Entertainments - Special Dinners - Sudden deaths and Inquests – Death of Mr. Boykett Breeds - Particular Deaths - Death and Interment of the Prince Consort - Prince Albert's Death - Fulfilled Predictions - Predictions touching the death of Prince Albert - Funeral Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Crosse on Prince Albert - Sudden death of the Town Crier - Particular Deaths - Public Entertainments - Fire Engines and Fire Brigade - Some curious Occurrences - Trial of the Victoria Life-Boat - Invalid Gentlewomen's Home - St.Leonards Regatta - Landslips - Lectures - St Mary Magdalen Church - Noteworthy marriages - Maritime Disaster (A schooner sunk) - The Postal Movement - Post Office Associations - Royal Visitors and Passengers - Royal Movements - Railway Matters - Railway Accidents - Prolific Families - Robberies and Larcenies - St.Leonards Mechanics' Institution - St. Leonards Temperance Hall & Working Men's Reading Room - Tea Meetings - School Treats and Workmen's Treats - Special Sermons - School Committee's reply to Mr. Hatchard - School Committee's Reply to Mr. Hatchard's charges - Special Sermons - St.Leonards National Schools - The Water Supply & Eversfield Works - The Eversfield Waterworks.

Chapter Sixty Six: Hastings 1861 Page 66

Town Council Meetings - (The Priory Conservatory) - Water work Extension - (A new Town Hall; to seek for a Site) - (Assessment of property) - Rocky Road (sketch) - Another Pier and Harbour (The Proposal debated) - Address to the Queen - Accidents and deaths - Balls and entertainments - St. Clement's New Bells - Special Dinners and Suppers - the Fishing Industry - Fishing Items continued - A Barnacle Dispute - the Harbour Question - Hastings Mechanics Institution - Public Entertainments - The Lord Wardenship - Lord Wardenship of Cinque Ports - List of Lectures - Memorial Window to Earl Waldegrave - Election of Mayor - Municipal Elections – Overseers - Ore Working Men's Institute - The Need of Small Houses - Philosophical Society - A Penny Bank Established - Presentations - Hastings Regatta - Hastings Magnates at Dover - Special Sermons - School Treats - Vestry Meetings - Our Local Volunteers - Artillery and Rifle Volunteer Movements - The Rifle Prize Fete - Volunteer Movements -

Chapter Sixty Seven: St.Leonards 1862 Page 158

St.Leonards Commissioners - Commissioners Meetings - Vestry Meetings - St.Leonards Mechanics' Institution - The St.Leonards on Sea Schools - School Treats - Address of Condolence to Her Majesty - Accidents and Fatalities - Archery Meetings - Balls and Fashionable Parties - The Wars of the Gods re Harbour Scheme - Churches and Chapels - New Organ at Christ Church - The local organ-builder and his mother - Lost and Found - Special Dinners and Suppers - Another Lost and Found - Public Entertainments - East Sussex Foxhounds - Fires at St.Leonards – The Proposed Harbour - Coroner's Inquests - Lectures at St.Leonards - Dr. Cumming's Lectures - Efforts for the erection of small Tenements - Land Sales - St. Andrew’s Square - Silverhill. - The Cottage Building Company - The Co-operative Cottage Building Company - Particular Marriages - A Marriage postponed - Miss. E.L. Macgregor's Marriage - A Novel Traveller - Testimonials and Presentations - School Matters - Temperance Movement – Comet - Sol-fa Rehearsal - The Amateur Musical Union - Rifle Band Concert - Startling Events - the Hartley Colliery Catastrophe - The Albert Memorial Proposal - Independence of the "Gazette" - Royal Visitors - Celestial Phenomena - Royal Visitors. Litigation re Troup - Rowing Club - Cadet Corps - Picnics - Picnic Parties -

Vol.9 - End