Mastins Castle Street Hastings – sold sign

photo © Hastings Public Library

John Gale… What a lovely old building that was .what a horrible replacement too.

Angela Frances Gardner… My mother brought me my first bra there she was very optimistic as I never grew into it .

Tony Court-holmes… my mum worked there in the late 50s early 60s

Colin Bell… My Uncle George managed menswear, when i was a kid, very Grace Brothers!

Gerry Fortsch… I had completely forgotten about this shop.

Mike Mitchell… I have a memory of seeing Father Christmas there…. Long time ago

Carol Paffett… Lovely shop , always had Father Christmas

Karen Towner… Loved you Mastins – from my young self

Amanda Hilton… I have a photo of me with Father Christmas in Mastins circa 1965!!!

Linda Gowans…  My main memory is trying to wait patiently while my mother tried on what seemed like every hat in the shop, gradually reducing the choice until she finally came to a decision!

Gary Benton… Loved going to Mastins as a kid.

Linda Turnbull… Remember it well.

Jasper Bitter… I hadn’t realised that the older of the two office blocks had gone up whilst Mastins was still around. I don’t recall ever going there. When did it go? Was it another unexplained Hastings phenomenon aka spontaneous ignition leading to a major fire?

Sandy Max… Jasper, no it was sold off when the council wanted to ‘renew’ the area. Shame, the old building was so much nicer

Sandy Max… We cared for Ron the last owner of the store in one of the rest homes I worked in. Lovely man, he had a wealth of stories about the place and it’s people

Chris Meachen… I loved going in Mastins at Christmas, it was brilliant, especially the huge & spectacular light fitting which hung in the grand stairwell. When they started to demolish it I snuck in & stood very still in one of those big display windows, waiting for people to notice me, when I would suddenly move. All jolly good fun…

Kevin White… Wasn’t that the shop that had a model train in the window and you dropped a penny down the shute and it went round the circuit?

Jane Hartley… Kevin, no that was along Marina. My God mother worked in Mastins. I remember the Christmas grotto, was the best ever.

Steve Holland… My Auntie Francis Frazer worked there a very smart Lady .