supplied by Helena Wojtczak
Helena Wojtczak… Bottle Alley. 9th March 1934: A pre-cast concrete slab with embedded glass is lowered into position for triple decked parade in Hastings.
Patrick Lewis… Brilliant
Ralph Town… And its all rotting away from the inside,sadly.
Paul Coleman… Visited many times in the past. Often wondered how it was done- now I know!
Peter Ellingworth… ‘Old Skool’ working men – no doubt veterans of WW1 not twenty years previous- the one that was going to end them all……
photo © Ian Hersee
Sparrow Baker… This is a photo of me playing a harmonium in Bottle Alley around 1970. I was asked to take part in helping to move a harmonium from St Leonards to Ian Hersee’s house in Cobourg Place in the old town. Ian persuaded the people in Barnses (a rag and bone type place in George Street, Now Butler’s Gap) to lend us a barrow which we took to St Leonards. We loaded the harmonium on it and stopped off in Bottle Alley so that I could be the only person to ever play 2001, A Space Odyssey on a harmonium in Bottle Alley. There’s more to tell as Ian’s mum wouldn’t let us in the house with it and we ended up offloading it to an innocent victim in Croft Road. I think they really were the days.
Marilyn Spence… Great Story
Jackie Hersee… I didn’t know about this
Judy Atkinson… Priceless! I wonder where it is now?
Jacques Custard… Judy, was in my parents house for 30+ years painted white ( don’t ask) and I think was sold when my parents moved
Sam Rosewell… Fantastic story!
Claire Melhuish-Durkin… Haha love it
Interesting to see the back, in the days when senders could only use a five word greeting or if you wanted to put a full message it would cost you double!
Linda Gowans… Early WW2 economy regulations, maybe to make it easier for censorship? The photo doesn’t look old enough for the early days of postcards.
Mick O’Dowd… What year was this?
Jim Breeds… Mick, The photo is probably 1950s, I would think, or late 1940s. Bottle Alley opened in 1934, so it’s obviously after that. Postage for postcards went up to 2d. in 1940 and stayed at that price until 1957.
Mick O’Dowd… Why I asked is because the couple pushing the pram look a lot like my Mum & Dad. If it was the early 50’s or even late 40’s it could well have been. I was born in January 1949!
Patricia Burgess… Fabulous picture, Thank you for sharing
SORRY THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED.
Saturday, May 21 at 6 PM – 11 PM
Steve Hall… There are quite a few locals who are massive Madness fans that couldn’t get tickets for the Pier gig, so I think a Madness Party in the newly re-furbished Bottle Alley and on the beach is the next best thing.
I would like to try and set a new World Record for the number of people dancing the “Madness Nutty Train”, with everyone wearing Fedora Hats and Black Sun Glasses ( clothes optional, well it is Hastings!) on the 21st May 2016, the day Madness play live at the Pier opening.
The idea is to get everyone into Bottle Alley, dance the length of it,(1/2 mile) come out and up onto the Promenade, dance along the Promenade (1/2 mile) and then back into Bottle Alley. One Massive Madness Nutty Train! The Madness Mile!.
The World Record attempt would be made at around 9pm when Madness are playing live on the Pier.
Any donations received on the night will be going to the “Hastings and St Leonard’s Voluntary Lifeguard Club”, who do a brilliant job on the Hastings and St Leonard’s beaches.
I have made contact with Anglo Management (Madness News Team) and this is their reply:
“It will take some time to get individual approval from the band members but I can’t see any reason why there would be an objection, you are well within your rights to do it as you please, as far as I can tell”.
For more information…. https://www.facebook.com/events/986915621344062/
and Hastings Observer...
Andre Martin… Thats one of the reasons for all the work on getting Bottle Alley back as a community space and something that is loved by the people, this could be a good way to tie in with the opening of the New Pier.
Pete Millington… Good thinking Andre.
Mick O’Dowd… Brilliant idea but wouldn’t it be better to have it earlier so families could take part and swell the numbers?
Alex Chapman… I am guessing that he chose that time so that people who work on Saturdays are able to attend?
Steve Hall… The event is now cancelled.