Stories that
appeared in
the 1890s
1890
THOMAS Pitman, the autocratic low-church
Vicar of Eastbourne since 1828, died. The town
mourned and shops closed.
1890-91
THE `SALVATION Army Riots' took place after
the organisation came toi Eastbourne and
opened their Citadel in Langney Road. Trouble
flared after the Salvation Army band marched
and played on a Sunday in defiance of a local
by-law. Those taking direct action against the
Salvationists were suspected of being hotheads
en couraged by local publicans who saw the
arrival of the temperate Army as a threat to
business.
1891
THE 7th Duke of Devonshire died. The 8th
Duke put the business on a more secure footing
that included coming out of land and buying
shares instead.
THE Indian Pavilion was installed at
Devonshire Park
EASTBOURNE Police Force was formed -
beforehand constables were employed by East
Sussex County.
ST Luke's Children's Hospital opened (now
Dolphin Court).
EASTBOURNE'S population was 35,000.
1892
THE Westminster chiming clock was inserted
in the Town Hall tower.
THE Salvation Army promoted a bill to change
the local by-law that prohibited music on a
Sunday except for military bands.
1894
ST Bede's School was started.
DR WG Willoughby was appointed Medical
Officer of Health.
1895
A TYPHOID fever outbreak led to development
of Friston waterworks
THE Smallpox epidemic led to the building of
Smallpox Hospital on the Crumbles, only used
for smallpox cases in 1929 and as a guard post
in 1939-45 war. It was demolished in 1946.
BONDOLFI'S opened in Cornfield Terrace
Later and used 1� tons of chocolate a month.
THE ashes of Friedrich Engels who visited Karl
Marx in the town were scattered at sea off
Beachy Head.
1896
THE first Borough librarian was appointed.
THE first cars were seen on Eastbourne roads
1897
WILLINGDON Golf Club course opened
THERE were 34 private boys' schools and 47
private girls' schools in Eastbourne.
LEWIS Carroll (Dodgson) had stayed in
Eastbourne for his summer h o l i d a y s
from 1876 to 1897 and wrote part of at least
one book here.
EASTBOURNE Bowling Club was founded.
THE first public library was opened in the
Vestry Hall.
THE first water supply from Friston headings
began.
1898
THE old Lifeboat house was built.
1899
TRINITY House decided to replace the Belle
Tout lighthouse and the building of the present
Beachy Head lighthouse started. It first shone a
light in October 1902
WALTER and William Llewellyn started as job-
bing builders and the firm, now ROK, celebrat-
ed its centenary with a �140m turnover.
THE Prince of Wales visited Princess Alice
Hospital and donated an operating table.
THE town's first motor car licence was issued.
Arrival of a
library, clean
water - and
the lighthouse
ABOVE: Work on
Beachy Head light-
house began in
1899.
LEFT: A chiming
clock was added to
the Town Hall in
1892.
Gazette, Wednesday, September 23, 2009 55Visit our Website at www.eastbourneherald.co.uk

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