There is little information about prostitution in mid-nineteenth century Hastings, and none about it in St Leonards. It seems that prostitutes were left in peace until they fell foul of the law, so the only evidence available is that gleaned from Court reports, one of the earliest of which mentions Sarah Mitchell, "a prostitute who was wandering in the streets" one day in 1826. She was committed to the watch-house, then discharged the next morning. The following are all taken from Magistrates' Court reports.
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Paraphrased from: Hastings & St Leonards News, 26 Jan 1855
William Huggett, landlord of the Ship, [Great Bourne street, pictured] was
summoned for allowing prostitutes and persons
of notorious bad character to assemble upon his premises. Late at night one Saturday,
Inspector Battersby was passing through Post-office passage when he heard some persons
raffling in a house at the rear of the Ship public house.
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The room was not part of the
Ship but Huggett hired the house (at 6 shillings and 2 pence a week), and had knocked a
wall through to his pub. Then he saw some beer brought out of the Ship and into the room
where the raffling was going on. There were twelve to fourteen men and four prostitutes,
of whom two were drunk. He heard a dispute about paying for the beer "in female voices and
in language not fit to be repeated".
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Paraphrased from Hastings & St Leonards News, 6 July 1855
Thomas and Prudence Morris, both 43, ran a shop in Post Office passage, Old
Town. Late one Saturday
night in July 1855, Inspector Battersby
followed "two suspicious looking characters" into the Morris's house.
This was a notorious place, which the police called "a complete
rendezvous for thieves and prostitutes" and which had been reported
already for illegally distilling. About forty men and women were
carousing inside, and as the Inspector walked down the alleyway, Mr.
Morris came out and bashed him repeatedly with a pint-pot, while he and his wife
dragged the poor Inspector inside whereupon he was also kicked violently. He
managed to escape - "I have no doubt they would have killed me had I not
got away." He was, the Court saw, "dreadfully wounded" about the legs.
He returned with reinforcements, and the Morrises immediately assaulted
all four of them. One managed to tie Mr. Morris up; another held Mrs.
Morris while she tried to bite him. It took all four to drag the
struggling pair to the lock-up, and once there they continued to assault
the officers, kicking one in the arm. |
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Paraphrased from: Hastings & St Leonards News, 19 January 1856
Richard Wood, landlord of the Privateer in Wellington mews was summoned for
allowing persons of notorious bad character to assemble in his house." Sergeant Brazier
went to the pub between 12 and 1am and found "fiddling and dancing" and found inside two
known prostitutes "Dover Lizzy" and "Sally Bates", two other young women and several young
men, "including four from the railway station". The young men claimed to be ignorant of the
women's occupation, the latter being "well-dressed and well-behaved." As Wood was a repeat offender he was fined 10 shillings plus 15 shillings and 5 pence costs. |
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Verbatim report from: Hastings & St Leonards News, 7 February 1852 Borough Bench Magistrates' Clerk's Office, Monday 2 February 1852 Before the Mayor, Thomas Hickes, Esq.
Caroline Upton, a prostitute, was brought up in custody, charged with stealing
nine shillings and sixpence from the person of Robert Phillips, a wheelwright,
residing at Ore. Prosecutor deposed that between eleven and twelve o' clock
on the previous evening he accosted the prisoner at the back of the King's Head,
near Mr. Breeds's brewhouse. He remained some time in the prisoner's company,
during which period the latter asked him if he had any money, to which prosecutor
replied in the negative. While in her company, the prisoner was busying herself in
feeling his pockets; and shortly after he left the prisoner he missed his money.
A short time previous to this, the prosecutor changed half-a-sovereign at the
Roebuck Inn, to pay for a pot of ale, and put the change (9s. 6d.) in his watch
pocket. He had other money in his pockets, but he could not tell the amount, as
he was in liquor at the time (from the effects of which he had evidently not yet
recovered). On finding that he had been robbed, he gave information to the police.
Police-constable Furminger deposed that be saw the parties in company about
the time in question; and witnessed the prisoner take two handkerchiefs from
the pockets of the prosecutor, which she returned. Witness apprehended the prisoner
about three hours afterwards at a house in the Creek, and took her to the watchhouse,
where, on being searched, 9s. 6d. and some coppers were found in her
possession. Prisoner stated that the money found upon her was her own.
She had been several times in the prosecutor's company, and had never
had a similar charge brought against her before. |
Illustrations
Top - The Ship Inn, corner of 24 Great Bourne st & Post Office-passage.
(Drawing by W H Brooke 1841)
Bottom - Hastings police in 1854. The police station behind them is now the Old Town Museum, High Street, Hastings.