Catalogue description Deeds of the Lord Nelson, Eastbourne St., Hastings. Nelson Cottage, 3 Nelson Passage (and adjacent property)

In March 1746, John Ball the elder of All Saints, mariner sold for £30 to Richard Woodland of All Saints, farmer a messuage and ground in All Saints parish (AMS5681/17/1-2), described as abutting the Town Wall in Nicholas Meadows Lane in a copy of Woodland's will, 1747 (AMS5681/17/7), in which he devised it to his wife Sarah. In March 1775, Sarah Paul widow devised the property to Mary, wife of William Willis (AMS5681/17/4). In July 1829, William Willis her son sold to Edward Burchatt of Hastings, shoemaker for £150 (AMS5681/17/8-9)

The neighbouring property to the west (formerly part of Courthope's stables) was sold by John and Susanna Thatcher to James Avard in April 1807 for £165 (AMS5681/17/5-6). Avard in turn sold the property in May 1832 to Edward Burchett (AMS5681/17/10-11) and in the abutments to these, the neighbouring building is described for the first time as 'the Lord Nelson'. By his will both properties passed to his daughter Mary Wingfield's children George, innkeeper of Hastings, Edward, carpenter of Hastings, Nicholas, shoemaker of Hastings and Mary, spinster of Hastings: these arranged a conveyance to George Wingfield in December 1838 (AMS5681/17/12-14). In March 1840, he sold the property for £1050 to Eleanor Duggan of St John, Southwark (AMS5681/17/20), whereupon it was leased to Messrs Burfields of Hastings, brewers for 21 years at £73-10-0 p.a. (AMS5681/17/21), renewed in 1861 for a further 7 years (AMS5681/17/27-8)

A warehouse and premises (formerly two stables, part of Courthope's stables) was conveyed to John Sargent of Hastings, dealer in marine stores by the heirs of George Woodhams in 1848 (AMS5681/17/22) and further conveyed to Thomas Simmons of Hastings, bricklayer in Jan 1852 (AMS5681/17/24). This was then conveyed to Robert Tooke Watkinson of Hastings, boot and shoemaker in June 1870 (AMS5681/17/31) and on to John William Willis of Hastings, fisherman in May 1883 (AMS5681/17/35). As 2 East Bourne St., this was conveyed to George Morton, labourer, of Hastings in March 1919, and later pre-registration conveyances also survive (AMS5681/17/44, 50-52, 55)

The trustees of the will of Eleanor Duggan (who married William Williams of Southwark gent) sold the property to Annette Arrowsmith of St Johns Wood (Middx) in Feb 1872 (AMS5681/17/33). The inn was then again leased to the Burfields for 21 years from 1882 (AMS5681/17/38). The inn and cottages were sold (AMS5681/17/38) by the executors of Mrs Arrowsmith in October 1903 to Sarah Anne (wife of Henry Richardson of All Saints St., Hastings, auctioneer) whose executors subsequently sold to Henry Edward Hasle of Hastings licensed victualler in Dec 1911 (AMS5681/17/41)