Old Town Hastings

Name: Old Town Hastings
Address: Hastings East Sussex England, Hastings, GB

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Old towns ·Hastings

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About

Old Town Hastings is the historic fishing quarter of Hastings in East Sussex, beside The Stade and its black net shops.

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Why go

Jack In The Green and the Bonfire Procession, two of the many events held in the Old Town each year
Hastings Castle and the Ladies' Parlour on Castle Hill, inside the Old Town
The Fishermen's Museum in the former St Nicholas' Church, built in 1854 to serve the fishermen
The Stade's beach-launched fishing fleet, the biggest of its kind in Britain

Tips for your visit

Guided history walks cover The Stade, the fishing quarter within Hastings Old Town.
One of the net shops is a museum, and the Fishermen's Museum is in the former St Nicholas' Church.
Many of the area's events centre on Winkle Island, which is also where the Winkle Club gathers.
There is a car park on Rock-a-Nore Parade.
The West Hill lift and West Hill Arcade are on George Street.
A miniature golf course is on East Hill.
Both lifeboats launch from the beach, on either side of the harbour arm.

Interesting facts7

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50 black
About 50 black wooden net shops stand in neat rows on the shingle of The Stade.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
The net shops were first raised on posts so the sea could pass beneath them.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
Shingle has built up, so the sea no longer reaches the net shops.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
The name Stade is an old Saxon word meaning landing place.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
St Clement's served as a filming location for the TV series Foyle's War.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
The all-weather lifeboat launches from a hydraulic slipway driven into the sea.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia
A CAT D4C bulldozer maintains the beach and helps if a launch vehicle fails.
Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The Old Town lies inside the line of the historic town walls.

MedievalAll Saints and St Clement's, two Anglican churches, are in the area.
Before the 19th centuryThe Old Town roughly matches the town's extent at that time.
1834Groynes were erected, and the beach under the net shops built up after them.
1858The RNLI lifeboat station was established here.

Accessibility

Lift The West Hill lift is in the area.

Sources: Hastings Old Town - Wikipedia · Old Town | Conservation Area 01 | Hastings Boro… · Stade Fishing Quarter Historic Walk - Visit 106… · Listed buildings in Hastings (Old Town) - Wikip… · checked 26 Oct 2026

Where

Hastings East Sussex England

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Questions and answers

Is there a lift in Old Town Hastings?

Yes. The West Hill lift is on George Street, and the West Hill area inside the Old Town includes a lift engine house.

Where is the Fishermen's Museum in Old Town Hastings?

The Fishermen's Museum is in the former St Nicholas' Church, which was built in 1854 to serve the fishermen. One of the net shops on The Stade is also a museum.

Can I take a guided walk of Old Town Hastings?

Yes. Guided history walks cover The Stade, the fishing quarter within Hastings Old Town.

What can I see at The Stade in Old Town Hastings?

About 50 black wooden net shops stand in neat rows on the shingle of The Stade. Hastings Castle and the Ladies' Parlour stand on Castle Hill, inside the Old Town.

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