The housing work of Sidney Little "The Concrete King" of Hastings, UK.

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© British Pathe

2. HISTORY RESEARCH PROJECT
HASTINGS & ST LEONARDS
UNEMPLOYMENT
Problems, Solutions and Assistance
1927 – 1938
How the problems of unemployment between the years
1927- 1938 were resolved in the County Borough of
Hastings, in both the long and the short term.
With particular reference to the use of Government Assistance on
Capital Project, Local Authority Schemes and Charity help
Andre Palfrey-Martin BA(Hons)
Queen Mary & Westfield College
University of London
1991
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3. Boating Lake Old Town
Underground Car Parking
Front Line – Sea Defences
Bathing Pool
Sun Lounge
Promenade – Upper and Lower [Bottle Alley]
Water Supply – Hastings - Darwell Great Saunders
Sewers and Water Infrastructure, pumping stations etc
Slum Clearance
Council Housing – Hastings, Hollington and The Bourne
Creation of many Apprenticeships in Building Trades with Council Direct Labour
St John’s Place – Museum extensions
White Rock Baths
Plans for Municipal Airport
Front line extension plans old Towns to Firelight etc
Two Tier Town Centre
Post War Housing Major Projects Ore & Hollington
Major road improvements
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4. Born Carlisle 1885
Father John – Engineer & Surveyor
First appointment Leeds Council
Became Member institute of Civil Engineers
(At the age of 25)
Further appointments Wallasey & Southampton
Appointed Deputy then Borough Engineer - Ipswich
Appointed Borough Engineer & Water Engineer - Hastings
30 July 1926
Later appointed as Town Planning Officer – an additional
role
Retired from office 1950
Freedom of the Borough 1960
Died 1961
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5. Borough Engineer: Phillip Palmer
In post 36 years
Overseen much of the towns development
since late 19th century
Replaced in 1923
Mr George Whitaker
Departed after 18 months to Cardiff
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6. 46 Applicants
8 shortlisted
Little interviewed
Little took control of interview
Council decision
Little - Appointed
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7. CLEAN WATER
IN
FOUL WATER/SEWAGE
OUT
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12.  Civil Engineering design and supervision
 Architectural design and supervision
 Town Planning
 Water Supply
 Highways & Footpaths
 Sewers, Drains and Tanks
 Street Cleaning & Refuse Collecting
 Maintenance of Sea-Front and defences
 Stores and storeyards
 Paving Stone Works at Rock-a-Nore
 Stade Maintenance
 Parking stations
 Public Conveniences
 Administration of Building Bye Laws
 Street & Decorative Lighting
 Building maintenance Municipal Buildings,
Council
housing & Schools
 And more..........
 Staff 50-60
 Administrative
 Technical [Engineers, Architects & Surveyors]
 Direct Labour Supervisors
 Direct labour Force, between 200 – 500,
including permanent Tradesmen and service
staff, plus temporary for Capital projects
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13. o The Nurses Home - Municipal Hospital, previous the workhouse
until 1930 and then St Helens from 1948
o Council Housing estates both pre and post WW2 [1928 ongoing]
o Municipal Office conversion in Wellington Square – there were a
great range of offices in the Square when Hastings Had Country
Borough status, including Education, Engineers, Treasurers &
Housing to name but a few
o Indoor Bowls facilities at White Rock Gardens
o Work on St John’s Place as Museum and addition of Art Gallery
& Durbar Hall [Opened 1928, additions 1932]
o Engine House & Chemical House, Brede Waterworks
o The Hastings Crematorium [1939]
o White Rock Gardens
o Major highways throughout the town
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14. Reconstruction of the White
Rock Baths
The Bathing Pool
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16. ROADS
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63.  Alison Hawkins: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
 Anne Scott: Hastings History House
 Hastings Reference Library
 Zoe Edwards : East Sussex County Records Office
Sources include:
 Richard Pollard : “Sidney Little”
 Rod Osborne : “The Development of Hastings as a Seaside Resort 1925-1950”
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64. This has been a Two Donkeys Production
For
Scoobie Media Facilities
©André Palfrey-Martin
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