Silverhill, Hastings
Encyclopedia
Silverhill is a suburb
and Local Government Ward
of Hastings
, East Sussex
. It has a central location within the town, where the A21 meets the B2159 road.
In the early 18th century this was the location of High Ridge Farm, but by 1815 its name was known as Silver Hill Farm to avoid confusion with farms of a similar name on the ridge near Ore. The tenant farmer was John Standen, and the farm remained with his family until 1842, when it was bought by Francis Smith.
From the early 1840s the Pottery was owned by Fred Tree, and among his workers was an artistic potter named John Pelling who was promoted to foreman in 1846. John bought the pottery works five years later and married Fred's daughter, Polly. He became well known for creating a unique style of rustic pottery with a wood-bark design, and according to a local story this was inspired by Polly's maiden name.
Between 1836 and 1860 the Tivoli Hotel stood at the junction of Battle Road (B2159) and Sedlescombe Road North, and this high-class establishment was so well-known that its local area was known as "Tivoli".
, James Burton
gained permission by an Act of Parliament
of 1837 to build a turnpike
road northwards from Maze Hill to avoid the congestion in Hastings
.
However, when this was authorized, the Hastings Council also obtained the necessary Turnpike Act to build a new road towards London. This road started at Hastings town centre and continued through Bohemia into Battle Road, crossing Burton's road at the Tivoli Hotel. Battle Road is now the B2159, and the road that goes through Battle
is the A2100
.
There have recently been controversies over plans to build an ASDA Superstore on the former Marshall Tufflex site, which, in a poll set up by ASDA, gained 72.8% support. However, the plans are still controversial and some say that it would cause extra congestion and pollution'. The plans were revised in 2009 and the store was officially opened on Monday 15th November 2010, complete with café, pharmacy and large car park. This development has also made the four-way junction in Silverhill different, with new and improved street lighting and extra traffic lights to accommodate for heavier traffic.
The main church is St Matthew's Church
on London Road. The original church was built in 1860 but was rebuilt in 1884 by John Loughborough Pearson
, who designed
Truro and Brisbane Cathedrals as well as other churches in East Sussex. St Matthew's is a Grade II* listed building. St Luke's United Reformed Church
was built in 1857 as Silverhill Independent Presbyterian Chapel, and was one of the oldest Presbyterian
places of worship in southern England.
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and Local Government Ward
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
of Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. It has a central location within the town, where the A21 meets the B2159 road.
Toponymy
The origin of the name Silverhill has been relatively unknown. It has been suggested that, from a distance, sunlight reflecting on the leaves of trees may have given the appearance of a "silver hill", or perhaps the area might once have been known as Silvan Hill, meaning wooded hill. The first documentary record of the name is on Yeakell and Gardner's map of 1783, where it appears as "Salver Hill".In the early 18th century this was the location of High Ridge Farm, but by 1815 its name was known as Silver Hill Farm to avoid confusion with farms of a similar name on the ridge near Ore. The tenant farmer was John Standen, and the farm remained with his family until 1842, when it was bought by Francis Smith.
Economy
The Silverhill pottery opened in 1838 and provided an important source of employment for local people. It consisted of a large open shed with a tiled roof and a round kiln where roof tiles and chimney pots were made.From the early 1840s the Pottery was owned by Fred Tree, and among his workers was an artistic potter named John Pelling who was promoted to foreman in 1846. John bought the pottery works five years later and married Fred's daughter, Polly. He became well known for creating a unique style of rustic pottery with a wood-bark design, and according to a local story this was inspired by Polly's maiden name.
Between 1836 and 1860 the Tivoli Hotel stood at the junction of Battle Road (B2159) and Sedlescombe Road North, and this high-class establishment was so well-known that its local area was known as "Tivoli".
Modern Silverhill
After founding his new town of St Leonards-on-SeaSt Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
, James Burton
James Burton (1761–1837)
James Burton was a builder and developer, responsible for large areas of Bloomsbury and the houses around Regent's Park in London. He later founded the new town of St Leonards-on-Sea, which is now part of the built-up area of Hastings...
gained permission by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of 1837 to build a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
road northwards from Maze Hill to avoid the congestion in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
.
However, when this was authorized, the Hastings Council also obtained the necessary Turnpike Act to build a new road towards London. This road started at Hastings town centre and continued through Bohemia into Battle Road, crossing Burton's road at the Tivoli Hotel. Battle Road is now the B2159, and the road that goes through Battle
Battle, East Sussex
Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...
is the A2100
A2100 road
The A2100 is a non-primary A road in East Sussex, England. It runs from near Mountfield, East Sussex to Baldslow in the north of Hastings. It was part of the original A21 road from London to Hastings, and passes through Battle, the site of the Battle of Hastings.Going south, the route starts at...
.
There have recently been controversies over plans to build an ASDA Superstore on the former Marshall Tufflex site, which, in a poll set up by ASDA, gained 72.8% support. However, the plans are still controversial and some say that it would cause extra congestion and pollution'. The plans were revised in 2009 and the store was officially opened on Monday 15th November 2010, complete with café, pharmacy and large car park. This development has also made the four-way junction in Silverhill different, with new and improved street lighting and extra traffic lights to accommodate for heavier traffic.
Religious Buildings
St Matthew's Church, Silverhill
St Matthew's Church is an Anglican church in the Silverhill suburb of Hastings, a town and borough in the English county of East Sussex. The present building, a large brick structure of 1884 by ecclesiastical architect John Loughborough Pearson, replaced a much smaller church founded in 1860 when...
on London Road. The original church was built in 1860 but was rebuilt in 1884 by John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson was a Gothic Revival architect renowned for his work on churches and cathedrals. Pearson revived and practised largely the art of vaulting, and acquired in it a proficiency unrivalled in his generation.-Early life and education:Pearson was born in Brussels, Belgium on 5...
, who designed
Truro and Brisbane Cathedrals as well as other churches in East Sussex. St Matthew's is a Grade II* listed building. St Luke's United Reformed Church
St Luke's Church, Silverhill
St Luke's Church is a United Reformed church in the Silverhill suburb of Hastings, a town and borough in East Sussex, England. The congregation was originally independent before taking up Presbyterianism, and worshipped in a private house from its founding in 1853 until a permanent church was...
was built in 1857 as Silverhill Independent Presbyterian Chapel, and was one of the oldest Presbyterian
English Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism in England is distinct from Continental and Scottish forms of Presbyterianism. Whereas in Scotland, church government is based on a meeting of delegates, in England the individual congregation is the primary body of government...
places of worship in southern England.