Silverhill, Hastings

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption= Silverhill Junction
latitude=
longitude=
official_name =Silverhill
population = 4,666 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5947216&c=Silverhill&d=14&e=15&g=441717&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1207858303990&enc=1 Office for National Statistics (UK), Neighbourhood Statistics, Silverhill (Ward)] ]
shire_district= Hastings
shire_county= East Sussex
region= South East England
constituency_westminster=
post_town=
postcode_district = TN37/TN38
postcode_area= TN
dial_code= 01424
os_grid_reference=

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.

History

The origin of the name Silverhill is rather obscure. 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". [cite book |last=Brooks |first= Ken|title="Around Hastings: Then And Now"]

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.

Demography

Main Article: Hastings

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-Sea, James Burton gained permission by an Act of Parliament of 1837 to build a turnpike road northwards from Maze Hill to avoid the long detour through 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. So it was here, at the crossing of these two roads, that the development of modern Silverhill really began. Battle Road is now the B2159, and the road that goes through Battle is the A2100.There are currently plans to build an ASDA Superstore on the former Marshall Tufflex site, which although is supported by most residents, traders are not happy [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-170008376.html Silverhill traders not happy with ASDA. - Hastings Observer] ] and some say that it would 'cause extra congestion and pollution'. [ [http://www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/video/Asda-plans-for-new-store.4135438.jp "Hastings & St. Leonards Observer", 29 May 2008] ]

Religious Buildings

The main church is St. Matthews Church on London Road. The original church was built in 1860 but was rebuilt in 1885. [ [ [http://www.hastingschoice.co.uk/HASTINGS-HISTORY/st-leonards/st-leonards-history.htm 1066 Online] ] The architect was John Loughborough Pearson, who designed Truro and Brisbane Cathedrals, as well as other churches in East Sussex. [ [http://www.stmatts.co.uk/st-matthews-a-short-history/ ] ]

References

Notes