Publications
Hastings at war, 1939-1945, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 2005 (130 pp., Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., ISBN-10: 1860773281 & ISBN-13: 9781860773280) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Hastings: Wartime Memories and Photographs, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 20 October 2008 (146 pp., Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., ISBN-10: 1860775829 & ISBN-13: 9781860775826) accessible at: East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:Hastings Wartime Memories and Photographs weaves the personal stories of 75 people who endured life in Hastings during the Home Front war years with more than 130 photographs, the majority of which have never been published before. The book delves into the lives of ordinary men, women and children, as well as the soldiers and evacuees who made Hastings their home at the time and so lived with the constant fear of invasion, and provides a detailed and colourful account of life on the front line.
Review by Maria Gardiner in Sussex Past & Present no. 119, December 2009:The impetus for this book came during a number of book-signing events undertaken by the author when he was approached by people who wanted to share their wartime stories with him. The result is a fascinating book devoted to 130 photographs alongside the stories of 75 people, and through them a host of others who lived and died in the town during the war years. The book is divided into 7 chapters beginning with 'The Path to War' and ending with 'Peace Returns to Hastings.'
I found this book very difficult to put down as the voices come through very clearly telling about a variety of subjects such as ARP duties, the testing of gas masks, the blackout, life as an evacuee, the fun of apple scrumping and the horrors of the air raids.
The initiative of civilians in war time is well illustrated - 'If you saw a queue, you joined it. . .' - as is their heroism. Several story tellers remember being thrown to the ground as children, and heroic mums lying on top of them protecting them as bullets ricocheted around them.
The longest chapter is entirely devoted to recollections of air attacks. Houses looked like dolls' houses as their fronts were blown off though several bombs penetrated buildings in such a way that they passed straight through detonating elsewhere. Eleven Canadians were killed in the Albany Hotel by a 250kg bomb which had already gone through the Queen's Hotel without exploding.
In this the 70th anniversary year of the outbreak of the 2nd World War, it is a pleasure to recommend Nathan Dylan Goodwin's collection. It would sit well alongside the book about Wadhurst which was reviewed in the August edition of Sussex Past & Present.
I found this book very difficult to put down as the voices come through very clearly telling about a variety of subjects such as ARP duties, the testing of gas masks, the blackout, life as an evacuee, the fun of apple scrumping and the horrors of the air raids.
The initiative of civilians in war time is well illustrated - 'If you saw a queue, you joined it. . .' - as is their heroism. Several story tellers remember being thrown to the ground as children, and heroic mums lying on top of them protecting them as bullets ricocheted around them.
The longest chapter is entirely devoted to recollections of air attacks. Houses looked like dolls' houses as their fronts were blown off though several bombs penetrated buildings in such a way that they passed straight through detonating elsewhere. Eleven Canadians were killed in the Albany Hotel by a 250kg bomb which had already gone through the Queen's Hotel without exploding.
In this the 70th anniversary year of the outbreak of the 2nd World War, it is a pleasure to recommend Nathan Dylan Goodwin's collection. It would sit well alongside the book about Wadhurst which was reviewed in the August edition of Sussex Past & Present.
Hastings & St Leonards Through Time, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 12 February 2010 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 1445600528 & ISBN-13: 9781445600529) accessible at: West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries
Abstract:"Hastings and St Leonards, the charming marine resort of fashionable English society, possess attractions and recommendations that render the borough unique and unrivalled among English watering places. Strangers who have not visited the place are liable to be misled by the separate mention of the two names into the idea that St Leonards and Hastings form two separate and independent towns, which in fact they originally were. That stage, however, has long since been passed - "
The above extract was taken from the 1897 edition of Views and Reviews - Hastings and exemplifies how the town was regarded as a stylish seaside resort by Victorian and Edwardian society. The town eventually lost favour among the wealthier classes, which set in motion a steady decline, only worsened by the onset of the Second World War. But Hastings today is undergoing a process of change and revival; a number of developments have been taking place which are moving the town towards a position in which it is once again 'unique and unrivalled among English watering places'.
Review by Margaret Pearce in Sussex Family Historian vol. 19, no. 5, March 2011:The above extract was taken from the 1897 edition of Views and Reviews - Hastings and exemplifies how the town was regarded as a stylish seaside resort by Victorian and Edwardian society. The town eventually lost favour among the wealthier classes, which set in motion a steady decline, only worsened by the onset of the Second World War. But Hastings today is undergoing a process of change and revival; a number of developments have been taking place which are moving the town towards a position in which it is once again 'unique and unrivalled among English watering places'.
Why not let this illustrated book take you on a journey through Hastings and St Leonards enjoying the old sepia images from the Edwardian era to wonderful up-to-date colour photographs. Each image has an interesting historical description and the fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Hastings and St Leonards have changed and developed over the last century.
The book has eight chapters covering the town centre, the Old Town, general views, politics and pageantry, entertainment, shops and Churches and fire and flood bringing us right up to date with the disastrous fire on Hastings Pier in October 2010 when 95% of the pier was destroyed. A good record of the town during many historic changes.
The book has eight chapters covering the town centre, the Old Town, general views, politics and pageantry, entertainment, shops and Churches and fire and flood bringing us right up to date with the disastrous fire on Hastings Pier in October 2010 when 95% of the pier was destroyed. A good record of the town during many historic changes.
Hastings at war, 1939-1945, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 1 September 2010 (paperback version, 160 pp., Chichester: Phillimore & Co. Ltd., ISBN-10: 1860776477 & ISBN-13: 9781860776472)
Around Battle Through Time, by Nathan Dylan Goodwin, published 18 December 2012 (96 pp., Stroud: Amberley Publishing, ISBN-10: 144560406X & ISBN-13: 9781445604060)
Abstract:The small Sussex town of Battle owes its very name and creation to the famous Battle of Hastings which took place here in 1066; the most decisive and important battle to have ever taken place in England. Following Duke William of Normandy's crowning victory, Battle prospered through the Middle Ages as a market town, a tradition which continues to this day. Always dominating the landscape of the town has been the magnificent Abbey which William created to celebrate his victory. Through a collection of largely Edwardian photographs, this book tells the story of Battle and the beautiful, historic surrounding villages of Catsfield, Westfield, Sedlescombe, and Crowhurst; each village steeped in its own rich history. Around Battle Through Time is essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this little Sussex town. - See more at: https://www.amberley-books.com/discover-books/local-history/area/around-battle-through-time.html#sthash.hB0XEpen.dpuf
Review by Sharon Paskins in Sussex Family Historian vol. 20, no. 7, September 2013:This book is a fabulous photographic history of Battle and the surrounding villages of Catsfield, Westfield, Sedlescombe and Crowhurst. It includes photos of many of the historic buildings in the area accompanied with a short paragraph of their history or inhabitants.
The historic photos are predominately Edwardian and this book provides an opportunity to see some local buildings that have sadly now been destroyed, such as Normanhurst Court in Catsfield.
The historic photos are predominately Edwardian and this book provides an opportunity to see some local buildings that have sadly now been destroyed, such as Normanhurst Court in Catsfield.