Old town

Yards from ice-cream throngs,
How long can this quiet heart beat,
It's unique rhythm?

Went into Hastings today, to meet a dear friend and have a wander.  It was a beautiful sunny, and hot, day, so the place was thronging.

Hastings has a special place in my heart as my Dad grew up here and it has always been a part of my life.  It is a special place, it has always been quite different to anywhere else and always a haven for artists and people who don't quite fit.  It's saving grace has historically been the poor transport links, but it is so full of beautiful (if slightly down at heel) buildings, the sea, and the historic old town, the castle, the caves, the fishing and net sheds.... it was inevitable that it would one day become trendy once more.  This is what seems to be happening now ... the DFL's (Down From London) are starting to inflate prices and gentrify previously less than salubrious areas.     A bit like what has happened to Brighton over the past 20 years.

Don't get me wrong - it's good for the town in many ways, but how long before local people can't afford to live there and it's essential, slightly bohemian nature will be lost.

This shot is of All Saints Street in the Old Town, just yards from the seafront and net sheds of Rock-a-nore.   

The seafront is still re-assuringly unpretentious, (although it now has the Jerwood Gallery).  Fishing boats still set sail and bring back their catch, life continues as it has for centuries ...

Long may it continue, long may the the swan pedaloes, the helter skelter and miniature railway remain ...
... long may the locals look forward to the end of August when the town is theirs once more ...

extras: fishing boats on the beach, the funicular railway.