ABSTRACT
In October 2010, the English seaside town of Hastings hit the news when the town's famous 900-foot-long pier was engulfed by flames, following a suspected arson attack. Hastings Pier was a particular fine example of the work of master Victorian pier-builder Eugenius Birch and had opened in 1872, as the first seaside pleasure pier with an Oriental-style pavilion. The experience of walking to the end of the pier gave an intoxicating feeling of space and freedom, a view completely without encumbrances: on this elegant platform rising from the enormous tumultuous sea, the skies above feel endless. Looking at one of the displays, this chapter describes that the journey time from London to Hastings hasn't changed significantly since the railway first arrived in Hastings in 1851. As a consequence of these combined factors, Hastings is perhaps still considered less desirable than either Brighton or Margate for Londoners looking for a second home or to relocate.
