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 The amazing lighting in Bottle Alley, 12th December 2017
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Seen from the west in 2010 |
| This revolutionary double deck promenade was built in the early '30's by Sidney
Little, Hastings' "Concrete King" it's half a mile long, stretching
from the Pier to Warrior Square. The rear walls of the lower deck are
faced with glass from broken bottles and it wasn't long before some wag
christened the covered lower promenade "Bottle Alley" It must be noted
that Sidney Little was a pioneering recycler, his promenade extension utilised
old tramway granite setts to face the walls that take the full force of the sea
and the underground car parks were reinforced with old tram rails. Many of the
groynes that stabilise the beach were faced with granite setts and lasted over
60 years. Now, incredibly, the council is talking about demolishing this unique
feature of Hastings' seafront. |
Not long after opening, notice the long-gone St.Leonards Pier on the horizon
(damaged during the war and finally dismantled in 1952) |
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Two views along Bottle Alley, (right) Seen from one of the bays that project beyond the promenade |
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| A closer look at the panels, there's half a mile of this. Concrete was cast onto
the glass (which came from the corporation tip) to make slabs which then formed
the rear wall. Bottle collectors can spot fragments from long-gone breweries
etc. this one's from the perfectly named George Beer & Rigden brewery (Faversham
1922 - 1949) |
A superb upper deck with Marine Court in the background |
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When the promenade was built there was provision to slide glazed shutters into
the bays during inclement weather as this 1930's view shows
Now all that remains are the tracks that held the bottom of the shutters.
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The colour 'photos were taken 23rd February 2002 with rain
threatening and 12th December 2017.
(c) Ion Castro 2018 |
