The Wish Tower,Eastbourne

[omega 1]

Thank-you all for info.

Been reading up on the Towers so Jane could`nt have been in one.

Will see what i can find out regarding the Hotel.

Omega

[petmas]

Loking at the assorted information the area is described as marsh when the Martello was built in 1804. The interesting thing is that even during construction it was called Wish Tower so perhaps there was a lookout post there before that. I don't think the hotel comes into the equation at all. Pete

[kerryb]

I've been thinking about this one all week and I have to agree with Petmas.  I think the next step would be to find out where the name Wish Tower comes from?  How long have soldiers been in Eastbourne and would there have been lookout towers before the martellos were built? 

Kerry

[kerryb]

A website that might be able to help is that of the Royal Sussex regiment http://www.royalsussex.org.uk/RSLHG_main_index.html

Kerry

[petmas]

Nothing in THe Times troop movements for that period, only mention is artillery at Crumbles which is the oposite end of town in 1804. If there was a tower an  early Admiralty chart should show it. P

[toni*]

when was the Wish Tower Hotel built
was it always a hotel
was it ever used to house service personnel

added
Grand Parade Eastbourne 1881 census
RG11; 1039;  114; beginning on page 14;

[kerryb]

Morning Toni

I think most of the hotels in Eastbourne were built in the Georgian period when its role as a seaside town for the middle and upper classes began and the coming of the railway.  Around 1830s I guess.  I tried to find a website about the history of the Wish tower hotel but had no luck.

Kerry

modified - just read an article I downloaded ages ago from the Journal of Contemporary History about seaside development in Sussex which suggests that the Georgian resorts were developed between 1740 and 1830.

[omega 1]

I have been making enquiries about Alexander (Soldier).

The Queen`s or 2nd Foot at that time was the Surrey Regiment.

I posted a letter to their Museum yesterday,so hopefully they may have some info about him.

Thank-you all

Omega 

[petmas]

Don't know for sure but reckon that area is 1870s devlopments , certainly not 1790s. On the Martello Tower site, there is an extract from the builders diary referring to it as Wishe Tower and there or elswhere on the site about it being marshlands so not really hotel area. P