Requests are often received from people wanting to trace their ancestors, but only present-day records are now kept.
The following information may help with tracing family history.
It is taken from’ A Short Guide to Tracing your Ancestors in Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea’ published by Hastings Borough Council.
The Library
It has the largest collection of family history material in the borough including
- census data for 1841-1891 held on microfilm / fiche
- street directories from 1852-1974
- notices of births, marriages and deaths published in two of the local newspapers from 1848-1944
- a comprehensive collection of family history & genealogical books etc on the open shelves
- a selection of 19th & 20th century maps
- Microfilm/fiche viewers should be booked in advance & photocopies can be made for a fee.
Hasings Cemetary
holds records of burials at the cemetary from 1856 to the present day.
Hastings & Rother family History Society
can help with enquiries
East Sussex Record Office
holds parish records and other material
Register Office
holds records of births, marriages & deaths for Hastings and the surrounding area from July 1837 to the present day
Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
holds registers of electors for 1721, 1820, 1832-1844, 1852-1868, 1893-1898, 1918-1939 & 1945 to the present day. Other dates are available at the British Library in London.
