Friends of Hastings Cemetery

Frewen commissioned Carpenter to design Christ Church Blacklands in 1876 and paid for the erection of the church in memory of his wife.

  

Carpenter is said to have continued designing houses in Hastings and commercial premises

in London.  In 1881 he was living in Kensington Park Gardens.  In the 1891 census he is

retired, living on his own means and staying in the Grand Hotel, Verulam Place, with his wife Rebecca.

Blacklands Development

Hastings News,November 27, 1874

A new church is being erected [Christ Church, Blacklands] by CH Frewen; the architect is Henry Carpenter, surveyor to the estate.  He is also architect to the hotel that had been commenced at the site of the old farm house, for Mr Henry Phillips [to be Kites Nest Hotel, at the junction of Downs Road and St Helens Park Road], and several other villas were in progress.

Important Architect Dies

Hastings News, November 19, 1897

The old and respected architect Henry Carpenter died on Saturday 13 November at his residence, 133 Marina.  He first came to Hastings in 1850 and practised for many years in Robertson Street, designing many of the principal buildings erected around that time.  He also laid out the cemetery, and was architect and manager of the estate of the late Charles Hay Frewen, known as Blacklands and Kite’s Nest, most of the buildings on that estate being designed by him, including the Chalybeate Spring and Christ Church, Blacklands.  He was also well-known in Masonic circles, having been Master of the Derwent Lodge.

His son Arthur has inscribed on his memorial tablet “Honour all men, love the brotherhood, honour the King”

He was a founding member of Cinque Ports Conclave No. 38 of the Order of the Secret Monitor

or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan.

The Conclave was Consecrated on 26th October 1910, its Warrant having been issued on 19th August 1910. The Minutes of the Consecration meeting are: It having been considered desirable that a Conclave of Secret Monitor should be formed in Hastings. The following members of the Order, Monague Davis Brown, Arthur Carpenter and Rev. F.S.Paynter signed a Petition to the Grand Council, praying that a Conclave might be Consecrated to hold its meetings at the Castle Hotel, Hastings on the 3rd Wednesday in September, October and February………

Arthur Carpenter was duly installed and commissioned as a S.R. in ancient form.