Friends of Hastings Cemetery

He went all over the county, addressing meetings, travelling at his own expense, and while directing special attention to the children he also found time to labour for the adults. …….. However, when the Good Templars took up politics, Mr. Elworthy felt that he could lot continue to act with them as he had acted before.  He considered that this new departure of theirs would considerably lessen their numbers and their influence, and assuredly in this respect proved a true prophet………………………………….

Reference has previously been made to the great service rendered by Mr. Elworthy to this town in reference to what is known as the Water question, but to write in detail upon this subject, to track in particular the manner in which the worthy Councillor has led us, step by step, out of our difficulties, until we have at last reached what may be safely termed the region of success, would occupy very much more space than can be accorded to the whole of this notice.  Let it suffice, therefore, that in the opinion of Mr Elworthy the operations at Brede Level have proved not only as satisfactory could be expected, but almost as satisfactory as could be desired, ……. Some people look upon Mr. Elworthy as a deeply-read and experienced geologist, but he modestly says of himself in this regard : “I don't profess to be one, years ago I made a study of the Wealden of Kent and Sussex. I have never gone beyond that, which is, to my thinking, one of the most interesting studies a man can take up.”

In 1882 or 1883 the Misses Brisco put the Filsham Estate into Mr. Elworthy's hands to develop the land being then used for farming.  A survey was made, a map was drawn up, and the question of how to get an adequate supply of water presented itself for consideration.  "Now," says Mr. Elworthy. "you cannot study the Wealden of Kent and Sussex without water.  It is so peculiarly formed that, go where you will, the strata are superimposed one on the other exactly alike.  This led me into new line of thought.  The Corporation had been experimenting at Filsham, and in 1884 I gave the opinion that water could found at Brede, and that by gravitation the whole of the town could be supplied from this locality.  That idea I have always followed, since I was satisfied from the study of the Wealden, and the numerous ' faults' it presented, that there was a large body of water to be found there.  I had no idea of going into the Council then. A few years ago reports were issued stating that water could not be obtained within twenty miles of Hastings, and if it had not been for the publication of such reports I would never have consented to go into the Council at all………..

But now I must leave the worthy gentleman, although the rough material which I have gathered together for the purpose of -producing this biographical notice would enable me to write many columns, so eventful and interesting has tbe life of our townsman been.  Much, for instance, could have been said of him as an architect, much of the work he has done, in the building of several chapels in this town and neighbourhood, much of him as the architect to the School Board, much more than has already been stated of his labours as a Congregationalist, and certainly very much more of the devotion, the Water question altogether aside, which he has shown to his municipal work, and the wise spirit which, as a Town Councillor, he has ever exhibited……………..

Only very recently one of his acts as Councillor brought him considerably under notice, and that was the policy which he saw fit to pursue in reference to the proposed purchase and demolition of the St. Leonards Arch.  On that occassion Mr. Elworthy invited the opinion of his burgesses upon the two questions, and received an answer from an overwhelming majority in favour of the retention of the structure.

It may not be generally known, however, that at a public meeting during his candidature three years ago he distinctly pledged himself (a copy of this speech this moment lying before me) to take the opinion of his electors upon any question where such opinion might seem to be needed.  "If you," he added, "say no, such outlay is not necessary, I shall vote no, whether or not it is against my own judgment "  Mr. Elworthy was again a Candidate for Saint Mary Magdalen in the recent elections, and not only did he not solicit the support, but he practically declined to be the nominee of any party, political or otherwise.  He was returned unopposed, and. indeed, one might go so far to say that any opposition brought to bear against him at that moment would have been a wrong done not only to the individual Candidate but to the whole borough.  When the town is in possession of the complete water supply which it is seeking, it may then dispense with the presence in its Municipal Council of Mr. Elworthy—assuming that no section of the burgesses have sufficient intelligence adequately to appreciate his many admirable other public qualities—but until this time arrives the borough is bound, in its own interest, to retain his services.-ARGUS

1891 census - 24 Springfield Rd
    ELWORTHY   Thomas           Head   M   M   65   Architect F R J B A (Em'er)    Southwark  

    ELWORTHY   Louisa Fisher   Wife   M   F   62                                             Hastings   

    ELWORTHY   Maria                Dau   S   F   39         No Occupation                  Hastings   

    ELWORTHY   Henri Cornelius  Son   S   M   31   Architect F R J B A (Em'er)      St Leonards       ELWORTHY   Louis                Son   S   M   17                Stationer (Em'ee)     St Leonards       ELWORTHY   Ethel                Dau   S   F   17                 Scholar                   St Leonards       PHILCOX      Alice              Servnt  S   F   17   General Servt Domestic           Hastings

An incomplete list of works:

- Memorial Chapel [Baptist], Bank Buildings. 1864/65.

- University School, Holmesdale Gardens.

- Croft Congregational Chapel. 1877.

- Mount Pleasant Congregational Church. 1877-79.

- Chapel Park Road Baptist Church. 1882/83.

- Sussex Hotel, Marina.

1866 March 16 – …...  A new type of workmen’s homes were to be erected north of Warrior Square Station, designed by Messrs Tree and Elworthy

1873 Jan 31 – The News of this date reported that it was decided that a new shed would be the HQ of the 7th Cinque Ports Artillery Volunteers……Thomas Elworthy was the architect.

1890 April 28 – A special meeting of the Hastings School Board agreed to build two new schools…………. The other, for both boys and girls, would be in Clive Vale, on the site already partly occupied by the Clive Vale Infant School, in Githa Road. Messrs Elworthy And Son, architects of that school, would design the addition.

1893 March 3 - On the Filsham Estate, their architects, Messrs Elworthy and Son, had made plans for big development on the seaward side of the railway line at Bopeep railway bridge, and building operations were being pushed forward to landward of the line. Bulverhythe Road had just been laid out, and the Elworthys had designed the semi-detached houses that were now being put up at its western end by local builder Peter Jenkins

1895 Aug 30 – The new West St Leonards School, at the junction of Bexhill Road and Filsham Road, was opened. …….The architect of the red-brick building was Cllr Elworthy, and the builder F Cruttenden.

This church, in the parish of St. George's in the East, near the London Docks, has been built by the St. George's Mission,.... The architect is Mr. Thomas Elworthy, of St.Leonards; and the builder, Mr. Alfred Vidler, jun., of Hastings

This church, in the parish of St. George's in the East, near the London Docks, has been built by the St. George's Mission,.... The architect is Mr. Thomas Elworthy, of St.Leonards; and the builder, Mr. Alfred Vidler, jun., of Hastings