Friends of Hastings Cemetery

Somewhere beneath this tree is the grave of Philip George Palmers’s two wivws.

EF K26

In loving memory of Mary Sarah

the wife of Phillip Palmer Esq M.1.C;E of Hastings

who died 20th December 1901

Aged 42 years

Also

Caroline Flora Palmer.

Died May 30th 1913 Aged 53 years.

Mary Sarah Walker of Doncaster married in.1881,  Philip Henry Palmer, born in Nottingham in 1860,

1891 Census

PALMER  Philip H  Head  M  M 32  Civil Engineer (Em'er)  Nottinghamshire - -

PALMER  Mary I  Wife    M  F 31       Yorkshire - Doncaster

PALMER  Ethel M  Dau    S  F  7       Sussex - Brighton    

PALMER  Edward A  Son    S  M  4       Sussex - Brighton   

MILES  Lily Kate  Domestic  S  F  20       Sussex - Heyshott

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 28 December 1901
FUNERAL MRS. P. H. PALMER— Amid many manifestations of sympathy and regret the mortal remains of the late Mrs. P. H. Palmer, whose death was recorded in our last issue, were on Tuesday interred in the Borough Cemetery.  The mourners were Mr. P. H. Palmer (the widower). Messrs. Edward and Ernest Palmer and Miss Palmer (daughter).

Edward Brandreth Hutchinson 1853 - 1892 married in Hastings, 3rd quarter 1877, Caroline Flora Cayley 1858 - 1913

They had children, Bertha C., Florance Anna and Edward R. Hutchinson

Caroline Flora Hutchinson Married, 8 August 1903, Philip Henry Palmer, at Richmond, Surrey,

In 1911 Philip and Caroline are living with a servant, Florence Mary Wingfield aged 17, at Belsize The Bungalow, Filsham Park, Filsham Road, St Leonards On Sea.

BA K02

Philip Henry Palmer M.I.C.E.

Died 28th January 1935

Aged 64 years

Appointed 1888, surveyed local area (radius of 10 miles) for access to pure water supply; supply obtained from artesian wells, espec. that at Brede; considered area of supply exhausted by early 20th c., put forward a bill to parliament for sinking wells near Alfriston, & in South Heighton valley.

1901-93 designed East Hill Lift = eport of his East Hill excavations.

Palmers proposed demolitions and building a new road from Roebuck yard ‘continuing through to All Saints Street, but ‘not intended that it shall be used for vehicular traffic’.

1904 - drove first wedge for tramways construction at Baldslow

1905 -  Palmer was involved in council discussions over his salary, considered by some councillors as too high (£800 p.a., with some other benefits), though it was not subsequently reduced.

1913 -  carried out alterations and extension when ouncil bought thr Pier.

PALMER, P.H. [Philip Henry], MICE. Borough Engineer, at Cinque Ports Brotherhood & Guestling meeting, 1920

Carried out new water supply to town and sea defence works, also reconstructed main drainage; various honorary positions;

Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 31 January 1925
Death of Mr. P. H. Palmer
THIRTY SIX YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE. WORKS WHICH HAVE ADDED TO THE PROSPERITY OF THE TOWN. Mr. Philip H. Palmer, for 36 years Borough Surveyor and Water Engineer tor Hastings, died at his residence, " The Bungalow, Filsham-road, on Wednesday morning.

For the past twelve months Mr. Palmer, who was 64 years of age, had been failing in health, and he had been unable to leave his house for the past three months.  He leaves two sons, one daughter, and the step-children.

Only a fortnight ago the whole of the outdoor staff of the Corporation made a presentation to Mr. Palmer " a token of their warmest esteem regard."

A native of Nottingham. Mr. Palmer received his early training under Mr. W. H. Stubbs, district engineer of the Great Northern Railway.  Water schemes with which Mr. Palmer was associated with include those at Doncaster, Sleaford, and Ashton-under- Lyme, whilst he was also engaged on the important drainage scheme of the Lower Thames Valley.  The sewerage works at Worksop, Doncaster and Sheffield also received his attention.

Mr. Palmer's first appointment as municipal engineer was at Brighton, where he was Deputy Borough Engineer.  Six years later he came to Hastings.

NEXT