This annual festival celebrates the life of social reformer and writer Robert Tressell who moved to Hastings from South Africa in 1901. Tressell's best-known work was his book 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist', believed to have been conceived, if not written, in Hastings.
The festival runs over a two-day period in June or July, at the Concordia Hall in St Leonards. It features an eclectic mix of writers, speakers, musicians and historians who all have one thing in common - a keen interest in all things Tressell.
The first Tressell festival was held in 1999, when the diverse range of events came together for the first time in the Old Town's Bourne Hall. Even in its birth year the festival proved very popular. Since that first festival, the event has grown in size and popularity year after year; and continues to draw Tressell enthusiasts in from around the country.
Speakers at last year's event included Peter Miles from the University of Wales, Guardian writer Tristram Hunt, local historians Brion Purdey and Steve Peak, alongside socialist historian Keith Flett. The variety of talks and activities on offer included 'Annotating Tressell', 'The origins of socialism in Europe, and the politics of Robert Tressell' as well as a guided walk around the Robert Tressell sites in Hastings and a visit to Hastings Museum and Art Gallery.
The running order for this year's festival is not yet set in stone, but it if past festivals are anything to go by, the Robert Tressell Festival 2006 will be a fascinating celebration of the life of one of Hastings' most famous residents.
Visit www.1066.net/tressell/festival-2006.htm for announcements of this year's programme.
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This year's festival will be held on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9 2006 at the Concordia Hall, Church Road, St Leonards.
The schedule of events has not yet been confirmed for this year. This page will be updated when the full listings are available.
Visit www.1066.net/tressell/festival-2006.htm for a timetable of events when it's available.
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One of Hastings most renowned residents, Robert Noonan also known as Robert Tressell was a social reformer, decorator, writer who made his mark on Hastings in the short time that he lived here. There are many buildings and landmarks in Hastings that relate to the life of Tressell, often called the Tressell trail, the buildings include the Town Hall, Burton and Co Decorators, Furnishers and Undertakers - 88 Stonefield Road, 199a Queens Road, 241 London Road as well as 1 Plynlimmon Road where he lived for a brief period.
Tressell spent most of his time at an address in Milward Road, Hastings at number 115. It is said that at this address Robert Tressell conceived his famous novel 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist'.
The satirical novel comments on the position of the working classes and capitalism in the workplace. The book is set in a town called Mugsborough, which is recognisable as Hastings under a thin disguise.
Robert Noonan left Hastings in 1910 for Liverpool where he died a year later.
Robert Tressell
A more recent copy of the popular book
An original cover of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
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This page last updated: 01/03/2006