Donations: The Went Tree Trust

The Mayor of Hastings, Cllr James Bacon, officially opened a new exhibition at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery on Friday (24 February). This exhibition showcases some of the objects donated to the museum by the Went Tree Trust.

Alderman Ben Harry Went Tree was Mayor of Hastings four times between 1891 and 1904, and when he died he left a trust fund to buy objects for the museum collection. Alderman Tree also owned property in Hastings, including 'Queens Avenue' (now more commonly known as Queens Arcade) in the town centre, and was John Logie Baird's landlord. John Logie Baird invented television in his workshop there.

Cllr Andy Batsford, lead for Health and Culture at Hastings Borough Council, said:

"We are thrilled to have yet another fascinating exhibition with a local connection unveiled at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. This exhibition runs until 19 March 2022 and displays local objects, including a scale model of the Hastings Lifeboat the 'Cyril and Lilian Bishop'; the Hastings lifeboat which helped in the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

"If you would like to see this free exhibition in person, you can find out more by visiting www.hmag.org.uk."