In the nineteenth century the 'America Ground' played a key role in the expansion of Hastings. Appearing to be lie outside the town boundary, residents and businesses there had no taxes to pay. The freedom from local authority rules created a libertarian atmosphere, and one of the names the Ground acquired was 'America', after the newly independent state across the Atlantic. However, the Ground's almost-lawless autonomy meant there was repeated conflict between occupants over land. The increasing frequency of these clashes eventually prompted central government to seize control of the Ground and all settlers were evicted. What might have been a new America on British soil was converted it into an up-market suburb of the increasingly popular seaside resort of Hastings. The area that was the Ground is now one of Historic England's Heritage Action Zones, and this book has been published to relate the history of the Ground as part of the regeneration of the area.
