Our Story

The Observer Building is owned and managed by community-led regeneration organisation Hastings Commons. Since 2014, Hastings Commons have brought over 8,000 square metres of floor space into custodian ownership across a whole cluster of buildings in Hastings. We’ve renovated them to a high quality, offering genuinely affordable rents, and supporting residents and businesses to collaborate and take more control of where they live and work. Through this very local focus, Hastings Commons challenges traditional approaches, creating new models of ownership, management and collaboration that can inspire people beyond Hastings & St Leonards.

You can read more about the whole history of the Observer Building in our new book: Back from the Brink - The Observer Building: its rise, fall & rescue

1930’s 04 - Basement Crabtree newspaper press 3
1930’s 15 - Machine Room East side
1930’s 16 - Magazine and Book work composing 2
1930’s 17 - Magazine and Book work composing 3
1930’s 20 - Monotype casters
1930’s 26 - Upper basement magazine and bookwork paper store
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Photo Credit: F.J Parsons