Virtual tour image the Net Shop buildings, unique to Hastings. Picture taken May 2011.

Hastings Net Shops - Hastings visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Hastings Net Shops' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from East Sussex.

The net shops of Hastings are pretty unique. These tall, narrow buildings were designed to store the fishing nets of the Hastings Fishing Fleet. They were designed to be tall and narrow to avoid paying a ground tax at the time related to the footprint of the building.

The Net Shops are built of wood in various shapes and sizes and then tarred to protect them from the sea salt and weather. The nets, made of natural material at the time, were dried outside the Net Shops and hung inside for storage. Wet stored nets rotted. More of the history of the fishing industry in Hastings is well described inside the Hastings Fishing Museum, a free and popular attraction right among the Net Shops.

The Net Shops in Hastings line the shore side of Rock-a-Nore Road.

Road: Hastings is on the A259 17 miles east of Eastbourne and 51 miles west of Dover. It is 61 miles southeast of London.
Rail: Hastings Railway Station, St Leonards Warrior Square Rail Station.