Simeon Hart was born in Old Town, Eastbourne in 1844. He was born in an ‘old-fashioned tumbledown cottage’ that until 1898 stood on the corner of the High Street and Star Lane. (roughly were the front or Waitrose is now)

He was the son of George and Mary Hart and his family had a long association with St Mary’s Church.  John Hart  filled the office of Parish Clerk from 1740 to 1777 and five members of the family were to hold this role for 113 years. His father George was the Sexton of the church and other family members held position of Sexton, Verger and Caretaker. At the tender age of twelve Simeon was appointed Assistant Verger at the church, his duties including ‘pew-opening’ which involved showing people to their seats. 

In 1863 Simeon married Eliza TYLER (1842-1902) and they moved to 22, High Street and later 26, High Street which they named Lincoln Cottage.  They had six children and the third son was also named Simeon (1870-1934) He was an active local cricketer and he in turn also had a son named Simeon (1902-1981)

In April 1866 Simeon was sworn in to be a Parochial Constable for St Mary’s Church and in 1879 he is recorded as being the Secretary of the Eastbourne Change Ringers. The Hart family had a long association with bell-ringing at St Marys and their names appear on the commemorative boards in the ringing chamber of the church. Simeon’s name appears on a beautiful gold and black board commemorating a full peal of the bells (5040 changes lasting nearly three hours) on 25^th November 1884.  That same year he is advertising in the local paper as a ‘House Agent’. In 1886 he attended a meeting at the Lamb Inn in order to establish a local Conservative Association.

In November 1888 Simeon signed a contract to build two rows of houses for the Eastbourne Artizan’s Dwellings Company. These are almost certainly the two rows of houses at the top of Green Street marked with the date 1889. 

In 1880, Simeon’s son Robert (1864-1942) became the an Assistant verger at St Mary’s. Writing in 1912, the Reverend Walter Budgen  said “Robert Hart represents the sixth generation of the Hart family who have successfully held office in the church, covering a period of 172, surely a unique record of service.”  Indeed Robert was to remain at St Marys for many more years, remaining in his post until his death in 1942.  

In 1891, Simeon was responsible for some alterations in the church. The choir stalls were raised, the doors of the pews were removed and pews were installed in the aisles.  That same year he was advertising in the local press as a ‘Builder, Contractor and Undertaker – Funeral orders conducted with punctuality in town or country’. He was the official supplier of coffins to the Eastbourne Union Workhouse. 

By 1895 Simeon had over 30 members of staff and in September that year he treated them all to a day’s outing to Hastings which included a slap-up meal. Buildings he was responsible for included St Annes Parish Hall (1895) and the headmasters house at Ascham House School. He also built terraced housing in Parsonage Road.

Eliza died in 1902 and the following year he remarried. The wedding with Emily Eliza MARDON took place in her home town of Bath.   The 1911 census shows Simeon was living at Chelmsford House 15 Watts Lane with his wife Emily. His occupation is shown as a ‘House Builder’   His son (Simeon) also went into business with him. 

Simeon (senior) died aged 70 years in 1914. Just before his death he was given a new job – ‘The clock-winder at Eastbourne Union Workhouse’ – which seems to be a nice job for a respected older gentleman. He had been a verger at St Mary’s for over 50 years. 

Simeon (junior) died on 28^th April 1934 and after a service at St Mary’s he was interred at Ocklynge Cemetery.  He requested that that there should be no mourning for him.  After his death the company continued and built houses across Eastbourne including Moy Avenue and Hunloke Avenue. 

Simeon’s son, Robert died in 1942 and a memorial at St Mary’s records the fact that members of the HART family served as vergers for an unbroken period of 202 years! 

Sadly the HART grave at Ocklynge Cemetery (Plot L357) has toppled and is broken but Simeon HART has no less than three  ‘memorials’ at St Marys Church. He has a memorial on the north wall of the church near the door, his name is mention on the peal boards in the ringing chamber of the tower, but maybe less obvious, he is also mentioned on the drain inspection cover on the path around the east end of church.  An unusual but fitting church memorial !