The Hastings area was a centre for ironworking even before Roman times. After the Romansinvaded Britain around 40AD the Classis Britannica (Roman Fleet) developed the industry andhad bloomeries throughout the area. Their main settlement at current day Beauport exportedby itself 30,000 tons of iron into the Roman Empire, most of this was sent via the harbourat current day Pebsham / Bulverhythe . The Romans left Britain around 406AD and left apower vacuum, which was initially controlled by the Romano British until the Saxons arrived. The name Hastings or more correctly Hasting is derived from a Saxon warlord whose namewas Haesta ( Hasting meaning the fort of Haesta ) who took over the areaaround 475AD. Haesta and his decendants also oversaw the export of iron, which madeHastings rich and even though they were defeated by King Offa of Mercia in 771AD( Symeon of Durham ) the area remained quite independant and isolated. There is limitedevidence of Hasting before this time as it is likely that any written records were destroyedby King Offa . Hastings remained an important area as Hastingsceastre is mentioned in the Burghal Hideageof 890AD which is a list of King Alfred forts. Hastings is described as 500 hides which wouldprovide a defensive wall about 2000 feet long. This fort is likely to have been eroded awaymany years ago from the East Cliffs . Aethelstan recorded that a mint was at Hastings in924AD so the area must have remained quite important. Hastings can be found at the heart of 1066 country, and it is recorded that it was thenearest large settlement to the Battlefield at the current town of Battle . TheNormans landed near here possibly at Bulverhythe or Crowhurst before their march toHooe , Ninfield and finally Battle where they defeated King Harold on October 14th 1066AD . Hastings Old Town is the center of this Historic Cinque Port which hasn't changed for many yearsso giving the feel of an ancient maritime port. The fishing fleet still goes off into thechannel to fish and this harvest is available to both locals and tourists . The old blackpainted net shops which were used to dry the nets before nylon was invented are still keptwhich adds a great deal to the feel of Hastings Harbour . Tourists are well catered for by the amusements that are found on the Stade , and numerouseating places and restaurants providing for their culinary needs. The pier is currently notaccessible to the general public, but plans are afoot to renovate this outstanding attraction. St Leonards was created in the 1850s when the railways came to Hastings, and providing anescape to a gentile resort for those people working in London and its surrounds.