Catherine McMullen, who later became Catherine Cookson moved to Hastings in 1930 where she took the position of Laundry Manageress at the Workhouses when she first came to Hastings in 1930.

In 1932 she moved to The Hurst, 114 Hoads Wood Road, Hastings which she ran as a guest house for people suffering from various diseases such as tuberculosis and epilepsy.

In 1940 she married Tom Cookson at St Mary Star of the Sea in Hastings High Street and became Cathsrine Cookson.

The Cooksons stayed at The Hurst until 1954 when they moved to a larger house called Loreto in St Helen’s Park Road where they lived for 22 years.

Throughout her life she became an extremely accomplished author writing many notable books including The Round tower and The Silent Lady.