According to Mrs Wilson's 'St. Leonardensis, The Jubilee History of Saint Leonards', The Archery ground was a, 'pretty spot partly formed by nature and partly by the hand of man'. It was formerly the site of a military encampment. At the beginning of the 19th century when Napoleon threatened to invade England,
'an attempt was made to impose upon the enemy's cruisers in the channel by putting up a greater number of tents than the actual requirements thus exhibiting a fictitious array of military force'.

Later the grounds were used by Burton for the quarrying and fabrication of bricks. Mrs Wilson writes of a substantial wooden bell tower formerly on the site of Mr Tottenham's swimming pool (on the corner of West Ascent) which was used for the dual purpose of summoning the labourers to work and the worshippers to church.
Burton provided the Archery Ground to the Society of St Leonards Archers for a nominal rent in 1833. According to Mrs Wlson, 'although during the early meetings the place was somewhat bare and rugged, in a very few years, - mainly under the superintendence of the late Miss C. Mackay, - the gardens represented a rich foliage, a spacious lawn, and all that could make them attractive and beautiful'.

Members were proposed, seconded and elected by ballot and many of the members were ladies. Meetings were held to shoot for expensive prizes which reflected the wealth of the members - St Leonards was very much a town designed for the aristocracy and wealthy gentry. In the autumn and winter of 1834 the Duchess of Kent and her 15 year old daughter Princess Victoria visited St Leonards and agreed to become patrons of the society. They donated a banner and prizes to be shot for at the Annual Grand Prize Meeting. On Princess Victoria's accession to the throne she granted their request to be known as the Queen's Royal St Leonards Archers. The Society enjoyed most popularity between 1840 and 1860. Their prize meetings were grand social events and were always written up in the local newspaper with a list of the most eminent guests. The organisation of the Society began to break down in the late 1860s, due to wrangles over the archery ground and the archers were forced to move temporarily to another ground in Sep 1869. Support had decline by 1880 and it was decided to suspend proceedings of the society. It was re-formed in 1894 and in 1901 Queen Alexandra became their patron. The club was finally wound up in 1937.
Archery Gardens was later bequeathed to the residents of St Leonards in perpetuity for their recreation and enjoyment. The ordinance survey map, (below right) is from around 1964 before Hastings College was built. Christopher Maxwell-Stewart's letter below provides a first hand description of the gardens at that time.