Photograph of John Logie Baird in his lodgings at 21 Linton Crescent, Hastings, in late 1923

An illustration selected by Baird for inclusion in his typed autobiography now in the Hastings Museum and captioned by him "first television experimental apparatus".

Museum Accession No: HASMG 2002.1.15

Photograph of Linton Crescent c.1930

Baird lived at 21, Linton Crescent for the duration of his stay in Hastings from February 1923 to November 1924. The house is shown in the photograph as the third bay window on the right and was a lodging house where his old school friend, 'Mephy ' Robertson was also staying. It was here that his first transmitting equipment was constructed.

Following a demonstration to the press at Linton Crescent in January 1924 a report appeared in the Daily News. This information was passed on to Baird's father, the Rev. John Baird by a former congregation member. The Rev. Baird sent £50 which enabled the inventor to rent a separate workshop at 5, Queens Arcade.

In 1997 a plaque was mounted at 21, Linton Crescent by the Institute of Physics.

Gavin Fullerton Robertson - Mephy

Mephy persuaded Baird to join him at Linton Crescent early in 1923. The picture appears to have been taken in Ryde on the Isle of Wight in the mid 1930s.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 2001.57.7

Postcard showing path to Fairlight Glen, c.1923

In his autobiography John Logie Baird describes how at the beginning of his stay in Hastings he walked over the cliffs to Fairlight Glen. During the walk he thought about his early experiments with television and how these could be developed further. On his return to Linton Crescent announced to Mephy that he had thought of a means of 'Seeing by Wireless'.

Museum Accession No: HASMG 990.18

Photograph of Victor Mills c.1977

Victor Mills met Baird late in 1923 when the inventor called at his home in Hughenden Road, Hastings to ask for advice in using selenium cells. He had heard about Mills from an article in the Hastings Observer describing an early radio set he had built at Hastings Grammar School.

Mills suggested making a smaller cell and altering the arrangement of the optics. He lent Baird an amplifier and together they created a transmitter of plywood, cardboard, sealing wax and string. The machine was powered by around 100 lamp batteries and was used at the first public demonstration of television in Linton Crescent in January 1924.

After Baird left Hastings Victor Mills worked as a radio engineer and wireless supplier. In April 1927 he set up an outside loudspeaker system at the White Rock Pavillion for the visit of the Prince of Wales and later that year invited Baird to the Pavilion to lecture at 'The Wonders of Science' exhibition. He died a bachelor at the age of 87 in 1988.