Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register 2022: Here are sites in and around Eastbourne that are on the list

Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register identifies historic sites most at risk and most in need of safeguarding for the future.

It aims to bring focus to places ‘in greatest need’ and Historic England and workd with other organisations and owners of the sites, to save them. It has added 175 historic buildings and sites to its 2022 register.

Councillor Colin Swansborough, Eastbourne Borough Council’s cabinet member for heritage assets, said: “There are 4,919 sites on the Historic England register in the UK. The Redoubt Fortress and Shinewater Bronze Age settlement are just two of the numerous historic monuments in Eastbourne that the council maintains, despite unprecedented pressures on our budget.”

He said the council had submitted a bid to the government’s levelling-up fund for £26.5 million, which is focused on cultural and heritage projects.” He added: “We are hopeful of good news about this soon.”

The Eastbourne area sites are: Langney Priory, a Grade II* listed building, is in ‘poor’ condition, says Historic England. A spokesperson said: “The oldest portion of this house is the chapel, refectory and dormitory built by the Cluniacs before 1121 as part of the Grange of St Pancras Priory at Lewes.”

Shinewater Bronze Age settlement, near Hydneye Lake in Shinewater Park, is a scheduled monument. The site’s condition is ‘unknown’, says Historic England but says it is ‘in need of management’ as its ‘principal vulnerability’ is deterioration.

Eastbourne Pier, a Grade II* listed building, is in ‘very bad’ condition, according to Historic England. A spokesperson said: “The pier is 1,000ft long and 52ft wide on a substructure of iron screw piles, designed by Eugenius Birch and completed in 1872. The seaward Pavilion Theatre with 'camera obscura' and two games pavilions were designed and built in 1901 by Noel Ridley. The central windscreens were erected 1902-03 and the music pavilion added in 1925, designed by PD Stoneham. Later additions include the kiosks in 1971 and an entrance building in 1991. In July 2014 the landward arcade building was destroyed by fire. Historic England, the owners and Eastbourne Borough Council have discussed how to reinstate.”

The Grade IChurch of St Andrew, Alfriston, is in ‘poor’ condition, according to Historic England.

Martello Tower No. 66, Langney Point, is a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building. The site is in ‘fair’ condition, says Historic England.

Eastbourne Redoubt is a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building. The site is in ‘poor’ condition, according to Historic England. A Conservation Plan has been produced and proposals are being developed.

Martello Tower No. 64 is a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building. The site is in ‘poor’ condition, according to Historic England.

The Wealden sites are Cross in Hand Windmill and The Mint House, opposite Pevensey Castle, a Grade II* listed building. It has been occupied as a dwelling, used as a brew house and from the early 20th century it became a large antique shop. In the early 2000s, the site was sold off separately from the rest of the complex and The Mint House and its associated buildings stood vacant for a decade before being sold in 2018.

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