The charity that hopes to restore the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House says there’s a real chance it could be brought down by future storms. As we reported last week, the recent high spring tides in Rye Bay have washed away much of the shingle that protects the building from the sea.
Jacqui Stanford, the chair of the Friends of the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House, says the iconic landmark needs urgent protection. “It’s in danger. The Environment Agency do an amazing job replacing the shingle each year, but the building needs permanent protection. Not just shingle, but more groynes and some rock armour. Natural England, who are responsible for the shoreline, refuse to allow anything permanent to be built around the building. Without strong protection that keeps the shingle in place I really worry about it surviving. I have reminded Natural England that this is a Grade II listed building and I can’t believe they want to see such an important part of our history just washed away.”
The former lifeboat house is in a prominent position above the beach at the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The building is a reminder of one of Rye’s darkest days in November 1928 when all 17 members of the Mary Stanford Lifeboat perished trying to rescue the crew of a stricken ship, the Alice of Riga. The boathouse was built in 1882 and has a concrete base built into the shingle which is now starting to be revealed - the recent storms have undermined the foundations of the building that used to stand next to it. Every year hundreds of tons of shingle are moved from near the harbour entrance back along the coast protecting the shore from Fairlight to the nature reserve.
The building itself is in urgent need of repair, but Jacqui Stanford says all the charity’s plans may be in vain if the lifeboat house is left to the sea. “It’s not just a building, it’s a reminder about our shared history, particularly for the families of the brave men who died and the residents of Rye Harbour. Natural England need to come and see what’s happening. They’re preventing any intervention which might stop the building being washed away.”
The charity launched an appeal for funds last year as reported. Natural England have been approached for comment.
