Following the fire at The George hotel in Rye in July, Rye Conservation Society raised its concerns about the historic building deteriorating further. The George's owners Alex and Katie Clarke have now issued the following statement:
"We’re aware of the concern locally regarding the state of The George and the progress of its repair.
"We appreciate that the hotel is not only a historically important part of the High Street in Rye, but also a much loved piece of the community. We’re working closely with a team of the country’s leading heritage consultants to make sure that The George is repaired in a way that is both safe and sensitive to its condition as a historical building.
"While it is undoubtedly sad to see it exposed to the elements in this way, we have been advised by our structural engineers and architects that the water damage that was sustained during the fire means that the current wet weather is unlikely to do any further harm.
"The design for the external scaffolding is underway (with support and consultation from East Sussex Highways to preserve access to the High St and Lion St) and we are currently working on the complex internal propping that needs to be installed before the external scaffold can be erected.
"The building is undergoing detailed weekly inspection by our team of structural engineers, who will report back if anything changes or if any emergency repairs are required, and we have scaffolders on standby and ready to go as soon as the designs are approved.
"We absolutely understand the sadness, concern and frustration over the damage sustained to our beautiful building (and we share it!), but we are having to be led by the advice and opinions of our expert team, and to put our emotional response to this devastating fire aside as best we can.
"We are moving forward as fast as we can to reinstate the fabric of The George in a way that prioritises the safety of the workers and of our local community. We thank you for your understanding and patience as we undertake what is a highly complex project."
