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.
Image Credits: James Stewart , Juliet Duff .
It’s a tough one. There are plenty of landmarks that are taken out by the sea. In the long term the sea will win. The memory of the Mary Stanford is more important to keep alive than the building which, to be honest, in its emptiness, is useless. Ideally it would be an RNLI museum, but clearly not a good place to do that.
When we have people to stay we go to the Church of the Holy Spirit at Rye harbour to pay our respects at the graves of those that tragically lost their lives.
nice to see something hopefully will be done for the lifeboat house
I’m inclined to agree with Jeremy on this one, the reason the RNLI don’t continue to own and maintain old stations is the cost of the upkeep, add to that the remote location and someone’s going to need awfully deep pockets.
If it was repaired and turned into a museum or learning centre how long would it be before it was vandalised or worse?
Don’t get me wrong, I served the RNLI for many years and have nothing but total respect for the brave men who gave their lives on that day but I do think trying to save the shed is a lost cause.
Sadly I feel the same as others,time to let the old lifeboat house go, and perhaps put funds together for a memorial plaque, with the names of these brave men, at ,,their final departing place, to keep their memories alive.
Contact The Victorian Society. They might be able to help or offer advice.