14 historic building blazes in East Sussex since Notre Dame fire

In East Sussex, there have been seven heritage fires in the past year.

They include the Grade II listed Claremont Hotel in Eastbourne, which is still in the process of being demolished.

The hotel, which had been a part of the seafront since 1851 and sat opposite the pier, was destroyed in an enormous fire which ripped through the building on November 22, 2019.

On average, a heritage building is hit by fire once a day in the UK, according to records compiled by specialist fire risk assessor Keith Atkinson.

He is calling for tighter laws forcing owners of all heritage assets to boost their protection measures.

Claremont Hotel Eastbourne: demolition continues at fire ravaged hotel

Around 70 firefighters and 12 fire engines were called to the Claremont Hotel fire. Luckily, no one was harmed.

Other fires across East Sussex included:

• The Tally Ho Pub, Eastbourne on June 21, 2019. Ten firefighters were called to the Grade II Listed building, built in 1927. Small amount of damage.

• Former Southover Manor School, Lewes, built in the 18th Century. The Grade II Listed building caught alight on June 27, 2019, and around 35 firefighters fought the flames.

• Three Oaks Pub, in Guestling, Hastings, caught ablaze on June 30, 2019. Twenty firefighters were sent to the building, built in 1880. An estimated 20 per cent of it was damaged.

• A flat in Tisbury Road, Hove, caught on fire on July 7, 2019. A quarter of the 19th Century building was damaged in the flames, tackled by 20 firefighters.

• The George Hotel, in Rye. A fire started there on July 20, 2019, damaging 20 per cent of the 15th Century building.

• Flats, formerly St Gabriel’s School for Girls, Brighton, caught alight on September 8, 2019. Twenty per cent of the 1850 building was damaged.

• A flat in Cambridge Gardens, Hastings, caught alight on October 16, 2019. Only 10 per cent estimated damage to unlisted building, built in 1873.

• The Old Ship Hotel, in Brighton, caught ablaze on October 19, 2019. The Grade II Listed building, built in 1873, suffered minimal damage.

• The Chatsworth Hotel, Hove, had a fire on December 7, 2019. Thirty firefighters were called to the 19th Century building, an estimated 20 per cent of which was damaged.

• There was a fire at the former soapworks/Phoenix Ironworks in Lewes on December 27, 2019. Thirty firefighters were called to the unlisted building, built in 1911, 30 per cent of which was damaged.

• Argos store, formerly Boots, in Brighton. On December 28, 2019, there was a small fire in the building, which dates back to 1927 and is locally listed.

• Former St Anne’s School, Lewes. Fire on February 10, 2020. Twenty five firefighters were called to the 1834 building, only 15 per cent estimated damage.

• Hastings Labour HQ fire on March 10, 2020. Fifteen firefighters were called to the 18th Century building, which suffered an estimated 15 per cent damage.

Mr Atkinson is co-author of the National Database of Fires in Heritage Buildings, which lists blazes reported by the media. While it is not an exhaustive list, it is believed to be the most comprehensive resource of its kind.

He said, “If it is a modern building that burns down, although disastrous for the owners and occupiers, hopefully it is insured and is easily rebuilt – but you cannot rebuild heritage.”

He said the best way for these precious assets to be protected, especially from arsonists, was for them to be occupied and properly maintained.

And he called for more financial incentives for developers to renovate old buildings, for example grants for bringing an historic building back into use, and making renovation and essential maintenance work VAT-free.

A Government spokesperson said responsible building owners should take appropriate measures to keep empty buildings safe and secure.

“We are investing £95 million to protect, regenerate and adapt these buildings, and protecting them through our planning system,” they said.

“Fire poses a real threat to many historic places,” a spokesperson for Historic England warned.

“Historic buildings pose unique challenges – many were built before modern building regulations – but these can be mitigated with appropriate and sensitive fire prevention interventions.”

• Data reporting by Aimee Stanton