Concerns over repair to gate pillar at medieval church in Hastings Old Town
People were concerned to see that a stone gate pillar at historic St Clements Church, that was destroyed after a supermarket delivery van collided with it, has been replaced with modern red bricks on one part of it.
But the church was quick to make it clear that the bricks are a temporary measure to keep things in place until a stone mason can complete the work.
Parish Priest in Charge Reverend Mat Phipps said: "The work is still ongoing, with some of the stonework and pointing still needing to be done. The bricks currently visible are a temporary measure. We did advise, via Parish News, that the stonework was expected to take several weeks, and that the project would not be complete until January.
As it happens, some of the ironwork has been refitted earlier than expected, but there is still work to be done. As I am sure people will understand, the pointing work is also particularly weather-dependent.
“Those familiar with the process will know that there is a thorough legal process we have to go through to obtain the necessary permission for this sort of repair work, which requires the project to be supported and overseen by an appropriately qualified heritage architect.
"Although these repairs are being carried out at the cost of the insurers of the vehicle which caused the damage, the same processes still apply.
“As it happens, the architect was onsite last Monday (November 9), inspecting progress and discussing the remaining work with the stonemason.”
The gate pillar suffered serious damage on October 18 last year. According to witnesses, a van driver was attempting a three point turn when the van hit the post in Croft Road.
Speaking at the time, Kevin Boorman of the Two Towers Trust, the charity that maintains to the two medieval churches in the Old Town, said: “"Although the delivery van which apparently caused it was going very slowly, it has caused very considerable damage to the gate pillars. These form part of one of the most iconic views of St Clement's church, looking along Hill Street, and, honestly, it looks terrible now. I really hope the damage can be repaired quickly."
Grade 2 listed St Clement’s Church can trace its origins back to 1080, although it was attacked by the French in 1339 and again in 1377. The church was rebuilt in 1380.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, poet and artist, married Elizabeth Siddall in St Clement’s in May 1860 and the Christian poet and ecologist Christina Rossetti would have worshipped there during her many visits to Hastings.