Plans to renovate Bexhill's only Art Deco era bus shelter

Renovating the neglected shelter on Hastings Road, Bexhill.Renovating the neglected shelter on Hastings Road, Bexhill.
Renovating the neglected shelter on Hastings Road, Bexhill.
Bexhill Heritage volunteers have started their renovation of an unloved and largely forgotten bus shelter on Hastings Road.

Supported by a grant from the Town Council, the local environmental charity’s first task has been to clear the brambles that have overwhelmed the shelter in recent years making it a damp and dismal place.

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Despite serious neglect, the shelter remains recognisable as a small Art-Deco transport shelter built probably in the 1950s to coincide with the development of the Pebsham estate. It is similar in design to other, more celebrated shelters built throughout the south-east during the early and mid-20th century.

Built of brick and reinforced concrete, the shelter has a pleasing curvaceous, lozenge-shaped footprint and a flat reinforced concrete roof.

Bexhill Heritage will allow the shelter to dry out before fully refurbishing it next year. Plans include a special transport-themed mural for the back wall.

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Steve Johnson, Bexhill Heritage’s chairman, explained: “This badly neglected shelter deserves a better future. It was built in a period of great optimism and it’s with a similar spirit that Bexhill Heritage is restoring it for community benefit.”

The project follows on from Bexhill Heritage’s recent successful restoration of the landmark wall mural on the outer wall of Sainsbury’s at Bexhill’s Town Hall Square. The major project.

The mural, which spans a number of recessed arches, was created by artists Henry and Joyce Collins and was first unveiled in June 1976. It depicts symbolic icons from the Norman invasion of 1066, including a ship and gold coins bearing the image of William the Conqueror. It also contains stylised suns, and sea images, including fish, shells and an anchor, as well as a traditional Sussex fishing boat.

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Other work carried out by Bexhill Heritage includes the restoration of the Coronation Bandstand on the seafront in 2023. The bandstand was commissioned by the 8th Earl De La Warr in 1895.

Bexhill Heritage will have an Information Point at Shelter Number 4 on East Parade on Friday November 29, from 10am – 12.30pm, when people are welcome to come along and discuss local heritage issues and the planned work of the charity.

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