Work starts on project to restore last remaining Victorian shelter on Bexhill seafront

The work is being overseen by Bexhill Heritage – the group which restored the Coronation Band Stand on the seafront, and is now one of the most popular venues in Bexhill.

There were once two Victorian cast-iron shelters on East Parade, now only one remains. The other sat between lawns to the west and was taken away during the Second World War, probably used as scrap for munitions.

The shelter is Grade II listed. It was built in August 1896 by Henry Young & Co Engineers London. The architect was William Herbert Alton.

The Victorian seafront shelter is in poor and steadily deteriorating condition. The iron collars are attached to the wooden framework have almost completely corroded and the iron support columns are need repair, but are in a restorable condition.

Wooden panels have rotted and are missing. Almost all the paintwork has deteriorated.

The restoration work will involve safely removing paint, repairing woodwork and repainting throughout in high quality oil-based paint in Bexhill’s colours as well as managing the repair and, where necessary, the replacement of the shelter’s iron frame.

The group wants to create a theme for the shelter to celebrate Sussex’s rich literary tradition, encourage its care and attract visitors.

Bexhill heritage has been behind successful projects to restore and enhance the town, including providing a new interpretation board on the seafront and restoring the concrete mural on the wall of Sainsbury’s in Town Hall Square. They also renovated a 1921 shelter on East Parade.

A member of Bexhill Heritage Centre told the Observer that the long term plans for the shelter involve making it a focus on the seafront with the emphasis on children and families with a plan to re-introduce old children’s street games such as hop-scotch.

Bexhill Heritage is an independent, voluntary, charity that was formed in September 2017 when founding members were concerned with the deterioration of East Parade’s seafront shelters.