New Bid to Save St Mary
CHRISTOPHER CORMACK
A new initiative has been launched to try to save St Mary in the Castle, Hastings’ iconic concert and meetings venue. A panel of local activists convened a community meeting to explore a way forward for the council-owned building which has been closed since its last tenants moved out in November 2022.
As part of a public consultation, the panel, led by Dr Jess Steele, held an open public consultation starting with a tour of St Mary in the Castle (STMITC) and continuing at the Stade Hall. It was attended by Council Leader Julia Hilton and a number of other HBC Members. Dr Steele, who heads the Hastings Commons Community Land Trust, has an impressive track record in saving and renovating historic Hastings sites including Rock House and the adjacent Observer building.
The meeting heard that community action was needed on SMITC as the council had not been able to find either funding or a new tenant, and, although they were ‘doing their best’ to maintain the building, it continues to deteriorate. Jess Steele said that in her experience, successful fundraising depended on finding a clear objective for the building’s future. The panel suggested that “red-lines were needed” to determine exactly what was required to be retained within the Grade II listed building built by Architect Joseph Kay in 1828. Cllr Julia Hilton was clear that any rescuer would need ‘deep pockets’ but she did not comment on the possibility of changes to the structure or use of the building.
The meeting concluded with a call for volunteers to continue to explore a future for SMITC. They should contact: [email protected].
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