Unique Bathing Chalets must be saved

West Marina at St Leonard’s could be reused

The Twentieth Century Society is delighted to learn that CRAG, the Chalet Restoration Action Group, is drawing up plans to save the unique concrete bathing chalets at St Leanard’s, Hastings. The chalets, also known as the Sydney Bathing Station are all that remains of one of the largest lidos in Europe. The chalets and lido were built for the Empire Games in 1934, designed by local architect and concrete enthusiast Sidney Little in 1933. The baths were a modernist architectural highlight on the south coast up to their demolition in 1993.

The 2-storey block of chalets has been boarded up in spite of the vociferous local campaign, including a massive petition, to save and reuse the building. Architects John McAslan and Partners have been commissioned by CRAG to look into a reuse scheme. The Twentieth Century Society supports the local initiative to save this structure which is a survivor of Hastings’ interesting concrete architecture of the early C20.

The Twentieth Century Society urges the local council to rethink the future of the building and work with those who want to bring it back to life.

Adam Wilkinson, Secretary of SAVE Britain’s Heritage said “SAVE has been extremely concerned about these buildings since we first learned about the threat of demolition in 2001. Their demolition would be completely unnecessary, and we hold serious reservations about the local authority’s approach to this site.”

Information on CRAG: www.westmarina.org.uk

For further information please contact:

Cordula Zeidler, Caseworker,
The Twentieth Century Society, 020 7250 3857