TWO eminent conservation groups have called for urgent action to be taken to save a “nationally important” gothic revival chapel.

The Victorian Society and the Pugin Society have joined forces in the fight to prevent further damage to the former Convent of the Holy Child in St Leonards.

The Grade II* listed chapel was designed by Edward Pugin – son of Palace of Westminster architect Augustus Pugin and a renowned figure in his own right.

The two societies are asking Hastings Borough Council to take action to prevent further damage to the chapel in Magdalen Road.

The call comes ten years after the Pugin Society’s discovery of leaks in the roof of the historic building which were allowing water to damage the “stunning interior”.

Conservationists have warned that the chapel is likely to have significantly deteriorated since then.

The 1868 church is considered a major work by the Victorian architect and also contains work by his two architect brothers Peter-Paul and Cuthbert.

Its high Victorian gothic interior is considered by leading experts to be of “outstanding quality” and Historic England is currently considering adding the chapel to their Heritage at Risk Register.

In 2010 a planning application was made to demolish the 20th century buildings on the site, convert the 19th century structures and erect new houses and flats to help pay for the restoration of the chapel for public use.

The application stalled after disagreement over amendments to the scheme and The Victorian Society and the Pugin Society are now calling upon the council to commission an up to date survey of the chapel as a first step in securing its future.

Nick Dermott, Pugin Society chairman, said: “Although the chapel sits within a 12 acre site set just back from the central St Leonards seafront, it is surrounded by a high wall and is not readily visible from the road.

“As a result it has for too long been a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for this nationally important building.

“Local authorities have considerable powers to persuade the owners of listed buildings to keep them in good repair and Hastings council should commission an up to date survey of the chapel’s condition as soon as possible.”

A Hastings Borough Council spokesman said: “We don’t own this property, but are obviously happy to work with the current or future property owners to ensure that this Grade II* listed building is properly conserved.”