A battle to save a crumbling 17th Century school chapel in Seaford from the bulldozer has ended in defeat.

Council bosses are being urged to agree the bulldozing of St Mary's Nursing Home in Kingsmead, Seaford, on Wednesday.

The nursing home site includes the historic chapel which houses memorial stones engraved with the names of former pupils of King's Mead School who died during the Second World War.

Originally a barn near Ripe, the chapel was rebuilt in the school grounds in 1926 by staff and pupils, using original materials.

In the late Sixties, the school became St Mary's Nursing Home, which closed last year because it was unable to meet Government care home standards.

An inspection of the chapel confirmed it was too dilapidated to repair.

But old boys of the school launched a campaign to preserve the chapel because of its historical associations with the school.

The campaign won the support of Lewes Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who pressed for the chapel to be listed, which would have made it more difficult for planners to agree to alterations.

However, English Heritage rejected listed status, saying it did not meet its architectural or historical criteria.

Now the campaign looks over, with Lewes District Council officers recommending the chapel be demolished and the site redeveloped into 23 homes.

Eleven letters of objection have been received by council officials, including some citing the loss of the chapel and its historical connections.

However, to compensate for the loss, a memorial garden is proposed and the applicant has said any artefacts which can be salvaged from the chapel can go to former pupils.

A report to councillors states: "The building has been considered for listed status but does not meet the criteria set by English Heritage.

"The building could therefore be lawfully demolished at any time.

"It is known that the applicant has considered retention of the building but a survey indicates it is structurally flawed."

Lewes District Council's southern area planning applications committee meets at Denton Island Training and Conference Centre, Newhaven, from 6pm on Wednesday.

Monday June 9, 2003