A crusade to save a 17th Century East Sussex chapel has been dealt a blow.
English Heritage has rejected a bid by campaigners to give listed building status to the disused chapel at St Mary's Nursing Home in Seaford.
The nursing home is on the site of the former King's Mead School.
Old boys from the school are concerned that bulldozing the chapel would threaten memorial stones for former pupils who died fighting for their country.
The English Heritage decision was a blow for campaigner Dr David Maxwell, who was at the school from 1959 to 1964.
He said: "This is very sad for those of us who knew the chapel, which is a small building of great charm."
Campaigners still hope to convince Westminster Healthcare, the owners of St Mary's, that the chapel is worth saving.
The London-based company plans to close the nursing home because it would cost too much to bring it into line with care home standards being introduced in April.
Dr Maxwell, of Old Camp Road, Eastbourne, said: "We hope they treat the war memorials with respect."
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