St Leonards memorial garden closed following landslip

The Burton family memorial garden, which is located in West Hill Road, St Leonards, pays tribute to James and Decimus Burton.

The family’s tomb is in the shape of a small pyramid and looks out to sea.

This location is where James Burton himself, his wife and several other members of his family lie.

However, a landslip has occurred on the cliff face below the memorial garden, meaning Hastings Borough Council, who maintain the land, have closed it to the visiting public on safety grounds.

Councillor Maya Evans, lead councillor for the natural environment at Hastings Borough Council, said: “The small memorial garden is licensed to Hastings Borough Council by the Lord Bishop of Chichester, as the church own the land.

“The licence allows the council to maintain the land and keep the Burton memorial in good condition and to allow public access to the gardens. However, because of the recent landslip and the possibility of further slippage, we are having to close access by the public to the memorial garden on safety grounds for the time being.”