New Owners May Move Light Away From Cliff

Although the Belle Toute Preservation Trust didn’t become the owners of the Sussex lighthouse, at least their goal of having the lighthouse as a bed and breakfast will become a reality. The new owners of this lightstation near Beachy Head, Eastbourne have indicated they will be fulfilling the dream of Rob Wassell and the Trust to have it opened to the public, and preserved for generations to come. And that may include moving it away from the crumbling cliffs near which it resides. The final selling price of this landmark light was £500,000 ($991,295 USD), a far cry from the original asking price of £850,000.

To recap the story quickly, last year in September the Belle Toute Preservation sought and was given permission by the Eastbourne Brough Council when the lighthouse went up for sale. The Trust sought donations, but was unable to get enough to purchase the lighthouse, when a private person put up an offer. That deal fell through, and the lighthouse went up for sale again at a greatly reduced price. Before the Trust could regroup, it was snatched up by a “foreign” couple for the above-mentioned price.

Presenting The New Owners

A story in the Argus.Co.Uk interviews the new owners, the Belle Toute Lighthouse Company Ltd. The company was formed by David Shaw and his wife Barbara Davison Shaw, who currently reside in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. They will be moving back to England, to oversee the renovations. In the story, Shaw revealed his plans to turn the building into a B&B and tea shop for walkers. He also said he was investigating the costs of moving the lighthouse away from the cliffs as it could be threatened in as little as 20 years.

He said: “It is a fantastic project - it is not every day the opportunity to buy a lighthouse comes up. I have had an interest in the area relatively recently and when I heard it was for sale, my ears pricked up. It has got a fantastic history and I want to restore it to something akin to its former glory. As a commercial investment it is not a very good idea but it has not dented my enthusiasm. Having spent a lot of money, it would be nice to think that it would have a shelf-life of a 100 years, so it is preserved for future generations.”

Shaw, who was originally rumored to be a physician in Germany when the sale was announced, is actually chairman of a group of companies that run nursing homes and are involved in health care.

From Rob Wassell, Chariman of the Trust

In a press release issued last week, Rob Wassell speaks of the Trust’s plans.

The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust
Press Statement
28^th May 2008

In April 2008 the Belle Toute Lighthouse was bought by someone else.

This was obviously disappointing as the trust had put so much hard work and effort into trying to obtain the lighthouse.

The new owner has been in touch and announced their intention, which I am pleased to report, involves opening the lighthouse to the public as a visitor attraction and bed & breakfast.

This is obviously the same intention that the trust had for the lighthouse and we are very pleased as this means that the public will still have the opportunity of visiting this amazing building after all.

As the trust can no longer realise its aims it will be wound up, however, The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Society will be formed to allow previous trust members to retain a watchful interest in the future of Belle Toute.

We wish the new owners every success in their venture.

The trust once again extends its thanks to everyone who helped us get as far as we did. The website is currently being updated to reflect this gratitude, who helped us, what we did, how we did it and what the future holds for Belle Toute.

Rob Wassell
Chairman
The Belle Toute Lighthouse Preservation Trust

Although it is regrettable that the lighthouse will be privately owned, which leaves no absolute guarantee of its future as it would if the Trust had been able to acquire it, at least the new owners have the means to move (for the second time) this grand lady away from the eroding cliffs. And it will be available to the public if their plans come to fruition. To the Shaws, Lighthouse News wishes you great success, and to the Trust, we are glad to see you’ll still be around.

The Mystery Woman Near Beachy Head

A personal note from Rob Wassell about an encounter with a mystery woman while bicycling at Cuckmere Haven near Beachy Head has Rob looking to find The Mystery Woman. It was such a delightful little side note that I can’t help but write about it here…A Lighthouse Romance

Photo credits:

• Belle Toute Lighthouse by Howzie. Some rights reserved.
• Belle Toute at Sunset by Theladsweekend. Some rights reserved.

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