Fire crews in East Sussex are battling a massive fire at a disused convent in St Leonards, with thick black smoke forcing road closures and warnings for nearby residents.
Fire Breaks Out at Former Convent
East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS) received the initial alert at 5:03pm on Thursday, July 9, 2026, regarding a blaze at the former College of the Holy Child Jesus on Magdalen Road in St Leonards. The building, a historic convent, has been disused for years.
A spokesperson for ESFRS warned people living nearby to keep their doors and windows closed due to the thick black smoke rising from the building. "Please avoid the area as roads are being closed," they added.
Emergency Services Respond
Police and electricity operator UK Power Networks are also in attendance at the scene. The fire is believed to have broken out on the third floor of the former Catholic college, which closed in 1976. The building later served as a language school before falling into disrepair, although its chapel remains Grade II listed.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, and investigations are expected to begin once the blaze is under control. Residents in the surrounding area have been advised to stay indoors and avoid the smoke.
