Fire breaks out at former convent site on Magdalen Road
Emergency services are responding to a fire at the former convent site on Magdalen Road in Hastings this evening (9 July 2026), with smoke seen rising from the vacant building.
Emergency services are currently at the scene of a fire at the former convent site on Magdalen Road in St Leonards.
1066 Directory has received videos and photographs from the scene showing smoke and flames coming from the disused site. The incident is ongoing, with emergency crews responding at around 5:45pm today.
This is not the first fire to affect the former convent. Earlier this year, a significant fire at the site prompted Hastings Borough Council to issue a public safety warning, reminding residents that the buildings are structurally unsafe and that the site must not be entered due to risks including unstable structures, falling debris and the possible presence of asbestos.
The council previously confirmed that responsibility for securing and maintaining the site rests with the owners and said it had required additional security measures following the earlier incident.
The cause of today’s fire has not yet been confirmed.
1066 Directory will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
Published by 1066 Directory