Cuckmere Estuary Partnership

The owners of the lower Coastguards Cottages overlooking the Cuckmere Estuary have joined forces with the Cuckmere Estuary Partnership to help find the most sustainable future for the estuary.

The iconic cottages, set against a backdrop of Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, are amongst the best known and most photographed sights along the Sussex coastline, and recently featured in the film ‘Atonement’.  The Cuckmere Estuary Partnership is a coalition of local councils, heritage and environment organisations with a direct interest in the future of the estuary. Owners of the lower cottages, closest to the river mouth, have joined the Partnership following the recent series of public engagement events.

Carolyn McCourt and Cassian Garbett, the owners of number 5, said: “We realise that, with sea levels rising, the landscape of the Cuckmere is likely to change. What matters most to us is that we do everything we can to maintain these beautiful and historically important cottages.  We hope that by joining the Partnership we will be able to work with nature to limit erosion and preserve our homes.”

Sophie and Lucy Mutter, Ed Watts and Kevin Chang, the owners of number 6, said: “We’re really pleased to join the Partnership so that we can all work together to find the best long term solution to the problem of sea level rise in the area. Our cottage has been in the family for generations since our relatives were the coastguards, and we want to make sure it remains for generations to come.”

Kate Cole of the CEP said: “We’re delighted that the owners of the lower cottages have joined the Partnership.  As the closest residents to the Cuckmere Estuary, they are the people who will be most directly affected by any changes. It’s brilliant that they have agreed to join the Partnership so that together we can work to secure the most sustainable future for the estuary.

“The main threat to the cottages is from wave attack from the open sea:  the beach in front of them is already eroding, and concrete defences have been needed at the base of the cliffs since the 1950s. We can’t prevent coastal erosion, but by working with nature rather than against it we should be able to control how change takes place.”

The cottages were built in 1818 by the navy. The lower cottage was the customs officers watch house. It was de-commissioned in the 1920s and has been residence to the Coastguard’s descendants ever since. The cottage owners and their neighbours have built a series of sea walls and revetments that have allowed these iconic cottages to remain a dramatic and scenic part of our shared landscape.