Winchelsea Beach is one of the few remaining comparatively undeveloped parts of the south coast. Just inland, between the coast road and the sea is this strange shingle landscape known as "The Ridges"-- pebbles and rough land with a straggle of 1930's bungalows spaced out along the unmade roads. The whole area is much valued by those who like fresh air - flocks of birds and open and empty spaces. The beach is peaceful and never crowded with shingle at high tide and level sand at the low.
On 15th November 1928 at 6.45 a.m. the Mary Stanford Lifeboat with her crew of 17 was launched from this lifeboat house into a south-westerly gale with winds in excess of 80 miles per hour raging in the English Channel to save a stricken vessel - not one of these brave Rye Harbour men ever returned. More information on the Mary Stanford disaster can be found Here:
