EMERGENCY crews are searching through rubble after a medieval wall at Lewes Castle collapsed onto a nearby building.
Firefighters with sniffer dogs were called to the scene at around 12.20pm after 600 tons of flint toppled to the ground below.
It was not immediately known whether anyone had been standing under the 10m by 10m wall when the collapse happened.
CASTLE COLLAPSE Lewes Castle collapse – Emergency crews search rubble after medieval wall collapses onto house
Latest
Phoebe Cooke
11 Nov 2019
The Sun
EMERGENCY crews are searching through rubble after a medieval wall at Lewes Castle collapsed onto a nearby building.
Firefighters with sniffer dogs were called to the scene at around 12.20pm after 600 tons of flint toppled to the ground below.
An aerial view of the Lewes Castle collapse Credit: Eddie Mitchell
Emergency crews raced to the West Sussex castle after an outer medieval wall collapsed Credit: Alamy Live News
More than 600 tons of flint and other materials crashed down this afternoon Credit: Eddie Mitchell
It was not immediately known whether anyone had been standing under the 10m by 10m wall when the collapse happened.
Fire crews have requested a drone to fly over the rubble to help with the search operation.
Residents and shoppers are being asked to avoid the main centre of the historic town.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue service tweeted there were no reports of anyone missing or casualties.
They also confirmed that the area of wall collapse was not part of the main castle.
The Old Coach House was among the buildings that were hit in neighbouring Castle Ditch Lane, a narrow lane running directly next to the castle.
Part of the investigation into the incident was understood to involve whether the recent extreme weather, including torrential rain, had anything to do with loosening the wall.
Crews stand at the base of the collapse in front of the rubble Credit: Alamy Live News
The majority of the rubble fell 10m into a property on the other side Credit: Alamy Live News
Emergency services launched a rescue operation at the scene Credit: Alamy Live News
The outer medieval wall collapsed without warningCredit: BBC Sussex
HISTORIC CASTLE
The West Sussex castle, built in the 11th century, is one of the most historic landmarks along the south coast and stands proudly over the town of Lewes which it used to guard in medieval times.
Lewes Castle, built in 1068 by William de Warenne, the Ist Earl of Surrey, is a popular tourist attraction.
The Norman castle occupies a commanding position guarding the gasp in the South Downs cut by the River Ouse and stands on a man-made mount just north of Lewes High Street. It was constructed of flint blocks and local limestone.
Historians recalled that in its heyday soldiers were went out from Lewes Castle to engage with Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Lewes in 1264.
The castle was leased by Sussex Archaeological Society from 1850 and was acquired by Charles Thomas-Stanford and gifted to the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1922.
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A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police are responding to a report of part of Lewes Castle collapsing onto buildings in Castle Ditch Lane, Lewes.
"Fire service colleagues requested the assistance of search dogs and a drone having been alerted at 12.22pm.
"It is not known at this time if anyone is trapped as a result."
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10323...emergency-crews-search-rubble-wall-collapses/
Firefighters with sniffer dogs were called to the scene at around 12.20pm after 600 tons of flint toppled to the ground below.
It was not immediately known whether anyone had been standing under the 10m by 10m wall when the collapse happened.
CASTLE COLLAPSE Lewes Castle collapse – Emergency crews search rubble after medieval wall collapses onto house
Latest
Phoebe Cooke
11 Nov 2019
The Sun
EMERGENCY crews are searching through rubble after a medieval wall at Lewes Castle collapsed onto a nearby building.
Firefighters with sniffer dogs were called to the scene at around 12.20pm after 600 tons of flint toppled to the ground below.
An aerial view of the Lewes Castle collapse Credit: Eddie Mitchell
Emergency crews raced to the West Sussex castle after an outer medieval wall collapsed Credit: Alamy Live News
More than 600 tons of flint and other materials crashed down this afternoon Credit: Eddie MitchellIt was not immediately known whether anyone had been standing under the 10m by 10m wall when the collapse happened.
Fire crews have requested a drone to fly over the rubble to help with the search operation.
Residents and shoppers are being asked to avoid the main centre of the historic town.
East Sussex Fire and Rescue service tweeted there were no reports of anyone missing or casualties.
They also confirmed that the area of wall collapse was not part of the main castle.
The Old Coach House was among the buildings that were hit in neighbouring Castle Ditch Lane, a narrow lane running directly next to the castle.
Part of the investigation into the incident was understood to involve whether the recent extreme weather, including torrential rain, had anything to do with loosening the wall.
Crews stand at the base of the collapse in front of the rubble Credit: Alamy Live News
The majority of the rubble fell 10m into a property on the other side Credit: Alamy Live News
Emergency services launched a rescue operation at the scene Credit: Alamy Live News
The outer medieval wall collapsed without warningCredit: BBC Sussex HISTORIC CASTLE
The West Sussex castle, built in the 11th century, is one of the most historic landmarks along the south coast and stands proudly over the town of Lewes which it used to guard in medieval times.
Lewes Castle, built in 1068 by William de Warenne, the Ist Earl of Surrey, is a popular tourist attraction.
The Norman castle occupies a commanding position guarding the gasp in the South Downs cut by the River Ouse and stands on a man-made mount just north of Lewes High Street. It was constructed of flint blocks and local limestone.
Historians recalled that in its heyday soldiers were went out from Lewes Castle to engage with Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Lewes in 1264.
The castle was leased by Sussex Archaeological Society from 1850 and was acquired by Charles Thomas-Stanford and gifted to the Sussex Archaeological Society in 1922.
This is personalised for you. Manage these settings at the bottom of this page.
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police are responding to a report of part of Lewes Castle collapsing onto buildings in Castle Ditch Lane, Lewes.
"Fire service colleagues requested the assistance of search dogs and a drone having been alerted at 12.22pm.
"It is not known at this time if anyone is trapped as a result."
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10323...emergency-crews-search-rubble-wall-collapses/
