Heritage Open Day
Join us for a free day packed with entertainment and activities.
Get some insider knowledge on our behind the scenes tours (and get a glimpse of the famed underground tunnel running beneath the Royal Pavilion Estate), buff up on your Brighton Dome and local history knowledge with our series of talks, enjoy live music, games and a spot of crafting for kids and adults.
As well as all of this, we’ll be here to answer your questions about our exciting redevelopment works and you can discover how the transformation of our nationally important Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre will restore long-lost heritage features, as well as provide new, state-of the art facilities.Activities
Badge making
10.30am - 12pm , 12pm - 3pm Live music with Katy O’Neill
12pm - 1pm and 3.30pm - 4.30pm
Post Dated
Create a time capsule of your own in an envelope to send to the future and Talk to Tomorrow.
11am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm
Talks
From Quaker Cemetery to Great War Hospital: New Archaeological Discoveries at Brighton Corn Exchange
Dr Michael Shapland from Archaeology South East/ UCL Centre for Applied Archaeology
12 – 1pm, Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Recent renovation work at the Corn Exchange have provided the opportunity for archaeologists to explore the history of this building, and the secrets that lie beneath the ground on which it stands. The building was first constructed between 1803 and 1808 on the cemetery of a nearby Quaker meeting house, burials from which were uncovered during the present works. The Prince Regent (later George IV) commissioned it as an elaborate stables and riding school for his new palace, together with a modest adjacent stable block belonging to Mrs Fitzherbert, his mistress. Hidden fabric relating to both buildings was revealed, and recorded prior to its removal. The site was acquired in 1850 by the Borough of Brighton, who set about turning it to civic uses, from skating rink to Great War hospital. A number of structures and artefacts which relate to these later have been discovered, and will be discussed here for the first time.
Alexandra Loske Curator of the Jane Austen by the Sea and Visions of the Royal Pavilion Estate exhibitions, will be talking about Jane Austen's special relationship with bathing, watering places and the seaside in general.
BSL Interpreted
2.30pm – 3.30pm Brighton Dome Concert Hall
Based on work carried out on all three Regency Season displays at the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museums in 2017, the talk will highlight surprising stories of lost designs and buildings of Brighton, entertainment in seaside town enjoyed by Austen herself and characters in her novels, and challenge the notion that Jane Austen hated Brighton. A special focus will be Austen’s last, unfinished novel 'Sanditon', set in a fictional seaside resort on the Sussex coast.
Designing our Future
Maxine Hort, Director of Operations, Brighton Dome and Festival
Founders Room
11am – 11.45am & 1pm - 1.45pm
Free admission, limited seating capacity
Combining a royal palace and Regency garden, museum and art gallery and our 3 performing arts spaces, the Royal Pavilion Estate is our city’s cultural heart. We have embarked on an exciting journey to restore and reunite this historic estate, starting with a major refurbishment of our nationally important Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre. Due for completion in late 2018, the transformation of both spaces will reveal and restore previously hidden heritage features and provide new, state of the art facilities. This illustrated talk will offer an overview of the redevelopment plans and conservation work, and will be an opportunity to ask questions about the project.
The Heritage Vibe
Gwendolen Powell, Head of Interpretation, Tricolor
Founders Room 2.30pm - 3.15pm
Free admission, limited capacity seating
Discover our top ten stories uncovered during developing new interpretation for Brighton Dome Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre.
