Historic carvings, long-lost memories and forgotten entrances are just some of the secrets revealed during the refurbishment of our Grade I and Grade II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre.

Award-winning architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) worked alongside many skilled contractors to uncover and conserve vital historical features and protect the buildings for generations to come. Support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund has also been instrumental in helping us research and celebrate Brighton Dome’s rich history.

The beginning

Reaching back over 200 years, the Concert Hall and Corn Exchange were originally built as the stable and riding school for the Prince Regent in 1803.

Years later during a radical Art-Deco refurbishment in 1934-35, the Studio Theatre was built as a supper room by architect Robert Atkinson.

Inside the Studio Theatre. Photo: Andy Stagg 

Paint was stripped away to uncover the beautiful original wooden beams of the Corn Exchange ceiling, revealing its 18 metre single span timber frame - the widest of its kind in the country! The ceiling’s beams have been painstakingly repaired and restored to the original designs by architect William Porden in the 1800s.

Close-up of the original beams. Photo: Andy Stagg

During the work, Roman numerals interpreting Porden’s plans were discovered, etched into the timber by the original carpenters who had the unenviable task of assembling the beams into the roof – a sort of historic graffiti!

Elsewhere, 200 year old archive drawings were used to recreate the detail for 34 pilaster columns on the Corn Exchange walls.

A pilaster column in the Corn Exchange. Photo: Andy Stagg 

Forgotten spaces, remembered places

The site has revealed a rich and varied history during this latest refurbishment.

As part of the Corn Exchange restoration, workers discovered three ancient Quaker burial sites beneath the floor, unearthing remains dating back over 300-years. A total of 18 skeletons were found, which were carefully excavated by archeologists and laid to rest at Memorial Cemetery, Woodingdean.

Archaeologists explore the ancient Quaker burial site. Photo: Carlotta Luke

Elsewhere, 200 year old archive drawings were used to recreate the detail for 34 pilaster columns on the Corn Exchange walls.

Art Deco entrance engraving. Photographer unknown 

Greeted by a Goddess

Artists and audiences will be welcomed by the gilded statue of Ceres, the Roman Goddess of Agriculture – referring to the venue’s original purpose as a corn market in the late 1800s.

Originally created by James Woodford OBE RA in 1934-35, Ceres has now been restored to her former glory with careful restoration work and gold leaf finishing.

Statue of Ceres originally by James Woodford. Photo: Andy Stagg 

A kingdom for a horse

Reflecting the venue’s history as a riding house and stables, the new Gallery Bar showcases architectural design studio Drinkall Dean’s etchings of the Prince Regent’s horses' names along the bar front.

Gallery Bar, designed by Drinkall Dean. Photo: Andy Stagg 

The spectacular horse sculpture by West Sussex-based artist Graham Heeley, inspired by a painting of one of the Prince Regent’s favourite horses, Nonpareil, is suspended from the ceiling of the atrium.

Horse sculpture by Graham Heeley. Photo: Andy Stagg 

Visitors can explore the timeline of the venues, from 1800s to present day.

Interactive timeline by SquintOpera. Photo: Andy Stagg 

Flower power

Our other brand-new bar, the Festival Bar, features floral wallpaper, referencing the poster of the first ever Brighton Festival in 1967. The poster’s eye motif has been combined with art by Mike McInnerney, who also designed album covers for The Who, who were a part of the 1967 festival lineup.

Festival Bar. Photo: Andy Stagg 

See for yourselves