One of the Royal Pavilion’s onion-shaped domes is cracked and at risk of collapse.
Brighton and Hove Museums, which runs the pavilion, has launched an appeal to raise £10,000 it is short of to fund repairs.
It says contractors inspecting the dome during routine maintenance were shocked when they discovered the crack was letting in water.
The 200-year-old dome, one of the smaller domes on the east of the building near the front entrance, now has significant rotting on its central timber post and framework.
Jo Hatwell, Historic Buildings Manager of Brighton and Hove Museums said: “We have been working on the roof of the Royal Pavilion for a number of months carrying out essential cleaning and repairs to the stonework.
“Although we knew there were certain areas of the render that were weaker that we were monitoring, we were alarmed at just how significant the damage was and the extent of the damage on the wood.
“The domes are an iconic feature of John Nash’s work on the Pavilion, and it is devastating that this has happened.
“We have to galvanise quickly, but our budgets are currently stretched with the vital work we are carrying out on the Brighton Museum and Gallery roof restoration, so we are appealing for extra assistance to help us fix this small but important dome.”
Architects Julian Harrap have looked at how they might go about fixing the dome quickly, installing a new upper timber post and re-rendering the stonework in situ, a very intricate and difficult process.
Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton and Hove Museums said: “The domes of the Royal Pavilion remain a striking and iconic example of early 19th-century British architecture, showcasing a unique blend of styles that continue to captivate visitors today.
“Our conservation team work tirelessly to keep on top of the huge amount of maintenance this 200-year-old building requires, but it is difficult to plan for all eventualities, such as the failure of a stone render.
“As a charity, our reserves are limited, especially as we have spent the last few years in recovery following the pandemic.
“We are calling on support to help us close this gap in funding and restore the dome to its original splendour”
Running costs for heritage venues are an ongoing concern for operators across the UK and beyond, especially with rising costs for electricity, supplies and repairs.
It costs around £900,000 a year to look after the 200-year-old Royal Pavilion, without the addition of repairs, renovations and upgrading.
Brighton & Hove Museums is a registered charity that relies on donations, grants and admission to operate its five heritage venues which include Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Preston Manor & Garden, Booth Museum of Natural History and Hove Museum of Creativity.
The Trust lost me as a member, due to the disdain with which members are treated.
Ouch, so close! Spend an upkeep budget of £900k a year, and find yourself 10k short… or a part of a historic building faces iminenent collapse? Cut the ridiculous salaries of the “charity” bosses, or more simply sack them, for allowing such a failure in the budget! If they do take 100k a year as a salary, the least that they could do is bump up the 10k out of their own pocket!!!!!
You’re correct a big proportion goes to salaries, but without staff, who will actually maintain the property?
Let the royals pay for it, their hardly short of a few Bob.
They have’t owned the Pavilion for almost 175 years. So well out of warrenty!
Can only ask them for a donation, all they can say is no,was there talk earlier this year of Harry and Megan taking up residence at the Palace.
On April 1.
Oh is that what all the laughter was about, you kidders.
On a serious note,flog the faberge heirlooms they found a few years ago in the basement, the fact that they were probably stolen during the Russian revolution and brought here by a spy is even more a case to sell them,you could pay renovations for the next 50 years.
Don’t worry BHCC will take care of it. They have a spotless record when it comes to safeguarding the architectural heritage of B&H.
I assume you are being ironic. Look at the seafront terraces which have been left in disrepair for about 12 years.
According to the Charity Commissions website one employee of the trust earns between £90,000 to £100,000 per annum. Get rid of him/her and use the money saved to do the repairs…
Yup – “charity” is often a misleading term these days. It is a business, albeit a not for profit, but a business nonetheless.
As Chris says, Charity is a term that a business can adopt under certain circumstances to claim tax breaks. The days of your mum standing rattling a tin on the street are no more. It isn’t that. It’s a huge business handling vast amounts of turnover and trying to avoid taxation, which includes ‘allowances’ for ‘board members’, associates, preferred contractors, and just about everything else you can find plotted at the local Freemason’s Lodge.
The later years of management run the Royal Pavilion as a cut throat business, and charges for entry are enormous. Totally out of touch with the public’s purses.
Cut the admissions prices by three quarters and you will soon see the revenue flood in from many people who would like to enter the building but cannot afford to do so.
Make up the revenue with snacks and refreshments. By removing the cafe it has taken away the incentive for some of the regulars to meet up in the Pavilion.
Even a tea/coffee machine and pre-packeted biscuits and slices of cake would be better than nothing, and less manpower to manage.
Not everyone wants to stomp up for an annual pass or one fee covering a year’s admission, especially if cash strapped and visiting for a day in town with family.
We have repeatedly given suggestions for improving revenue and footfall but it falls upon deaf ears at the top.
I watch so many people arrive to go in, and once they see the costs of entry, they are disappointed and have to tell their children far too expensive. Both visitors and locals, families and pensioners have sadly declined entry in their droves.
Standing outside for 45 minutes during the winter, awaiting family, I saw about 40 people arrive at the entrance and only less than a quarter of them went in, due to the costs.
We know how much it costs to run the Pavilion, but when charges are prohibitive, it has turned into a virtual white elephant, sitting there in its declining glory.
Bring back some of the former brilliant events such as the Regency Dancing evenings whereupon members could go in free, but the Pavilion raised the funds from the sale of wine etc. during the evenings.
Our group are regular members, but restricted by numbers of people we can take in at any one time and so cheaper alternative multiple entry charges would be appreciated for local groups.
Whilst the management of the Pavilion continue to run the Pavilion as an elite venue for high end and high cost lecture charges, the majority of the public are prevented from accessing what is supposed to have been a venue bought by the town of Brighton, for the public.
Charging members who have already paid apx. £50.00 plus annual entry ticket, another £20 or £30 to hear an hour’s lecture where most info. can be found online free, is unacceptable.
Hedley Swain needs to stop catering solely for the so called rich elite.
He needs reminding as custodian of the Pavilion he has a duty to offer reasonable access for the benefit of everyone, and not just those who can afford astronomical entry fees.
Wow,£49.50 for 2 adults and 4 kids entrance fee,that is taking the mickey tbf.
Every bit of Brighton seems to be in disrepair and rather shabby.
What the Council been doing over last few years? Not a lot!
Sorry – we’ve spent all the money on cycle lanes. Pip Pip!
This isn’t the Mail Online.
I would happily have chipped in before they got planning permission to put up a fence. Since those plans went in, I’ve lost confidence in the current trustees. As for having a so-called charity boss on a six-figure salary, it’s just not right.
Let the council fund it out of the fines the make out of the poor old motorists, and not collecting the debt owed by the i.360and SQUANDERING £ 100,000 on street furniture,.THEY ALL KNOW WHERE TO COME DONT THEY ,WHEN IT GOES PEAR SHAPED F.EM,,.
Is your keyboard broken?
The top management of the pavilion should rethink admission prices..an example of 2 people at £50 ..or 10 people at £25 = £150 more profit..Meaning 8 more people get to enjoy the same experience..not difficult is it.
As the extra feet through the door could purchase more in gift shop ..win win for everyone..
There is much wrong with ‘Brighton Management’ you’re right about attracting visitors and encouraging tourist spending. Many of the streets and buildings have been neglected over the years and Brighton is becoming a rundown city. We should all be proud of the majestic architecture in this city much of which needs a good lick of paint. Especially on the entry roads into the city. First impressions and all that. Disrepair on the road surfaces is shocking. Half a road repaired and the half left one example is Upper Hollingdean Road a major link across Brighton and there are many more like it. At the moment complacency rules with the Powers that be. Make us proud again of this amazing city.