ALL ROADS LEAD TO DOME REPAIR

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Royal Pavilion successfully repairs 200-year-old roof ‘onion’after public appeal

Brighton & Hove Museums, the charitable trust that looks after the Royal Pavilion, has today revealed that one of the ‘at risk’ 200-year-old iconic domes on the palace’s roof has been successfully repaired after a public funding appeal which raised over £30,000 in 48 hours.

In August 2024, during routine maintenance, contractors were shocked to find that a crack in the dome on the east side of the Royal Pavilion was letting in substantial amounts of rainwater. Closer inspection revealed that there was significant rotting on the central timber post and urgent repairs were needed to save the dome.

As this was beyond the scope of the charity’s funding after a challenging year for tourism, the trust appealed to the public to help ‘raise the roof’.

Just five months later and costing £65K (excluding scaffolding costs), the dome is now safe and fully repaired. Led by architect Bob Sandford from Julian Harrap Architects LLP and contractors Paye Stonework and Restoration, the work was completed carefully and meticulously in one of the most challenging seasons of the year, winter.

Firstly, to assess the extent of the damage, small sections of render were carefully removed around the upper perimeter of the dome. This process exposed significant decay across the entire upper dome, including the central post.

To facilitate repairs, the scaffold was modified to support the weight of the stone finial above the dome, allowing work to proceed safely beneath. The render on the upper area of the dome, along with the decayed timber structure, was then removed. The damaged timber was replaced with like-for-like materials, ensuring consistency with the original design.

The render was replaced to match the existing fluted details, maintaining the dome’s historic appearance. Finally, the structure was redecorated with a breathable mineral paint to prevent water from becoming trapped, allowing the dome to breathe and ensuring its longevity.

Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums said:

“We were absolutely blown away by the support we received for our initial and subsequent appeals to save the dome, and this allowed us to move very quickly to get it repaired, and thankfully this dome is now saved.

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“However, as a charitable trust responsible for the care and preservation of five important cultural attractions across the city, we need to remain committed to safeguarding these treasures for future generations. In these challenging financial times, it is more important than ever to continue our efforts in raising the vital funds needed to protect, restore, and celebrate our heritage.”

 The dome is part of the iconic skyline of the 19th century seaside ‘pleasure palace’ of George IV, which was designed by British architect John Nash and completed in 1823.

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.

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