The Big Bowie Draw

It’s been a while since we had our Midweek Draw, so we thought we would do a special Bowie Inspired Draw to celebrate what would have been his 75th Birthday on the 8th.  Happy Birthday Starman. Will you be inspired … Continued

A Royal Pavilion Wedding, 27 December 1830

On 27 December 1830, Amelia Fitzclarence, one of King William IV’s illegitimate daughters with Mrs Dorothea Jordan, married Lucius Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland, at the Royal Pavilion.  This may sound odd, but the many children William IV had with Mrs … Continued

Prince Albert driving the Queen and Princess Royal in their Sledge, at Brighton, 1845

This print of Queen Victoria’s last recorded visit to the Royal Pavilion, in February 1845, was published in The Illustrated London News. It is one of the most popular images in our collection, perhaps because it looks utterly romantic. Who’s … Continued

Seeds and Christmas Greenery Sale in the Garden, Friday 17th

The garden volunteers are having their annual seed and greenery sale for your festive wreath making, this Friday 17th. Stuck for stocking fillers? Fancy having a go at making a wreath this year? Then why not come along to our … Continued

Absolutely Fabergé!

Discover the Mystery of the newly revealed Fabergé items found by Antiques Roadshow expert Geoffrey Munn… Recently, antiques expert Geoffrey Munn (man-on-telly and all-round good egg) came to visit curator Martin Pel and I, at Brighton Museum. Previously, on an … Continued

Royal Pavilion Garden Greeters

If you were strolling in Pavilion Gardens on any weekend this summer, you will have seen our purple and gold t-shirts and banner, asking “Can We Help?” As Garden Greeters we’re on hand to welcome visitors, promote the Royal Pavilion … Continued

London’s Camden Town Group visits Brighton and Eastbourne

Some of my favourite early 20th century English artists have been highlighted in two exhibitions in Sussex – the ongoing Down from London: Spencer Gore and Friends at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, and John Nash: The Landscape of Love … Continued

Opening up the Chinese wallpaper collection

Ever wondered what is kept in the stores at the Royal Pavilion? Our paper conservator Amy Junker Heslip looks forward to opening up our Chinese wallpaper collection. The Prince Regent, the creator of the Royal Pavilion, used Chinese wallpapers in … Continued

Queen’s Road, 1931

This photograph taken outside Brighton Railway Station shows Hudsons Depositories at 78-80 Queens Road. Part of the site became the Sergeant Yorke Casino in 1971 before it was redeveloped into a hotel in 2012. Familiar Brands, Familiar Faces A few … Continued

Oxen Moving a Mill, 1797

This picture shows an event that took place in 1797, when a windmill was moved from Brighton seafront to a new location. The watercolour was painted by Percy Macquoid and is a copy of an oil painting. What can we … Continued

The Battle of Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo took place on June 18 in 1815 in what is now part of Belgium. Napoleon Bonaparte was finally defeated by a British-led coalition led by the Duke of Wellington and the Prussian Army. The battle marked … Continued

Doughty’s Dogs on the West Pier

This postcard shows James Doughty and his dogs performing on the West Pier in Brighton in 1908. After a long career as a travelling clown and showman, James Doughty came to settle in Brighton. He would carry on performing until … Continued

A ‘beautiful and splendid cabinet of the arts’ in Brighton, 200 years ago

Now that museums and galleries are reopening, we look at an early Brighton picture gallery in the Circus Street area.  What cultural entertainment was available in Brighton 200 years ago? Apart from events at assembly rooms, horse racing, theatres and … Continued

‘There are two sides to every question, and two teams to every Football match’ – a 1930s’ guide to appreciating football from Brighton & Hove Albion

Following the UEFA Euro 2020, we thought we’d take a look at our football related collections for guidance on how to cope with the highs and lows that might present themselves as the tournament progresses. Writing in Brighton & Hove … Continued

Harriet Elphinstone-Dick

On the 9 September 1875, in rough open water Harriet Elphinstone-Dick swam seven miles from Shoreham Harbour to Brighton’s West Pier. She completed the distance in a record making 2 hours and 45 minutes. It was regarded as one of … Continued

Diving on the Piers

The city’s seafront is already buzzing with tourists and locals alike and the summer has only just begun. In the days prior to the First World War, visitors to Brighton and Hove also gravitated there, attracted by the beach and … Continued

Octagonal House

This attractive if oddly shaped house once stood in Rottingdean. With its white picket fence and trailing ivy, it looks like a desirable and well-kept residence. So why did no one ever live here? The simple answer is that the … Continued

Hanningtons: ‘Famed for Richness of Quality, Undoubted Reliability and Moderate Prices’

On the corner of North Street and East Street, there are several buildings with pastel-and-white decoration on their upper floor facades. The lower floors are now home to a variety of different shops and cafés.  However, before 2001, the whole … Continued

Here comes the Moon: Edward Louis Lawrenson’s 1920s Sussex Moonrise

On the occasion of this year’s Harvest Moon (20/21 September) and the Autumn equinox (22 September) we hung this atmospheric landscape painting in Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. Curator Alexandra Loske takes a closer look at the painting and its … Continued

Sound Bites: The making of ‘Down in the Kitchen’ at Preston Manor

For a short time only, visitors to Preston Manor will be able to experience an interactive sound installation, and browse a series of colourful, handmade zines; all about food. ‘Down in the Kitchen’ was developed in response to the Heritage … Continued