UK Census 1921, Preston Manor
The release to the public of the 1921 census on 6 January 2022 has opened the door to a day in the life of Preston Manor when it was a private house. The Manor would not become a museum until 1933. … 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
Brooker Hall
As a modern museum with a Wizard’s Attic and galleries of exhibits, it is easy to forget that Hove Museum was once a family home. The building was constructed in the 1870s as the home of John Olliver Vallance. It … Continued
Remembering Ernest Beal
Remembrance of the end of the First World War was marked by many people and families as they remembered their own family stories alongside the national commemorations. This is my story. I remember my maiden aunt, May. She wore a beautiful, … Continued
Looking back at the WW1 centenary
With this year’s Remembrance Sunday marking 100 years since the signing of the armistice that ended WW1, there has been fresh attention on the Royal Pavilion’s use as an Indian military hospital. Even though it’s been several years since I … Continued
‘Hope Welcomes All Who Enter Here’: the Royal Pavilion’s workshop for First World War amputees
The 7th July 2016 marked the centenary Queen Mary’s Workshop on the East Lawn in the Royal Pavilion Garden. During the years 1916 to 1920, the Royal Pavilion was transformed into the Pavilion Military Hospital for Limbless soldiers, which included … Continued
From Western Front to Sea Front: The Pavilion “Blues”
The first edition of The Pavilion “Blues” was published during June 1916. Researcher, Jo Palache, describes how the magazine reveals the experience of patients and staff at the Pavilion Military Hospital for limbless soldiers during the First World War. Very … Continued
Mir Dast — the man behind the plaque
Last Sunday, a blue plaque was unveiled on the Royal Pavilion Estate, near the Indian Gate at the southern entrance to the estate. The plaque commemorates Mir Dast, a patient at the WW1 Royal Pavilion Indian Military Hospital, who was … Continued
The Last of the Stanfords
In Vere Fane-Benett-Stanford, His Letters and Diary during the Great War, London, 1923 (henceforth abbreviated to Letters), a picture emerges of the last in the line of the Stanfords of Preston Manor, Brighton. Vere Fane-Benett-Stanford recorded many of his experiences of the First … Continued
The ‘Ancient’ Game in a Modern Conflict
Technical advancement met the battlefield in the First World War. Increasingly mechanised on a scale never before seen, the war became a “storm of steel”, coined as the title to the memoir of German officer Ernst Jünger’s experiences on the … Continued
Untold War Stories
In advance of her bite-size talk at Brighton Museum tomorrow, War Stories curator Jody East discusses one of the untold stories she discovered during her research for the exhibition. The exhibition War Stories: Voices from the First World War focuses … Continued
The Ghost of Halton Grange
Happy Halloween and welcome to my spooky first blog post. As part of my Digital Media Apprenticeship, I have been sourcing some interesting images and poetry from the Pavilion Blues newspaper. The newspaper was produced by patients who were recovering from … Continued
The school trip to Brighton Museum
Waterproof anorak, a jumper and sandwiches. Some crisps, a juicy drink and a chocolate biscuit in a wrapper for afters. Packing for a school trip hasn’t changed for donkey’s years and possibly never will. I’m joining the Year 6 Greens … Continued
Behind the scenes at the War Stories exhibition
Bathed in a newly-painted rich sombre aubergine, the walls of the upstairs galleries of the Brighton Museum are busy as curators, designers and staff hang signs, secure lighting and slowly peel off sticky back plastic. Photographers and a camera … Continued
Read all about it – World War 1 in literature
It’s a very exciting day today for the people at the Brighton Museum as it’s the press day for the War Stories:Voices from the First World War exhibition. The exhibition has been years in the planning and will hopefully introduce young … Continued
Brighton’s young actors bring Preston Manor to life
I couldn’t help feeling a pang of envy when I visited Preston Manor last week to talk to some lucky young actors from Brighton and Hove. They were taking part in a ‘site specific’ performance – in other words, a … Continued
Dressing up as an Edwardian child for World War 1 topic
Earlier this week it was dressing up day for my children at school. They are at junior school and this term, like many other school children across Europe, they’re studying the First World War. They’ve been asked to dress up as … Continued
Lt. Col. George Henry Bull IMS — a volunteer out of retirement at the Pavilion Hospital
We have recently been contacted by Georgina Hutber, a descendant of an officer stationed at the First World War Pavilion hospital. Georgina has kindly written us a short biography of her great great uncle, and it provides an insight into … Continued
Free images and digital assets about the First World War
Go here to access the material, or read more below. This year, we will be marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War with several exhibitions and events. We will also be exploring the subject online, and … Continued
First Thoughts On The Great War
Some of the biggest public projects across Britain (and Europe) next year will be the events and exhibitions marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War. On Radio 4 the other day there was a discussion between government minister Maria Miller … Continued
