Pavilion dome saved from decay after fundraiser

Urgent repairs have been completed on the roof of Brighton's famous Royal Pavilion after a fundraising appeal to save one of its domes.

Brighton & Hove Museums, the charitable trust that looks after the pavilion, launched a campaign to save the roof of the building after a crack in one of its domes was found to be letting in rainwater.

The trust has now announced the dome has been fully repaired after the campaign raised over £30,000 in two days.

Hedley Swain, chief executive of the trust, said he was "absolutely blown away" by the support and the trust remained committed to safeguarding the sites.

Significant decay was found across the entire upper dome of the pavilion including its central timber post, the trust said.

Repairs on the 200-year-old dome cost £65,000 and took five months to complete.

Following repairs the dome was repainted with a breathable paint to try to prevent future water damage.

Mr Swain 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.

"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."

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