Brighton Dome facts for kids
Church Street facade (2013)
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| Location | Brighton, England |
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| Coordinates | 50°49′24″N 0°08′18″W / 50.8234°N 0.1384°W |
| Owner | Brighton & Hove City Council |
| Designation | Grade I |
| Capacity | 1,700 seats (2002–present) 2,100 seats (1935–1999) 2,500 seats (1867–1934) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 24 June 1867 |
| Renovated | 1934–1935, 1999–2002 |
| Expanded | 1935 |
| Reopened | 18 March 2002 |
| Architect | Robert Atkinson (1934–1935) |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: The Corn Exchange and Dome Theatre | |
| Designated: | 13 October 1952 |
| Reference #: | 1380398 |
The Brighton Dome is a famous arts and events venue located in Brighton, England. It includes three main spaces: the Concert Hall, the Corn Exchange, and the Studio Theatre. These venues are connected to the Royal Pavilion and Brighton Museum by tunnels and shared hallways. The Brighton Dome is a very important historic building, recognized as a Grade I listed building.
Contents
History of Brighton Dome
The buildings that make up the Brighton Dome today were originally designed in the early 1800s. They were built for the Prince Regent, who later became King George IV.
The Concert Hall's Past
The Concert Hall was first built as stables for the Prince Regent's horses. It was designed to hold 44 horses in a circular layout. The building's large, round roof, called a cupola, was 80 feet (24 m) wide and 65 feet (20 m) high. This dome-shaped roof is what gave the building its name, "The Dome." A big lotus-shaped fountain in the center was used to water the horses. The stables were ready for use by 1806.
In 1850, Queen Victoria sold the Royal Pavilion Estate, including these buildings, to the town of Brighton for £50,000. People had many ideas for what to do with the Concert Hall, including turning it into a law court or a swimming pool. Eventually, it was decided to make it into an assembly hall for public gatherings. Work started in 1866. The new design featured colorful paintings, stained glass windows, and a huge gas-powered chandelier. This chandelier was 31.6 feet (9.6 m) tall and 14 feet (4.3 m) wide, with over 520 gas jets! It was taken down in 1888 because it was too expensive to run.
More improvements were made in 1934, including changes to the entrance and inside of the building. Between 1999 and 2002, the Concert Hall had a major update costing £22 million. This included a new sound system, better seating, and improved areas for visitors. The renovated building was reopened by the Princess Royal in 2002.
The Corn Exchange's Purpose
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The Corn Exchange was originally the Prince Regent's riding school. It was a very large space, 174 feet (53 m) long, 58 feet (18 m) wide, and 34 feet (10 m) high. On 1 October 1868, it officially became the town's corn exchange, a place where grain was bought and sold. In 1934, a large sculpture of Ceres, the goddess of corn, was placed at the entrance.
The Studio Theatre's Beginnings
The Studio Theatre is built on the site of stables that were constructed in 1808 for Maria Fitzherbert, a close friend of the Prince Regent. These stables were later taken down. In 1935, new "Supper Rooms" were built there, which were soon changed into the theatre we know today.
Later History and Famous Events
During the First World War, the Brighton Dome and the Royal Pavilion were used as hospitals for injured Indian soldiers. It was thought that the Indian-inspired design of the buildings would make them feel more comfortable. From December 1914 to February 1916, over 4,000 wounded soldiers were cared for in these makeshift hospitals. Three operating rooms were set up, one inside the Brighton Dome itself.
The Brighton Dome became a popular place for concerts and shows. Famous bands like The Who played there in April 1967. Pink Floyd even performed an early version of their famous album The Dark Side of the Moon at the Dome on January 20, 1972.
One of the most famous events held at the Brighton Dome was the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 on April 6, 1974. This is where the Swedish band ABBA won with their hit song "Waterloo". More recently, the UK's national selection show for Eurovision, Eurovision: You Decide, was held at the venue in 2018.
The Dome Organ
The Brighton Dome's Concert Hall is home to a very special pipe organ. The first organ was built in 1870 by a famous company called Henry Willis & Sons. It was a large instrument with many different sounds. This original organ was removed in 1935 and never returned. The current organ, which replaced it in 1935, was built by Hill, Norman and Beard. It is an impressive instrument with four keyboards and many different sound options.
See also
- Corn exchanges in England
