Heritage Weekend
BRIGHTON AND HOVE OPEN DOOR 2008
Heritage Open Days began in 1994 as England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49 countries now take part. In England, the event is co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage. In 2007 over a million people participated in England alone, making it the country’s biggest cultural event. For four days every September, visitors are allowed free access to properties which are either not normally open, or otherwise have an admission charge. Buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddist temples, private homes to hospitals.
Brighton and Hove’s contribution is co-ordinated by staff and volunteers at the Regency Town House Heritage Centre, Brunswick Square. In 2007, over 30 local residents and organisations opened their buildings to the public. These included Montpelier Hall, The Masonic Centre, Embassy Court and St Dunstan’s.
In 2008, the event will be between 11 and 24 September. The aim is to make BHOD bigger and better than ever before. This year, there will be three distinct themes :
Fashionable Houses
This aims to span the entire history of fashionable domestic architecture in Brighton and Hove. Participating properties can be of any period and style – Regency houses in places like Kemptown, Brunswick Town and Marine Parade ; Victorian and Edwardian homes in places such as the Avenues, Pembroke Crescent, Grand Avenue and Patcham’s London Road ; or 20th/ 21st Century houses and apartments in locations such as Furze Croft, Sussex Heights, the Van Allen Building and Dyke Road.
Industrial Archaeology
The focus here is on industrial locations such as windmills, railway stations, engineering workshops, factories, shops, slaughter-houses etc – as well as the houses of the people who worked in them. The spotlight in 2008 will be on two areas in particular : The North Laine district, and also the historically active commercial zones to the West of Brighton, e.g. the old brewery building in Portslade Village (now Le Carbone), Shoreham port and power station, and some of the previously commercial property alongside Hove’s railway lines.
Religious Spaces
This theme incorporates several strands including style and ornament as well as the spaces associated with religious buildings, such as graveyards and crypts. This category will ideally include examples such as St Nicolas’ Church and graveyard, St Michael’s and All Angels (with its outstanding stained glass), the Church of St John the Evangelist (now Greek Orthodox), the Swaminarayana Temple, the Al-Medina Mosque and the Middle Street Synagogue.
The organisers of BRIGHTON AND HOVE OPEN DOOR 2008 warmly invite offers to participate. BHOD will advise on how to register as a participant and how to offer specific tour times on specific dates. BHOD can also offer an online booking system, and can even if necessary provide guides to escort visitors around your property.
Will you enter the spirit of this great event and throw open your doors?
11th – 14th September 2008
Please contact Leigh Rush or Nick Tyson at the Regency Townhouse on
01273 206306