THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

Photograph by John Stepney.

THE MYSTERY OF THE DOMES

Copyright Valerie Martin 2006

The domes arrived in Findon in 2005...... when renovation work was being carried out on the Brighton Station complex....

The domes formed part of the structure of one of the Brighton Station buildings that Chris Gilbert was connected with and he decided to attempt to save them.   

 

The story goes that for years before that these domes were part of the original Palace Pier Theatre prior to it being demolished.  If this is true, it is the second time the domes have been rescued.   Or on the other hand, are they just copies?

They were unceremoniously delivered to his home in Findon on a large lorry —

"Here are your domes, luv" said the driver.   

"What ?"    That was the first that Jan (Mrs Gilbert) had heard of them.     They were soon sent packing.  

That is how they came to be laying outside his office in the High Street.   

 

30th April 2006

V

Domes

The 2 domes from Brighton pier are still outside 1 The Parade, High Street, Findon.

They have been covered up for over a year now, no sign of them being uncovered or moving.

John Stepney

John Stepney, Findon Village, West Sussex.

 

No one appears to be interested in the domes today, not even any of the preservation societies.   They have also appeared on Ebay and received no takers.

 

30th April 2006

Hi Valerie.

Palace Pier Domes

This may help for info on the Domes:

 

Two domes originally forming part of the theatre on BRIGHTON PALACE have been rescued and auctioned on the e-Bay website.

The domes are currently stored at an address just outside Worthing.

They are well made with timber frames covered in a zinc skin and painted silver/grey.

The needle helmets lift off for ease of transport and maintenance. 

One is in good condition, the other is slightly damaged.

The theatre itself is said to have been “lost” after being dismantled in 1986 for maintenance of the decking beneath.

The owners of Palace pier are apparently not interested in acquiring them, nor is Brighton Museum.

They weigh about 700 lbs and are about 200 cm. high, so would need to be transported by lorry.

Ideally they should be installed on a pier once again, though they would make novel garden ornaments.

 


Cheers,

Peter Trounce, Toronto, Canada

P. S.  I wonder if planning permission would be needed to use them as garden
ornaments ?

 

 

Phil Godden in Findon reported that the domes had appeared again just after Easter in 2008....

"Hi Valerie, Ali Baba has landed.....What’s occurring by the Black Horse?

click Phil's images to enlarge

 

Have aliens landed or can we expect a new Arabian restaurant to be opening soon?

Regards  ....Phil.....P.S. I’m sure I’ve seen these structures somewhere before."

Yes, you've seen them before..... on this website, Phil.
 

Click on the link if you would like to read about Local Birds — Feathered Variety.

 

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THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

 

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com