Pavilion 'stunned' by success of appeal to save dome

The broken render and rotting wood were found during routine repair work

The head of Brighton’s Royal Pavilion said he was “stunned” by the response to an urgent appeal for funds to help save one of the building’s domes.

Brighton & Hove Museums had only £10,000 of the £20,000 it needed to make the repairs when it made its appeal last week.

In just three days it received £27,500, exceeding the target by £17,500. The extra money will be spent on specialist repairs to the pavilion’s copper banqueting room canopy and windows.

Hedley Swain, head of Brighton & Hove Museums, said: “We are overwhelmed by the amazing response following our initial dome repair appeal. We can’t thank our supporters enough.”

It was revealed how one of the pavilion’s domes was at risk of collapsing.

A large hole was discovered in the render that had allowed water into the structure, causing it to rot.

The extra money will be spent on work to protect the banqueting room's dragon chandelier

Work has already begun on repairing the dome, which sits on the roof to the right of the main entrance, and will last for about six weeks.

It means attention will now turn to renovating the banqueting room.

Mr Swain said that the windows are failing, which is causing water damage to the roof and putting the three-tonne dragon chandelier at risk.