It has been 80 years since the beginning of a renovation project which transformed the Brighton Dome. From humble beginnings as royal stables, through major refurbishments, closures and reopenings, FLORA THOMPSON looks at the history of the venue.

It is hard to believe that the iconic Brighton Dome began life as a stable block.

Commissioned by the flamboyant Prince of Wales, who later became King George IV in the early 1800s, additions and alterations were made to a small lodging house he would stay in that overlooked Old Steine.

Because of his love of horsemanship, he enlisted the help of architect William Porden to draw up plans for a vast new stable block, now the concert hall, for his horses.

In 1806, it was recorded as holding 61 stalls and it replaced the original stables which were south of what was to become the Marine Pavilion, and later the Royal Pavilion.

The project took five years to complete and cost more than £54,000, a small fortune which resulted in the King appealing to Parliament to clear his son’s debts.

The oriental inspiration for the exterior of the dome came from an aquatint – a type of etching – on the famous Jama Masjid mosque in Delhi.

The designs were published by artists William and Thomas Daniell in Oriental Scenery, reflecting the period’s fashion for Indian designs.

The interior paid homage to the corn exchange in Paris.

The roof was 80ft in diameter and 65ft high, making it one of the largest constructions of its time in the world. Many feared it would collapse once completed.

An underground passage, which still exists today, was built to run between the stables and the northern end of the Royal Pavilion.

However, the prince’s niece, Queen Victoria, took a dislike to Brighton and the Royal Pavilion Estate so the stable building was bought by the town in 1850 and used as a cavalry barracks from 1856 to 1864.

Its interior was remodelled by architect Philip Lockwood for £10,000 before reopening in June 1867 as a concert and assembly hall, fit to hold 2,500 people and boasting a 16ft-diameter gas chandelier centrepiece.

The riding house was also closed for restoration and reopened as the Corn Exchange in October 1868.

Little more than a century after it was created, in 1934, the Dome faced a major re-development which kick-started it as the venue it is known as today.

The concert hall was transformed by architect Robert Atkinson at a cost of £57,000. This included the period art-deco interior styles.

Builders ripped out everything but the steel structure so little of the original stables remain.

The great chandelier also disappeared, supposedly broken up and shared among the workers.

The building seated 2,100 with the audience perched on cane seats and bare-back benches and featured a new balcony level and state-of-the-art concert organ.

Supper room The Corn Exchange was treated to a £34,000 restoration and a derelict stable once belonging the prince’s mistress Maria Fitzherbert became a supper room and kitchen to serve it.

But this soon became a third performance venue, the 250-seat Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, previously known as the Pavilion Theatre.

Thanks to Big Lottery funding, Brighton and Hove City Council and other individual, corporate and trust supporters, Brighton Dome embarked on another major renovation in 1999.

The building was officially reopened three years later, in 2002, by Princess Anne.

The Concert Hall now boasts a seating capacity of 1,800 and removable stalls to house a standing audience or extended stage.

The acoustics were upgraded to serve concert performances and amplified sound.

Andrew Comben, chief executive of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival, said: “Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival is now the major arts and cultural provider in the city, delivering a year-round programme of innovative theatre, music, dance and outreach events as well as the annual Brighton Festival each May, the largest in England.

“As part of the historic Royal Pavilion Estate, which draws more than 1.2 million visitors a year and contributes some £60 million to the local economy, the Grade I listed Brighton Dome is at the cultural heart of the city.

“With the development plans we have for the estate and its surrounding areas, we hope to ensure it remains the thriving, celebrated and sustainable venue which the city deserves.”

To support the project, visit www.brightondome.org.