An urgent appeal has been launched to raise £10,000 to restore a 200-year-old dome on Brighton's Royal Pavilion.

Brighton and Hove Museums, the charity that owns and runs the historic landmark, is seeking support to save the dome near the front entrance after it was damaged by water.

The problem was discovered during routine maintenance work when contractors were shocked to find that a crack in the dome's exterior was letting more water inside than previously thought.

This has caused significant rotting on the central timber post and framework supporting the dome, putting it at risk of collapse.

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(Image: Brighton and Hove Museums)

This means the dome, which was built in 1823, is in need of urgent repairs.

Jo Hatwell, historic buildings manager of Brighton and Hove Museums, said: "We have been working on the roof of the Royal Pavilion for a number of months carrying out essential cleaning and repairs to the stonework.

"Although we knew there were certain areas of the render that were weaker that we were monitoring, we were alarmed at just how significant the damage was and the extent of the damage on the wood.

“The domes are an iconic feature of the architect John Nash’s work on the Pavilion, and it is devastating that this has happened.

The dome is rotting inside and at risk of collapse (Image: Brighton and Hove Museums)

"We have to galvanise quickly, but our budgets are currently stretched with the vital work we are carrying out on the Brighton Museum and Gallery roof restoration, so we are appealing for extra assistance to help us fix this small but important dome.”

The charity needs £10,000 to fill the funding shortfall needed to replace the dome.

Architects Julian Harrap have looked at the best way to fix the dome quickly, which will involve installing a new upper timber post and re-rendering the stonework.

Donations can be made at https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/about-us/support-us/domeappeal/.

CEO of Brighton and Hove Museums Hedley Swain said: "The domes of the Royal Pavilion remain a striking and iconic example of early 19th-century British architecture, showcasing a unique blend of styles that continue to captivate visitors today.

"Our conservation team work tirelessly to keep on top of the huge amount of maintenance this 200-year-old building requires, but it is difficult to plan for all eventualities, such as the failure of a stone render.

"As a charity, our reserves are limited, especially as we have spent the last few years in recovery following the pandemic.

"We are calling on support to help us close this gap in funding and restore the dome to its original splendour."

The Royal Pavilion was originally built as a summer getaway for King George IV, the then Prince Regent.

The retreat was heavily influenced by architect John Nash in the early 19th century, and was built and complete by 1823.

Brighton and Hove Museums now rely heavily on donations, grants and admission fees to maintain heritage sites such as the pavilion around the city.

The charity said the annual cost of maintaining the 200-year-old site is around £900,000, excluding the additional expenses of repairs, renovations and upgrading.