Brighton Aquarium  

The idea of an Aquarium was started in 1866 by Eugenius Birch, architect and engineer who wanted to use his skills to design an extraordinary building on the seafront in Brighton. So that the seawater could be pumped into the tanks by a steam engine, where visitors would be able to see sea creatures face to face through the glass, in some of the largest tanks that had ever been engineered. It was to be a splendid decorative building, a social place to delight people encouraging them to spend time in the beautiful surroundings including a grand entrance hall, conservatory and winter garden.

Six years later, on the 10^th of August in 1872 saw the grand opening of the Aquarium to the public. In 2022 it will be 150 years since the building opened, it is the oldest working aquarium in the world. A grade 11 listed building with a varied and interesting history, now SeaLife Brighton.

Talk by Jackie Marsh-Hobbs, Lecturer, Specialist guide, local historian and researcher. BA. Hons 2.1 in ‘The History of Decorative Arts and Crafts’ at the University of Brighton. Certificate of Education at Brighton College of Technology.

The event will take place via Zoom and is open to all without charge.  If you would like to attend, please send your email address to honsec@regencysociety.org.  You will receive a Zoom link to gain access to the meeting.  It will be sent by email a day or so before the event.