Brighton Bandstand News

With the Brighton Bandstand's restoration already well on its way with some of the structure already being reassembled back in Brighton, this was an initial report of its status from Ted McAvoy of the Leander Architectural Foundry where the restoration was being assessed and carried out.

Overall - Phoenix Foundry set out to build a structure which was all but bomb-proof. It is far more massive and rigid than the archetypal McFarlane and Elmbank examples.

If there was a flaw in Phoenix's design, it was that they made everything a bit too rigid, allowing no expansion / contraction movement between components. Aesthetically, the design is a bit of a mish-mash but it works!

Columns - generally sound apart from shallow flanges which receive outrigger spandrels and matching arches between columns.

The column capital details were cast separately and pinned on - very neatly. So far, we've found no major column defects, though we have a visit from the crack detection specialists so will know more then.

Spandrels and arches - much the same as for the columns. The top 6" of the spandrel arches have corroded fairly badly as they were almost impossible to paint in situ and were neglected as a result. They are not too far gone though. We propose to add a new flange of 50 x 10mm galvanised steel to sit over the damaged ones - see photo.

Balustrades - scruffy. Many small breaks and cracks. Won't know until they're all blasted how many can be reused.

Gutters - the less said the better!

Roof - the roof framework is far and away the most significant piece of design and engineering skill in the whole structure. It's unique, well thought out and has worked superbly to tie the structure together, support the ceiling, carry the timber roof cladding and lantern light AND dispose of the rainwater.

The use of rectangular cast hollow sections for the roof ribs anticipates the way the roof would have been made if rolled steel hollow sections had been available at the time. Apart from the top faces of the ribs, which have corroded and may need plating, all seems to be in good shape, though the upswept extensions which take the rainwater from the gutter are pretty tatty. It's a shame that no-one will see the roof framework once the ceiling is in place!

Leander Architectural

The Brighton Bandstand dismantled, flat-packed and leaving for the Leander Architectural Foundry to be restored or replaced.

The process at the foundry will include sandblasting, saving what is good, making moulds from the original iron work and finally recasting ready to be sent back home to Brighton in about four months time.