One of Hove’s oldest school buildings is marking its 125th anniversary.
The Connaught Centre held an open day yesterday with the support of the Brighton Society.
Activities included a Victorian school experience for “children” of all ages. There were costumes on hand for younger children to help them sample a taste of life in a Dickensian classroom.
Amid the talks – some historical, some about education and some which were both – there was also a compilation of old film clips featuring Hove’s early place in the story of cinema
Demos and displays included old photos and a chance to learn how to make Victorian-style home-made lemonade and wardrobe fresheners.
Some of the old birds from the Victorian collection at the Booth Museum of Natural History – in Dyke Road, Brighton – also made an appearance for those wishing to improve their drawing skills.
Classes with a more modern flavour included taster lessons in foreign languages, including French, Italian and Spanish.
These are among dozens of subjects taught at the Connaught Centre by its current owner City College Brighton and Hove.
The centre occupies the Grade II listed building in Connaught Road, Hove, which English Heritage described as an architecturally distinguished and well-preserved board school.
Staff and volunteers were hoping that archive material could be uploaded from the open day to a much more modern platform – the internet. Click here for the Connaught Centre blog.
