Brighton Royal Pavilion Exhibition

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is home to a historic elm collection, which will be showcased in the upcoming exhibition, Living Monuments: A Discovery of the Pavilion Elms, starting on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, and running until Friday, 22 October 2027. Visitors will be able to explore the collection, which features eleven recorded species, including the Wych Elm and the English Elm, and learn about their ecological history, horticultural craft, and civic memory.

The project is led by Ashley Brown, a postgraduate researcher in Curating Collections and Heritage at the University of Brighton, who has been working with the Access and Interpretation team at the Royal Pavilion. Brown's research aims to create a living archive of the elm collection, making it easily accessible for visitors to enjoy. The trees have been geolocated and assigned accurate co-ordinates and what3words locations, allowing visitors to explore the collection with ease.

Ashley Brown's background in material culture, heritage, and inclusive storytelling has driven her passion for this project. With a decade of operational management experience and an MA in Curating Collections and Heritage, Brown is well-equipped to lead this project. Her work will shape new audio tours and signage, inviting visitors to explore the Pavilion's living archive. Tickets are with the button beside the article.