Blue Heritage Plaque on the site of the Brighton Institution

Launched on 15th May 2010

By John Walker

A Blue Heritage Plaque was launched on the building located at the original site of the Brighton Institution of the Deaf and Dumb, on Eastern Road, Brighton. Geoffrey Eagling, with support from the British Deaf History Society, gave a short description and Rose, one of the few remaining deaf people who went to the Institution, opened the Plaque.

Geoffrey Eagling, a member of the Sussex Deaf History editorial panel, has researched into the history of the Brighton Institution, which stood on 127-135 Eastern Road from 1854 to 1941. The school became disused when the children were moved to Wivlesfield Green Farm in the Second World War.

Rose (nee Cole) and William Jack Ingram were present at the event and shared their memories of the Institution. Rose, who pulled the cord, initially struggled to open the curtain and it had to be pulled off the wall completely. The 100 spectators applauded the new Plaque which proudly sits on the wall of the building, near to the location of the front door of the Institution. The launch was filmed by the BBC (South East) and attended by the local press.

Please see other pages on the Brighton Institution, including those of William Sleight and Arthur Sleight.

A report was produced by the Brighton and Hove City Council, for more information - read here.