The Old Police Cells Museum in Brighton has officially reopened beneath Brighton Town Hall after a comprehensive restoration project. The museum is located in the original Victorian-era custody suite of the city’s former police station, providing visitors with a rare insight into the history of Sussex Police from the 1830s through to 1967.
The museum is one of the United Kingdom’s most intact Victorian urban detention sites. It retains original features such as iron cell doors, stone corridors, and prisoner markings. Visitors can experience the authentic atmosphere of a 19th-century police station, including washrooms and administrative areas that were once used by Brighton’s local policing force.
In addition to the preserved architecture, the museum houses an extensive collection of historic police memorabilia. Highlights include uniforms, policing equipment, and one of the UK’s largest displays of truncheons and tipstaffs. These exhibits illustrate the evolution of law enforcement over nearly 200 years.
The museum also recounts some of the darker moments in Sussex Police history. This includes the 1844 murder of Brighton’s first Chief Constable, Henry Solomon, who was fatally attacked by a prisoner while in custody. Additionally, graffiti and artefacts connected to the famous Mods and Rockers clashes of the 1960s are preserved, reflecting important events in Brighton’s social history.
Access to the museum is by pre-booked guided tours only, due to the underground and confined nature of the former courts. Tours are available on Thursday afternoons and Friday and Saturday mornings. They cost around £6 per person and last approximately 50 to 60 minutes. This immersive walk-through experience beneath Brighton Town Hall offers a unique cultural and educational insight into crime and punishment in historic Brighton.
Originally published by UKNIP.
