Modernist Pavilion Reaches 90
Herbrand Sackville, otherwise known as the 9th Earl De La Warr, was a socialist and chair of the Labour Party in Hastings. In 1934 he suggested an architectural competition to build a landmark public building to attract tourists to the area. The result was what is now called the De La Warr Pavilion at Bexhill, an archetypal Modernist building designed by Erich Mendelsohn (a Jewish refugee recently arrived in England, fleeing Nazi destruction) and Russian-born Serge Chermayeff, who had moved as a child with his parents to the UK.
The pavilion was finished in December 1935 at a cost of £80,000 (the equivalent of 5 million or so today), and is a leading example of its style. During World War II it was commandeered by the government to house soldiers, in defence of a possible Nazi invasion. Though run down by the 1970s, the building has been Grade I listed since 1986. It was restored in the 1990s with the help of a National Lottery grant and re-opened as an Arts centre in 2005.
The original 1930s auditorium has hosted a golden variety of international performing and recording artists such as Goldfrapp, Patti Smith, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies, the Heritage Orchestra, Kiri Te Kanawa, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and (DLWP’s honorary patron) Eddie Izzard. Bob Marley appeared here in 1972. Over the past 20 years it has become a well-loved venue and a trailblazing Arts centre.
The venue is holding its 90th birthday celebrations on 12 December this year. There’s a full programme of tours, archive exhibitions, talks, residents’ anecdotes, a pop-up exhibition from the Bexhill Museum, and a singing experience led by Day Lavalle and the Community Uplift Choir. There will be homemade cakes on sale in the lovely café, and the bar will be open after the singing workshop until 7pm. There’ll be surprises throughout the day, too, and everyone who books for an event beforehand will receive a free birthday cupcake.
Organisers De La Warr Pavilion Charitable Trust are going from strength to strength, developing the building as a memorable and important centre for the arts and for the community. It is due for another major overhaul and will have to close for some time during next year to achieve this improvement. Meanwhile, pay a visit on 12 December and immerse yourself in a display of important local history.
Details and other events: dlwp.com
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