Hampshire County Council, Media Invite
The Chapel Tower at Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton, will be re-opened to the public on Sunday 16 May.
Media are invited to an exclusive preview on Friday 14 May between 2pm and 4pm. Contact Julie Gosling on 01962 846006 for more details.
After a major refurbishment and essential repair work carried out by Hampshire County Council, the 150 foot tall tower will be open for exclusive weekend guided tours. With 166 steps to the top, the tower is now the second highest public point to see panoramic views of the Solent and the spectacular landscapes of southern Hampshire.
To celebrate the re-opening, Hampshire County Council is hosting a commemorative event on Saturday 15 May in the Chapel Hall. The Symphonic Brass Section of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will be performing live. As a rare treat, the brass players will also be running a musical workshop with pupils from Hamble Community College earlier in the week. The pupils will then join the BSO for part of the performance in the evening. Local author of ‘Spike Island’ and historian Philip Hoare will also be re-telling the history of the hospital of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital.
The Tower is over 150 years old and was once the heart of one of the largest military hospital of the day which housed over 1000 beds and research laboratories’ stretching over a quarter of a mile in length. As the rest of the hospital was demolished in 1966, after a fire destroyed most of the building, the Chapel was left exposed to all the elements. This coupled with its proximity to the sea meant the Tower needed to be expertly renovated in order to keep it safe and accessible for the public.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Recreation, Councillor Margaret Snaith-Tempia, said: “The Royal Victoria Country Park Chapel is steeped in history and I am so pleased that we have been able to restore it to its former glory and allow the public to enjoy it once more. The view from the top of the tower is absolutely breathtaking and coupled with the heritage exhibition in the chapel, which looks at the busy past held by a now tranquil country park, makes an exhilarating cultural day out fit for the whole family.”
To book a guided tour up the Tower please call 02380 455157. Places are limited to 12 people per tour and costs £4.50 per adult and £3.50 per child.
To book a ticket for the Grand Reopening Event to see the BSO please call: 023 8045 5157. Tickets cost £10 each.
ENDS
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