Hastings Museum & Art Gallery

Ceremonies at the museum take place in the beautiful and unique Durbar Hall. It was built in 1886 for the Indian & Colonial Exhibition, where it formed the centrepiece of an Indian palace and was used for receptions by the Prince of Wales, later crowned King Edward VII. Designed by architect Sir Caspar Purdon Clarke and carved by Mohammed Bakhsh and Mohammed Juma, it took only 9 months for the master-woodcarvers to complete its stunningly intricate carvings. After the exhibition, the Durbar Hall was purchased by Lord Brassey. The wooden panels were installed in his London home 24 Park Lane, on the site of the present London Hilton, then donated to Hastings Museum in 1919. The Durbar Hall was installed on its current site at John’s Place in 1932. This unique Hall is set on two floors with a lantern roof. The stairway, with arched balcony from the upper floor, offers a dramatic entrance to the ground floor. The wall panels are carved in teak and deodar cedar and are accompanied by glowing stained-glass windows, creating an intimate and flexible space for your special occasion.