Framed display of photographs relating to the Grand Hotel bombing including images of bomb fragments recovered 1984

Object/Artifact

Old Police Cells Museum Brighton

Framed display of photographs relating to the grand hotel bombing including images of the bomb fragments recovered 1984

Name/Title

Framed display of photographs relating to the Grand Hotel bombing including images of bomb fragments recovered 1984

Entry/Object ID

2402

Description

Large glass fronted picture frame 110.5cm x 84 cm, containing 15 mounted photographs relating to the bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton in October 1884. These photographs include images of the damage to the building, officers searching for evidence and 2 images of fragments of the bomb that were recovered.

Use

A framed set of photographs relating to the bombing of the Grand Hotel and part of larger group of items relating to the Grand Hotel bombing investigation.

Context

On 12th October 1984 a bomb exploded at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, whilst it was hosting guests staying for the Conservative party Conference being held in Brighton, killing 5 people and injuring 31. The bomb was planted by the I.R.A. (Irish Republican Army) in an attempt to kill the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and members of her government. In September 1986 Patrick Magee was convicted of planting the bomb and five counts of murder. This framed and mounted selection of photographs, shows the damage caused by the bomb and officers searching for evidence. As part of the enquiry rubble was collected into plastic dustbins and then sieved to recover any surviving pieces of the actual bomb. The officers carrying out this task were called "the flour sifters". Two of the photographs show the bomb fragments that were found as a result of this process. This set of photographs is believed to have been displayed at Sussex Police HQ along with other items relating to the bombing.