Old Police Cells Museum

Home
United Kingdom
Brighton
Old Police Cells Museum

Old Police Cells Museum, Brighton

The Story of Sussex Policing,
Told Through the Town Hall Cells

15/10/2026

Restoration in Action! 👮‍♂️

The Old Police Cells Museum recently received a generous donation of a rare Hastings Police badge.

Thanks to the dedication and careful work of one of our fantastic volunteers, the badge has now been lovingly restored to its original colours, bringing a fascinating piece of Sussex policing history back to life!

07/10/2026

👮 It’s National Cadets Week!

This week we’re celebrating Police Cadets here in Sussex and across the country.

For generations, young people have been given opportunities to learn more about policing, develop new skills and play an active part in their communities. Today, Sussex Police Cadets continue that tradition, gaining experience of policing while building confidence, teamwork and leadership skills.

As a museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of policing in Sussex, we know that police history isn’t only about looking back. The people getting involved today are part of the story too.

A big thank you to Sussex’s cadets, leaders and volunteers for everything they contribute to our communities. 👏

29/09/2026

🏫 Do you teach in a Sussex-based school? Bring history to life with a school trip to the Old Police Cells Museum! Ideal for all students, particularly those studying Crime and Punishment!

Step beneath Brighton Town Hall and discover the city’s historic police cells, fascinating stories and policing past through an engaging guided visit.

This includes a classroom session taught by one of our expert guides, and then a tour of our cells and museum.

Our school trips offer the chance to explore local history in a unique setting – from Victorian policing and historic crimes to how policing has changed over time.

🎒 School visits from just £50 for up to 15 pupils.

👉 Book your school visit today and give your class a history lesson they won’t forget!

Email us at [email protected]

22/09/2026

🎬 **Can You Guess the Film?**

Sussex Police has appeared on our screens, and in the pages of books, for many years. But how many portrayals can you remember?

We’re planning a new museum display for 2027 exploring how Sussex Police has been represented in film, television and literature, and we’d love your help.

Can you identify the film pictured? Perhaps you remember a television series filmed locally, a memorable fictional detective or a book featuring policing in Sussex. Share your answers and memories in the comments! 👇

11/09/2026

Discover Brighton's Hidden History This Autumn 🍂

Visit the Old Police Cells Museum

Whether you're visiting Brighton for the weekend, have lived in the city or county for years, or have a passion for police and crime history, there's a fascinating story waiting beneath the Town Hall.

Join a guided tour and explore original Victorian cells, historic custody areas, remarkable artefacts, and over 180 years of stories from Brighton & Hove's past. From famous crimes and curious characters to the evolution of policing, our knowledgeable and friendly guides bring history to life in the very place it happened.

Looking for something special? Private tours are also available for families, groups, clubs and organisations, offering a more tailored experience and access to additional areas of the museum.
📍 Hidden beneath Brighton Town Hall
🎟️ Guided public tours throughout the summer
👥 Private tours available for groups of up to 15
📖 Perfect for visitors, local history lovers and police history enthusiasts

Places are limited, so book ahead and uncover a side of Brighton that most people never see.
https://www.oldpolicecellsmuseum.com/tours-at-opcm

We are located in the Town Hall, BN1 1JA

Discover the stories that once lay behind locked doors.

04/09/2026

It was great hosting Chris Horlock last Saturday, who gave a talk to visitors about the rise of the Mods and Rockers and wider British youth culture. Our visitors then toured the cells and the museum.

Thanks again for joining us Chris!

25/08/2026

We have just one ticket left for our Talk & Tour at 2:30pm! Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to join us this Saturday.

There are also still tickets available for Chris Horlock’s fascinating talk on the rise of youth culture, a brilliant event not to be missed.

Grab your tickets while you can.
Mods. Rockers. Brighton. Policing. What more could you ask for?!

📅 Saturday 29 August
🕜 1:30pm & 2:30pm
🎟️ Tickets £10–£12

Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment. 👉 Book now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rise-of-the-mods-and-rockers-talk-and-tour-tickets-1993136893101

24/08/2026

Brighton Police truncheon c1880

This truncheon is a great new addition to the museum. It has come directly from the family of PC George Greenyer, who served with Brighton Police for 37 years, finally retiring in 1919 after having been the Gaoler for the last 17 of those years.
He would have actually worked in what is now the museum, looking after prisoners and escorting them upstairs to the court. Though decorated, this truncheon was intended to be used and probably dates from the 1870s. It shows signs of having been reduced in length probably in the 1880s and may well have been issued to PC Greenyer when he first joined Brighton Police in 1882.
Thanks to his family the museum has some other items of his, including a set of handcuffs

17/08/2026

Did you know we post articles about various police and crime stories? You can find them on our website under Research, then Articles.
This is our most recent post about the first women to work in traffic policing in Sussex.

In 1966, Sir George Terry introduced the first of many MG BGTs into the traffic fleet. A high-visibility design that would later spread across police vehicles nationwide. But Sir George’s vision extended beyond vehicles. In 1967, he made the decision to deploy two Women Police Constables (WPCs) as a dedicated traffic crew, an unprecedented step at the time.
You can read more about it on our website.

📷 WPCs Joy Christian and Hazel Waters in January 1968.
📷 Joy Christian using an early speed radar device in 1968.
📷 This is a group of East Sussex Constabulary Women Police Officers undergoing training on Scooters in 1966.

11/08/2026

Mods. Rockers. Brighton. Policing. What more could you ask for?!

One of the defining moments in Brighton's history comes to life this August at the Old Police Cells Museum, as part of the Mod Weekender.

Join local historian Chris Horlock for Rise of the Mods and Rockers, an engaging talk exploring the youth cultures, clashes, media frenzy and policing that made Brighton famous around the world.

Your ticket also includes a guided tour of Brighton's atmospheric underground Victorian police cells, where you'll discover the history of policing in Sussex and the stories hidden beneath the Town Hall.

📅 Saturday 29 August
🕜 1:30pm & 2:30pm
🎟️ Tickets £10–£12

Places are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.

👉 Book now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rise-of-the-mods-and-rockers-talk-and-tour-tickets-1993136893101

Address

Bartholomew Square
Brighton
BN11JA

Website

https://linktr.ee/opcm

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Old Police Cells Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Old Police Cells Museum:

Want your museum to be the top-listed museum in Brighton?