02/10/2025
🌊 After 18 months and over 80,000 visitors, The Bognor Regis Time Portal has now closed as planned.
This project began as an idea during my M.A. research at the University of Brighton and grew into something far bigger than I ever imagined.
Every single day, rain or shine, people of all ages and backgorunds stepped through to meet Victorian bathing woman Mary Wheatland. The portal gained international recognition, was a finalist at the Auggie Awards in Los Angeles, shortlisted in the Sussex by the Sea Tourism Awards, and featured on BBC TV, radio and online.
One of the most moving moments for me was when relatives of Mary Wheatland met each other for the very first time at the portal. That showed how art and storytelling can connect people across generations.
The portal has now been carefully dismantled by Making It Out, the charity who built it, and the materials will be reused in future projects as part of a commitment to sustainability. ♻️
I am very proud of what has been achieved and grateful to the brilliant team, funders and partners who made it possible, and to everyone who came to see it. 💙
👉 More at www.brtimeportal.com
