Regency Society gives £10,000 boost to Madeira Terraces campaign

And the campaign has given a boost by a £10,000 donation from The Regency Society, which aims to promote the protection and improvement of Brighton's historical and heritage architecture.

Chairman Roger Hinton said: "It isn’t often that a major opportunity to contribute to a scheme of such importance comes along. The Regency Society was founded in 1945 to save our heritage – and we continue to do so in 2017. This pledge is a very important initiative for us."

The crowdfunder has been backed by 1,267 people and organisations, raising £222,389 of the £428,659 needed to start the project.

If the crowdfunding campaign is a success, Brighton and Hove City Council hopes to restore three of the 154 arches, and demonstrate to potential funders that the restoration has popular local support. It is hoped this will attract external funding to restore the rest of the structure.

The Regency Society said the listed Madeira Arches was of the Palace Pier is the longest single cast iron structure in the country and an 'essential part of Brighton’s identity'.

"We cannot let them disintegrate," a Regency Society spokesperson said. "We are delighted to be working with the council to help raise the profile of this campaign and to find the best way forward to restore the structure.

"There is little time left to raise the funds needed to make the crowdfunding campaign, which aims to kick-start the restoration by restoring just three of the 154 arches, a success. It ends in a month’s time. We hope that by setting an example, other organisations, national and local, will be encouraged to do likewise. We also want to encourage everyone to make their contribution – even £2 helps.

"We call upon everyone who cares about our heritage and wants future generations to be able to enjoy the Arches to do as we have done to make a contribution to the crowdfunding campaign now."

To find out more about the crowdfunding campaign, visit: www.spacehive.com/madeira-terrace