The Bognor Regis Time Portal: Closing the Gateway

After 18 unforgettable months, The Bognor Regis Time Portal has now closed. More than 80,000 people stepped through to experience this unique mix of art, storytelling and technology on the Sussex coast.

What began as a simple idea, to bring local history to life through augmented reality, grew into something much larger. Families, schools and visitors from all over the UK came to meet Mary Wheatland, the Victorian bathing woman who taught generations to swim and saved over thirty lives. Seeing people encounter her story on the beach where she actually worked was a powerful reminder of what place-based storytelling can do.

The project reached far beyond our expectations, gaining BBC TV, radio and online coverage, and becoming a finalist at the 2024 Auggie Awards in L.A. in the Best Art or Film category. It also helped boost local footfall and community pride, proving that immersive art can have real cultural and economic value.

We worked closely with Arts Council England, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Bognor Regis BID, and local historians who helped ensure historical accuracy throughout. Collaboration with the RNLI and the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) helped link Mary’s legacy to modern messages about sea safety and lifesaving heritage.

As planned, the physical portal has now been carefully dismantled by Making It Out, a social enterprise that will reuse the materials in future community projects.

Sustainability was a key principle from the start, and we’re proud to see that continue.

For me, this project has shown what can happen when art, history and technology come together in public space. It’s been an incredible journey and a strong foundation for what comes next.

👉 You can explore the full story at www.brtimeportal.com