Introduction

The Bognor Regis Time Portal is a brand-new, free to use, immersive experience created by local artist Matt Reed. 

Using augmented reality technology, the portal allows us to get a glimpse of life in the 19th century, with recreations of the wooden bathing machines that once lined the beach brought back in three dimensions for you to explore. You’ll also meet a life-sized hologram of a Victorian celebrity: Mary Wheatland. 

Mary was a bathing machine proprietor, lifesaver, and swimming teacher who worked on the beach for over sixty years, and she is credited with saving over thirty lives from the sea. She is often called the "Mermaid of Bognor."

In honour of the remarkable role that Mary played in the town's history, this work has been created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of her death in 1924. 

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Education is a big part of the project and our actor Vicky Edwards will be going into local primary schools dressed as Mary to deliver fun and educational workshops for the children. We also hope that a lot of them will be able to come to the beach to see history brought to life in a new way, right where it happened.

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During the 18 months that the project runs, the hologram will be changed from time to time and Mary will say different things.