Royal Pavilion
An extravagant celebration of Georgian decadence, the Royal Pavilion is an exotic mix of eastern architecture built as King George IV ’s old stomping ground when he was still Prince of Wales.
Originally built in 1787 as a neoclassical villa to hold the Prince of Wales’ flamboyant parties, and house his secret wife, a commoner ‘Prinny’ Fitzherbert. The Royal Pavilion was completely revamped when all things eastern became fashionable at the turn of the 19th Century. Between 1815 and 1823 as the Prince became King George IV, the eminent architect John Nash was commissioned to transform the Pavilion into a palace fit for a Rajah.
The exterior architecture sees a cocktail of Indian and Moorish styles, of decorative stone columns exquisite ‘hindoo’ domes and eastern towers piercing the skyline. The interiors and furnishings are more oriental in appearance and include some stunningly outlandish rooms and features. Non-more so than the Music Room, with its ceiling made up of 26,000 shells and painted serpents and dragons, all lit up by lotus shaped gaseliers. The Banqueting Hall is equally stunning, from its dome hangs a fabulous 30ft chandelier weighing over a ton under which King George would entertain his fellow revellers. The staircase leading to the Royal Apartments is built of cast iron but is cleverly disguised as bamboo.
When Queen Victoria ascended to the throne in 1850 she was ‘not amused’ by the exuberance of her wayward uncles and sold the Pavilion to Brighton town after stripping the building of its furnishings, a job requiring 143 wagons. Thankfully many of these items have been returned to the Pavilion and the house has been restored to its former glory.
Set in restored Regency Gardens, The Royal Pavilion is a must see for anyone visiting the south east of England and are well worth a detour to Brighton on their own.
