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Royal Pavilion
Watch VideoThe revolutionary Brighton Pavilion with its Indian, Chinese and Grand European style epitomises regency international design and is important for being the first British building of its kind. The building was commissioned to John Nash by the Prince Regent (later King George IV) in 1815. George wanted somewhere he could entertain his fashionable friends, bring his mistresses, host fabulous dinner parties and show off his enviable art collection. It is reflective not just of its eccentric owner but also the extraordinary times in which he lived. The early 19th century saw trade turn global and Britain expand its Empire across the world. The result was an eccentric Indian-style royal palace with lavish oriental interiors.
With its spectacular arrangement of domes, cubes, minarets and spires, its state of the art kitchen and fabulous Chinese décor, this fantastical seaside Palace will not fail to impress.
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The Prince Regent was infamous for the fast company he kept, the women he wooed and the wine he drank. For all his excesses, George was a highly intelligent man who did much for his country. The Royal Pavilion was his principal architectural legacy, but he was a life-long patron of the arts.
True Love
In 1786, George, at that time Prince of Wales, arrived in Brighton seeking diversion from the stuffy court of his father, George III. He had a secret. A year earlier, he had illegally married the woman he loved, Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic widow. The relationship was difficult - George was repeatedly unfaithful - but it lasted until 1794, when the Prince left her to marry his cousin, Caroline. The royal couple separated in 1796. George and Maria subsequently began seeing each other again. Around 1808, the prince's riotous lifestyle forced Maria to end their relationship for good. It seems that George still loved Maria: he had a miniature portrait of her around his neck when he died.
George was the eldest son of George III, but by no means the wisest. He rebelled against his strict upbringing and embarked on a life of womanising, drinking and gambling. He secretly married a Catholic widow, Maria Fitzherbert in 1785 and ten years later was officially, though disastrously, married to Caroline of Brunswick.
In 1811, when George III was thought to be mentally unfit, he was made Prince Regent, becoming King in 1820. It was in the very same year that he tried to divorce his consort, thus washing all the royal 'dirty linen' in public. He was the subject of many derogatory cartoons and caricaturists of his day show him as a degraded, overweight character, which was hard to deny! At one point, Parliament paid off £161,000 of his gambling debts.
Why Brighton?
In the mid 18th century Brighton was already a fashionable resort as a spa town where society people would 'take the waters'. George first visited in 1783, aged 21. Doctors thought the seawater might reduce the swelling of glands in his neck, but he loved the relaxed atmosphere away from the constraints of the Court of George III. In 1786, he took a farmhouse here, known as Brighton House, and set up Mrs Fitzherbert in a nearby villa.
From farmhouse to fantasy house
Brighton House was a simple farmhouse but not for long. The Prince gave it a neo-classical makeover and renamed it the Marine Pavilion. He commissioned John Nash to redesign the house and gardens in the Oriental style as one amazing pleasure ground. From 1815 until 1823, Nash extended the building by placing a cast iron framework over the original structure and adding domes and pagodas in the style of an Indian palace.
Guests could expect luxury beyond their wildest dreams: the army of staff included apothecaries, doctors, music masters, wine keepers and chefs. Recitals were held in the Music Room with its nine lotus-lily shaped chandeliers and in the Banqueting Room with scenes of domestic Chinese life painted on every wall. One meal was said to have had no less than 36 different entrees or 'starters'. Five rooms in the kitchen were devoted just to pastry making and when the ice ran out it was imported from Norway!
Queen Victoria is not amused
When the Queen first visited in 1837 she described it as 'a strange, odd, Chinese-looking place. Most of the rooms are low and I can only see a morsel of the sea from one of my sitting room windows'. She also disliked George's favoured red bedroom wallpaper (he slept downstairs because of his gout) and had it removed. In 1850, she gifted the Royal Pavilion to the town of Brighton, probably with some relief.
Feature supplied by Heritage magazine. About Heritage Magazine.
Built for the Prince Regent, who later became George IV, the Pavilion was also used by William IV and Queen Victoria. In 1787 the architect Henry Holland took the original farmhouse and created a neo-classical villa on the site. Between 1815 and 1823, the Prince Regent employed John Nash to enlarge and transform the building into the present extravagant palace.
A £10 million restoration scheme returned the palace to its full Regency splendour with lavish decorative schemes. Much of the original furniture is on display, including items on permanent loan from HM The Queen.
The rooms
The magnificent Banqueting Room, created as a dramatic setting for George IV's dinner guests boasts a central chandelier, suspended from a dragon' claws, approximately nine metres in height and one ton in weight.
The Great Kitchen was extremely modern for its time, with a high ceiling and decorative copper canopies that would draw away heat, smells and steam. Many elaborate banquets were prepared here, some featuring menus of up to 60 dishes. The cast iron columns, disguised as palm trees, echo the exotic decorations in the rest of the building.
The Music Room, which reflects George IV's passion for music, saw his own orchestra entertain guests in this spectacular interior; and in 1823 the Italian composer Rossini performed here. The rich red and gold wall paintings were returned from Buckingham Palace in the 1860s, and the chimney piece and mirror frame, curtains and carpet are recent recreations of the originals.
Other features include the gardens, which have been restored to their Regency splendour, the Queen Adelaide Tearoom situated on the first floor and a gift shop. Audio guides are available free with admission in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, plus a tour for people who are visually impaired.
For further information about visiting the Royal Pavilion or general enquiries please telephone 01273 290900 or send an email.
Open daily except 25 and 26 December
Open October to March 10am to 5.15pm (last admission 4.30pm)
April to September 9.30am to 5.45pm (last admission 5pm)
Admission fee payable
For more information visit www.royalpavilion.org.uk.
- Behind The Scenes: Visionary Prince
- The History of the Royal Pavilion
- Highlights from the Royal Pavilion
Behind The Scenes: Visionary Prince
Complex CharacterThe Prince Regent was infamous for the fast company he kept, the women he wooed and the wine he drank. For all his excesses, George was a highly intelligent man who did much for his country. The Royal Pavilion was his principal architectural legacy, but he was a life-long patron of the arts.
True Love
In 1786, George, at that time Prince of Wales, arrived in Brighton seeking diversion from the stuffy court of his father, George III. He had a secret. A year earlier, he had illegally married the woman he loved, Maria Fitzherbert, a Catholic widow. The relationship was difficult - George was repeatedly unfaithful - but it lasted until 1794, when the Prince left her to marry his cousin, Caroline. The royal couple separated in 1796. George and Maria subsequently began seeing each other again. Around 1808, the prince's riotous lifestyle forced Maria to end their relationship for good. It seems that George still loved Maria: he had a miniature portrait of her around his neck when he died.
The History of the Royal Pavilion
The rebellious PrinceGeorge was the eldest son of George III, but by no means the wisest. He rebelled against his strict upbringing and embarked on a life of womanising, drinking and gambling. He secretly married a Catholic widow, Maria Fitzherbert in 1785 and ten years later was officially, though disastrously, married to Caroline of Brunswick.
In 1811, when George III was thought to be mentally unfit, he was made Prince Regent, becoming King in 1820. It was in the very same year that he tried to divorce his consort, thus washing all the royal 'dirty linen' in public. He was the subject of many derogatory cartoons and caricaturists of his day show him as a degraded, overweight character, which was hard to deny! At one point, Parliament paid off £161,000 of his gambling debts.
Why Brighton?
In the mid 18th century Brighton was already a fashionable resort as a spa town where society people would 'take the waters'. George first visited in 1783, aged 21. Doctors thought the seawater might reduce the swelling of glands in his neck, but he loved the relaxed atmosphere away from the constraints of the Court of George III. In 1786, he took a farmhouse here, known as Brighton House, and set up Mrs Fitzherbert in a nearby villa.
From farmhouse to fantasy house
Brighton House was a simple farmhouse but not for long. The Prince gave it a neo-classical makeover and renamed it the Marine Pavilion. He commissioned John Nash to redesign the house and gardens in the Oriental style as one amazing pleasure ground. From 1815 until 1823, Nash extended the building by placing a cast iron framework over the original structure and adding domes and pagodas in the style of an Indian palace.
Guests could expect luxury beyond their wildest dreams: the army of staff included apothecaries, doctors, music masters, wine keepers and chefs. Recitals were held in the Music Room with its nine lotus-lily shaped chandeliers and in the Banqueting Room with scenes of domestic Chinese life painted on every wall. One meal was said to have had no less than 36 different entrees or 'starters'. Five rooms in the kitchen were devoted just to pastry making and when the ice ran out it was imported from Norway!
Queen Victoria is not amused
When the Queen first visited in 1837 she described it as 'a strange, odd, Chinese-looking place. Most of the rooms are low and I can only see a morsel of the sea from one of my sitting room windows'. She also disliked George's favoured red bedroom wallpaper (he slept downstairs because of his gout) and had it removed. In 1850, she gifted the Royal Pavilion to the town of Brighton, probably with some relief.
Feature supplied by Heritage magazine. About Heritage Magazine.
Highlights from the Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion is one of the most exotic buildings in the British Isles. The exterior, inspired by Indian architecture, contrasts with interiors decorated in the Chinese taste.Built for the Prince Regent, who later became George IV, the Pavilion was also used by William IV and Queen Victoria. In 1787 the architect Henry Holland took the original farmhouse and created a neo-classical villa on the site. Between 1815 and 1823, the Prince Regent employed John Nash to enlarge and transform the building into the present extravagant palace.
A £10 million restoration scheme returned the palace to its full Regency splendour with lavish decorative schemes. Much of the original furniture is on display, including items on permanent loan from HM The Queen.
The rooms
Other features include the gardens, which have been restored to their Regency splendour, the Queen Adelaide Tearoom situated on the first floor and a gift shop. Audio guides are available free with admission in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, plus a tour for people who are visually impaired.
For further information about visiting the Royal Pavilion or general enquiries please telephone 01273 290900 or send an email.
Open daily except 25 and 26 December
Open October to March 10am to 5.15pm (last admission 4.30pm)
April to September 9.30am to 5.45pm (last admission 5pm)
Admission fee payable
For more information visit www.royalpavilion.org.uk.
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