Brighton_royal_pavilion

Royal Pavilion is Located in Brighton Photo By Qmin. Wikimedia.

10 Facts about Royal Pavilion


 

The royal pavilion is also known as Brighton Pavilion and is a former royal residence located in Brighton, England.

It was built in three stages as a seaside retreat for George, Prince of Wales, who became the Prince Regent in 1811, and King George IV in 1820. It is built in the Indo-Saracenic style prevalent in India for most of the 19th century.

Below are some ten facts about the Royal Pavilion.

1.It Was King George IV’s Pleasure Palace

George IV is often seen as one of Britain’s most interesting monarchs due to his indulgent youth and decadent lifestyle.

After suffering from an illness he was advised by his physician to go to Brighton, so he purchased a lodging house in the newly-named, London by sea.

He worked with an architect to transform his modest accommodation into a beautiful villa, the Marine Pavilion.

 

2.The Original Pavilion was Constructed in the 18th Century

Domes at Royal Pavilion

18th Century Domes Shaped Roof Tops at Royal Pavilion Photo.By Poliphilo. Wikimedia

The Prince of Wales was commissioned to expand the old farmhouse he was renting at the time.

It was designed by Henry Holland, the architect of the Carlton House in London.

He featured the neoclassical architecture that was popular in France at that time.

The construction of this pavilion started in 1787 and the building was expanded once more between 1801 and 1802 with the addition of an extravagant dining room.

One wing of the marine Pavilion became flanking the central rotunda.

It contained three main rooms, a breakfast room, dining room, and library, fitted out in Holland’s French-influenced neoclassical style.

3. John Nash Redesigned the it Between 1815 and 1822

The Ceiling of the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion. Photo by Bryan Ledgard. Wikicommons.

 It was redesigned by John Nash, one of the most prominent British architects of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Some of his most famous works include Marble Arch, the Royal, Mews, and Buckingham palace.

The architect incorporated the indo-Saracenic architectural style into the building.

This style was a revival style of several indo-Islamic styles, most prominently Mughal Architecture.

Indo-Saracenic style is most popular in public and government buildings in the British Raj.

4.It was Viewed as Abuse of Power by George IV’s Political Opponents

George IV’s rivals viewed the Royal Pavilion as an abuse of power, a waste of public funds, and a social injustice.

The previous palace has brought tourism, trade, and prosperity to Brighton and continues to do so to this day.

 Many Brighton views the iconic architectural marvel as a testament to the extravagant prince and his lavish tastes.

5.It was Sold to the Town of Brighton by Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria made her first visit to Brighton in 1837, thrilling the people of Brighton in the process.

However, her elder uncle’s pleasure palace just wasn’t for her and made her feel uncomfortable.

Eventually, she decided the pavilion was just not big enough for her and her expanding family.

She sold the palace for over £50,000 in 1850 to the town of Brighton.

Thinking that it would be demolished, she ordered the interiors to be stripped of all furnishings for use in future royal homes.

This decision was pivotal in the town’s tourism trade, changing it from a private venue to a public.

Now the Royal Pavilion sees 400,000 visitors annually.

6.During the First World War it was Transformed into a Military Hospital

 

The Dome Hospital at Brighton Pavilion

The Dome Hospital at Brighton Pavilion during Second War. Photo by H. D. Girdwood. Wikicommons.

During the First World War, the Pavilion, along with other sites in Brighton, was transformed into a military hospital.

Sick and wounded soldiers from the Indian Army were treated in the former palace from 1914 to Jan 1916.

The Pavilion hospital also incorporated the adjacent Dome and Corn Exchange.

The Pavilion hospital was set up with two operating theatres and over 720 beds. Over 2,300 men were treated at the hospital.

Elaborate arrangements were made to cater to the patients’ variety of religious and cultural needs.

The Pavilion reopened as a hospital in April 1916.

It became a hospital for ‘limbless men,’ treating British soldiers who had lost arms and legs, usually from amputation.

In addition to treating the men’s physical needs, a great emphasis was placed on rehabilitating the men by training them in skills and trades.

The Pavilion hospital operated until the summer of 1920 when the building was returned to Brighton Corporation.

7.It is a Major Tourist Destination

The building and its garden have been tourist attraction sites since 1850.

When Queen Victoria came to power in 1937, she disliked the palace due to its lack of privacy and she barely spent time there.

She returned in 1945 and decided to sell the building and its garden to the town of Brighton.

The local government has completely restored the Brighton Pavilion to its former glory.

Guided tours are available and allow you to discover both interior and exterior which are equally impressive.

Both are renovated exactly how they looked during the reign of King George IV

It attracts 400,000 people every year.

8.The Pavilion Gardens Basks in Beauty of a Wide Variety of Plants

Pavilion Gardens walkway

Pavilion Gardens Walkway. Photo By Jvhertum. Wikicommons.

It has a wide variety of plants, having been restored to Nash’s original Regency vision.

It is said to be the only fully restored Regency garden in the UK.

The garden is maintained using only organic methods, managed by the Trust’s garden team, led by the Head Gardener and volunteers.

9. It Hosted one of the First Legal Same-sex Weddings in the UK

Royal Pavilion is a licensed venue for weddings, thus making it a very popular spot. On 29th March 2014, the Royal Pavilion made history by playing host to one of the first same-sex marriage ceremonies to be legal in the UK after the 2013 Same Sex Couples Act was passed.

10.It turns into an Ice Rink Every Winter

Every winter, the Royal Pavilion gardens are transformed into a winter wonderland equipped with an ice rink, mulled wine, and all the rest.

The Royal Pavilion Ice Rink is located within Brighton’s bustling North Laine district, perfect for Christmas shopping, and beautifully lit at night for a truly magical Christmas skate.

The 880-square meter main rink offers plenty of space for more confident skaters and the separate 130-square meter beginners’ rink with penguin skate aids, provides a safe area for younger skaters to build their confidence.

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