The Royal Pavilion with its flamboyant architecture, is one of the highlights of a trip to Brighton.
It is a testament to George’s Regency dream. Brighton was developing rapidly as fashionable seaside resort and the patronage of the Prince of Wales (as he then was) really put Brighton on the map. The population was growing rapidly and work on the Royal Pavilion provided work for local tradesmen, labourers and craftsmen. The presence of the royal court as well as George’s guests and members of society was a source of income for local merchants and the service industries, although unfortunately they were often slow to be paid.
Many of the handsome seafront squares and crescents that still stand today are the result of the arrival of George and the fashionable Regency era.
The Royal Pavilion is an impressive building and almost impossible to photograph. It is completely different with its domes, cupolas and minarets and looks as if it should be on the Indian subcontinent not Brighton. I hadn’t expected all the different pastel colours. Photographs give the impression the Pavilion is white. It isn’t. The outside
was rendered and then painted and lined out in imitation of stone. It has always been painted in varying colours.
The Prince Regent employed the most talented architects, artists and craftsmen. Not only was the Pavilion a statement of his standing and status, it was also the ultimate in comfort and convenience. A tower pumped well water to a large tank which then pumped water to all parts of the Pavilion. Rooms had luxurious wall to wall carpets planned for each room. As well as open fires, rooms had underfloor heating from a hot air stove and flues in the basement. No detail was too insignificant. It is still as impressive today as when it was first built.
This is somewhere I’ve been wanting to visit for years and there is always the fear it may not live up to expectation. That wasn’t the case here. It is a magnificent building both outside and even more so inside. The public display rooms are stunning. They were intended to impress and still do. Although many of the contents were removed by Queen Victoria, some have been returned by Queen Elizabeth, giving an impression of just how grand it must have been.
Keep hold of your ticket, as it gives free admission for a year. Allow plenty of time for a visit. It can get busy, particularly in the morning when groups visit.
There is more information and all my pictures “here.”:https://www.sloweurope.com/community/threads/the-royal-pavilion-brighton.6149/
“Website”:https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/