Page 86 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

84  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

Brighton: Royal Pavilion
As sea bathing became fashionable at the end of the
18th century, Brighton was transformed into England’s
most fashionable seaside resort. Its gaiety soon appealed
to the rakish Prince of Wales, who became George IV in 1820.
After he secretly married Mrs Fitzherbert in 1785, it was here
that they conducted their liaison. He rented a former farmhouse
near the shore and had it enlarged by Henry Holland. In 1815,
George employed John Nash to transform the house into a
lavish Oriental palace, the expansion reflecting the change
in his status from Prince of Wales to Regent and then King.
Completed in 1823, the exterior has remained largely unaltered.
Queen Victoria sold the Pavilion to the town of Brighton in 1850.

. Great Kitchen
The Prince’s epic banquets
required a kitchen of huge . Banqueting Room
proportions. The vast ranges Fiery dragons feature in many of
and long shelves of gleaming the interior schemes. A particularly
copper pans were used by colourful one dominates the
famous chefs of the day. centre of the Banqueting Room’s
extraordinary ceiling, which has
a huge crystal chandelier
suspended from it.

KEY
1 The exterior, partly built in 6 The eastern façade
Bath stone, is a mix of Indian, 7 Queen Victoria’s bedroom is
Islamic and European styles.
decorated with an exquisite hand-
2 Eight original torchères, oil painted chinoiserie wallpaper.
lamps supported by a vertical base,
decorate the Banqueting Room. 8 The central dome is an
Made of Spode china stoneware, imposing onion dome decorated
they are adorned with dragons, with delicate tracery. Nash drew
dolphins and lotus flowers. heavily from Islamic buildings
such as the Taj Mahal, but called
3 The banqueting table, this design his “Hindu style”. Saloon
which seats 24 people, is laid The original farmhouse that stood
for a splendid feast. 9 Music Room Gallery on the site was transformed into
a villa by architect Henry Holland.
4 Banqueting Room Gallery 0 Yellow Bow Rooms The saloon, decorated with
5 South Gallery q Cast iron domes Chinese wallpaper, was the
central room of the villa.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp174–5 and pp185–6

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