In February 2015 it will be 170 years since Queen Victoria last visited the Royal Pavilion. Victoria became Queen in 1837, aged only 18 years, following her uncle William IV (who had added the North Gate to the Royal Pavilion … Continued
During the last, crucial phase of writing up and submitting my PhD thesis on the Royal Pavilion, I received an invitation to attend a gathering of scholars, curators and architects from around the world in Yinchuan, the capital of the … Continued
On 1 November the London-based digital artwork studio SDNA will illuminate the exterior of the Royal Pavilion in order to mark and celebrate the opening of the exhibition Turner in Brighton at the Pavilion. Amongst other sources SDNA will use … Continued
Update 2 April 2013: Tracy Anderson, who is currently researching the lives of the Pavilion’s servants, has discovered this picture and description of a fly from a volume of cuttings in the Brighton History Centre. Two unassuming buildings in a … Continued
Buddleja Globosa is also refered to as the Orange Ball Tree. It was first introduced to the UK from Chile in 1774 and has established itself as a frost hardy plant. This species was first named under the genus Hopea … Continued
The historic buildings on the Royal Pavilion Estate are checked on a regular basis. The finial to William IV Gate was found to be moving out of the vertical by 75mm. This meant that high winds could cause failure and … Continued
It’s difficult to imagine Brighton without the Royal Pavilion, its most iconic building. But there was a time in the 1840s – when Queen Victoria chose not to retain it as her seaside residence – that its future was in real doubt. … Continued
Beginning as a circular rented lawn in front of the Steine, the gardens of the Royal Pavilion eventually comprised over seven acres of grounds. The changes to these grounds reflected the life and fortunes of George IV as Prince of … Continued
Give yourself 5 minutes of pure pleasure and swing through the Royal Pavilion Gardens. The spring / early summer garden is looking marvellous this year, about a month ahead of itself due to recent hot, sunny weather. The tapestry of … Continued
He may be more famous for his railways, particularly the ill-fated ‘Daddy Longlegs’, but local inventor Magnus Volk made another contribution to the city. On 3 April 1883, he introduced electric lighting to the Royal Pavilion. This was first used … Continued
The Latin name comes from the Greek ‘gala [milk] and ‘anthos’ [flower]. Although it is often thought of as a British native wild flower, or to have been brought to the British Isles by the Romans, it was probably introduced … Continued
Forty years ago, on 20 January 1972, rock band Pink Floyd came to Brighton to perform at The Dome. This wasn’t their first show in the town, nor even their debut performance at The Dome; what makes it stand out … Continued
Had you considered for Christmas to look at Ruscus aculeatus. Fit for a book. The red berries so jolly Outshine the more usual holly. Growing well in the Royal Pavilion gardens, In beds A, B, C and T with its … Continued
Charles Plumier named the Fuchsia in 1702 in honour of the renowned botanist Leonhart Fuchs whose work on medicinal plants, published in 1542, he much admired. This was one of Plumier’s finds that he brought back to Paris from his … Continued
Who can resist a sweeping drift of cool blue-violet flowers glowing in the low autumn sunlight? Sadly, the Prince Regent knew nothing of ‘prairie planting’ but he did know a beautiful plant when he saw it! This month in the … Continued
One unsung element of Regency garden style, as seen at the Royal Pavilion, is the use of different greens. The evergreen envelope acts as a foil for the more showy, or even to modern eyes, gaudy colours of the flowering … Continued
The biennial Alcea rosea is more often called the Hollyhock, a name that I hope will always conjure up scenes and memories of English cottage gardens, where it is often found. The Hollyhock is native to China and central and … Continued
As St. Swithin’s day approaches on the 15th we finish our true tale of a weather disaster from February 1852. If you missed the first two parts you can recap on the events of Sunday night or Monday night . Given the difficulty … Continued
As St. Swithin’s day approaches on the 15th we continue with the second part of our tragic true weather story from February 1852. Catch up with yesterday’s instalment if you missed it. At the end of the first instalment, Bill was … Continued
As St. Swithin’s day approaches on the 15th we present a true tale of a weather disaster. From the 13th we take a look at a tragedy in three parts… As Bill Snow emerged from his residence in the Lodge … Continued
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