On Monday I took a train to Brighton and met fellow blogger, **Barbara**
who was staying at the Blind Veterans Home just outside Brighton. We have met before and I
really enjoyed seeing her again and having lunch together.
We visited the Brighton Royal Pavilion (built for George IV in 1787) and were lucky to see the recently added temporary collection from Buckingham Palace, in particular five pergodas have arrived, which I learned were purchased from China for £100 each and which the King then decorated at a cost of £2,300.
The kitchen had the most atmosphere (and technology!) with copper pots lining every wall and a very large dish containing a swan. We were told the King fitted a rotisserie to cook meat which turned mechanically, powered by the rising hot air (as opposed to powered by small children turning a handle, which was the usual procedure in those days). The King had a great interest in his kitchen (sometimes showing it off to guests), unusually it was situated on the ground floor not below stairs. The building was well ahead of the times with under floor heating via hot water pipes and flushing toilets.
The decor and ornaments are of Chinese/Asian origin Queen Victoria sold the Pavilion to Brighton Council and it is now open to the public.
Not everything was to my taste, but Barbara and I were both taken with the fabulous duck egg blue wall paper (above) in a conference room, hand painted with birds, fruits and flowers in a chinese style (picture from the online brochure as no photography allowed).
There are pictures online if you would like to see more of all the main rooms **here and**here
No pictures of me with Barbara either as the weather was wet and damp and so was our hair!
Thank you Barbara for a really lovely day despite the rain!
We visited the Brighton Royal Pavilion (built for George IV in 1787) and were lucky to see the recently added temporary collection from Buckingham Palace, in particular five pergodas have arrived, which I learned were purchased from China for £100 each and which the King then decorated at a cost of £2,300.
The kitchen had the most atmosphere (and technology!) with copper pots lining every wall and a very large dish containing a swan. We were told the King fitted a rotisserie to cook meat which turned mechanically, powered by the rising hot air (as opposed to powered by small children turning a handle, which was the usual procedure in those days). The King had a great interest in his kitchen (sometimes showing it off to guests), unusually it was situated on the ground floor not below stairs. The building was well ahead of the times with under floor heating via hot water pipes and flushing toilets.
The decor and ornaments are of Chinese/Asian origin Queen Victoria sold the Pavilion to Brighton Council and it is now open to the public.
Not everything was to my taste, but Barbara and I were both taken with the fabulous duck egg blue wall paper (above) in a conference room, hand painted with birds, fruits and flowers in a chinese style (picture from the online brochure as no photography allowed).
There are pictures online if you would like to see more of all the main rooms **here and**here
No pictures of me with Barbara either as the weather was wet and damp and so was our hair!
Thank you Barbara for a really lovely day despite the rain!
Thank you so much Betty for organising this lovely visit. I will always remember the one room we were not allowed in, and dream of the goreous wallpaper!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to next year!
.. and thank you for the lovely lunch. It was a great day out - we were cheeky getting a closer peek at that fabulous wallpaper, maybe we should use it as inspiration for painting :)
DeleteSo glad that you two could meet up. I know it was a special part of her holiday. Time with friends is always precious.
ReplyDeleteyes, it's oneof the things I like best about blogging, the friends we make along the way.
DeleteStill got my lovely card with Brighton Pav on it that you sent me. Reckon it's the closest I'll ever get to it!!Great to meet up with bloggy pals in real life.It's on my Bucket List. Have a good week, Betty. Will write soon.xxx
ReplyDeleteaww one day you will make it there. Top of the bucket list!
Deletethank you for taking along dear Betty :)
ReplyDeletemeeting blogger friend must be absolutely delightful
i loved the glimpses of pavilion so much
everything is magnificent and sublime
specially the wall paper just took my heart :)
wishing you a happy lovely days ahead!
That wallpaper! I'd happily give that house room!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely trip you had with Barbara, what a shame about the rain. xxx
Oh bad hair day makes for no pictures, I agree lol! :) That kitchen is a dream for me!!
ReplyDeleteHow fun! And Lynn came to MY house! Blogger meet ups are such a treat!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you had a great 'bloggers day out'
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing your photographs.
All the best Jan
Looks like a lovely place to visit.
ReplyDeletexx