Osbourne_House4_1910
A view of the Pavilion (on the right) and the main wing (with the terrace and the ornamental fountain in front) of Osbourne House, Isle of Wight, 18th October 2019.
In 1843 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were looking for a seaside retreat and the Osborne estate was recommended to them by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel. The estate was initially leased, then bought in May 1845. As the existing house was too small Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned the architect and master builder Thomas Cubitt to advise them. Cubitt recommended that rather than alter the old house it would be best to build a new one and proceeded to design it, in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo.in collaboration with Prince Albert.
The first phase of building was completed in 1846 with the Pavilion, housing the private rooms of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the royal nurseries. The household wing, containing accommodation for members of the royal household was completed in 1848. After the old house was demolished in 1848, the main wing was constructed on its site, completed in 1851. The main wing was used initially by the royal children. The terraces on the north-east side of the Pavilion and main wing were designed to complement the house and are filled with the signature features of classical Italian gardens. In 1880 a private chapel was built and in 1887 the male dormitory was extended to accommodate the Indian servants who made up part of the royal household during the later years of Queen Victoria’s reign. The Durbar Wing was built in 1890–92 which provided a large reception or dining room on the ground floor, known as the Durbar Room and a private suite for the queen’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice and her family on the first floor. Finally a dormitory for housemaids was built in 1894.
Following Queen Victoria’s death at Osbourne in 1901 the house became surplus to royal requirements and was given to the state, with a few rooms being retained as a private museum to Queen Victoria. From 1903 until 1921 it was used as a junior officer training college for the Royal Navy, known as the Royal Naval College, Osborne. This was followed by a succession of short-term tenants. In 1954 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for the public admitted to some of the rooms. In 1986 English Heritage assumed the management of Osborne and since then has carried out much external repair and internal redecoration and opened most of the main rooms.
Osbourne_House4_1910
A view of the Pavilion (on the right) and the main wing (with the terrace and the ornamental fountain in front) of Osbourne House, Isle of Wight, 18th October 2019.
In 1843 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were looking for a seaside retreat and the Osborne estate was recommended to them by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel. The estate was initially leased, then bought in May 1845. As the existing house was too small Queen Victoria and Prince Albert commissioned the architect and master builder Thomas Cubitt to advise them. Cubitt recommended that rather than alter the old house it would be best to build a new one and proceeded to design it, in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo.in collaboration with Prince Albert.
The first phase of building was completed in 1846 with the Pavilion, housing the private rooms of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and the royal nurseries. The household wing, containing accommodation for members of the royal household was completed in 1848. After the old house was demolished in 1848, the main wing was constructed on its site, completed in 1851. The main wing was used initially by the royal children. The terraces on the north-east side of the Pavilion and main wing were designed to complement the house and are filled with the signature features of classical Italian gardens. In 1880 a private chapel was built and in 1887 the male dormitory was extended to accommodate the Indian servants who made up part of the royal household during the later years of Queen Victoria’s reign. The Durbar Wing was built in 1890–92 which provided a large reception or dining room on the ground floor, known as the Durbar Room and a private suite for the queen’s youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice and her family on the first floor. Finally a dormitory for housemaids was built in 1894.
Following Queen Victoria’s death at Osbourne in 1901 the house became surplus to royal requirements and was given to the state, with a few rooms being retained as a private museum to Queen Victoria. From 1903 until 1921 it was used as a junior officer training college for the Royal Navy, known as the Royal Naval College, Osborne. This was followed by a succession of short-term tenants. In 1954 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II gave permission for the public admitted to some of the rooms. In 1986 English Heritage assumed the management of Osborne and since then has carried out much external repair and internal redecoration and opened most of the main rooms.