Osborne House
Osborne House
With a passion for grand country homes and their stylish design inspirations, I hereby present the Osborne Estate!
Whilst on holiday this year in the Isle of Wight, I just couldn't help dropping in on Osborne House estate, the former home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert! Unfortunately, taking photos of the royal home interiors isn't allowed, so I made good use of the exterior, which, as you can see, is just as beautiful!
The estate, which was purchased in 1845, by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, became a bit of an escape, away from the demands and strains of court life back in London and Windsor. This privately built new home in the Italianate design, became known as the 'Osborne style' and it wasn't long before it was copied elsewhere throughout the British empire. It was only lived in for 55 years but provides us with a vivid picture of domestic life and court duties for Victoria and Albert.
Talking of style, both the interior design of the home and the grounds themselves mirror the personal taste of the royal couple whose beautiful art work, furniture, etc brings one up close and personal with what mattered to them on an everyday basis. Prince Albert's liking for Italian Renaissance design is most notable along the Grand Corridor which links the household, main wings and Queen Victoria's private apartments. There you'll find a gallery resembling a classical sculpture which was common place late 18th - 19th century. Planting within the grounds of the estate was also designed according to Prince Albert's plans.
One of the nice things about the Osborne estate is that sense of getting to know the real couple behind it all! Splattered on some of the walls (tastefully done of course), you'll find various personal sayings of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, unearthed from Queen Victoria's journal, such as her comment about her Highland servant “ I feel I have here always in the house a good, devoted Soul... whose only object & interest is my service, & God....”
The rooms themselves seem well in tact as if the couple up sticks and left yesterday, just for a few days . However, many of the rooms have been lovingly restored to their former glory, such as the drawing room, previously described by Queen Victoria as 'extremely handsome' with damask yellow satin curtains and matching furniture. Not only does the drawing room resemble it's 1890's look now with it's repainted walls, curtains, upholstery and intricately patterned carpet, but so too does the dining and billiard rooms which are also richly decorated along with the elaborate ceiling work and fine furnishings. The drawing room even contained it's own electrified chandeliers!
Leading off these rooms, we come to the grand staircase which was apparently modelled after Claremont House in Surrey. The couple's most intimate rooms are found on the first floor; nurseries and servants room on the second floor whilst the table-deckers rooms are found in the basement.
Virtually all rooms are available to visit, including the nursery and Queen Victoria's bedroom where she died. Although the house was used to entertain visiting ministers and foreign dignitaries, it was essentially bought as a family home by the sea rather than a palace. Nine children were bought up in the royal household and a sculpture of each of them can be seen in the drawing room.
In 1854, on the Queen's birthday, her children were presented with a furnished cottage, which became known as the 'Swiss Cottage'. It is about 20 minutes walk from the house. As far as Prince Albert was concerned, the cottage was regarded as somewhere the children could learn the basics of good housekeeping and cookery skills as well as entertain their parents.
After Queen Victoria's death in 1901, the house was opened to the public in 1904. Whilst wishing to retain all Albert's influence around the house, some changes were however made to the house, in particular the Durbar Room, parts of which were designed by Bhai Ram Singh from India in 1891. The Queen had a love affair with India and was later given the title 'empress of India'. The extraordinary interior of the Durbar Room and impressive Indian artefacts remains on show for all to see.
Osborne House is now part of English Heritage, having formerly converted to part convalescent home soon after Queen Victoria's death and part Royal Naval College. English Heritage took over the management of Osborne House in 1986 and much more of Osborne is now open to members of the public.
Although it cost about £11 to enter, the sheer inspiration, experience and enchantment one gained from this most exciting visit, made it more than worthwhile. It's definitely a full day out as there is literally much ground to cover, both inside and outside the house.