Â鶹APP

Osborne House,2010-by Mrscooke-Wikipedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Osborne House

The Osborne estate is a former residence in East Cowes on the isle of Wight, England which was built between 1845 and 1851. It was 1st bought by Victoria and Albert in 1845, where afterward they built the huge palatial mansion that is found today.

Albert had a large hand in the building, Italianate design which was named Osborne style and inspired the construction of similar buildings throughout the British Empire. He also took a keen interest in the composition designs of the gardens and wider estates. The house is famous as the holiday home of couples where they spend many of the summer seasons relaxing with their large family and spending most of their birthdays and special events there.

After the death of Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria found solace in Osborne’s peaceful surroundings and used it for the remaining  50 years of her life, where she continued to spend time with her vast family and entertain foreign dignitaries, including numerous Kings and Queen.

Today the house contains a vast collection of Albert and Victoria’s items, alongside countless rooms, gardens, and even beaches where they spent some of their cherished memories. Today the house is managed by English Heritage. Here are 10 facts about Osborne House.

The walled garden at Osborne House-by Colin Park-Wikipedia Commons

1. It was designed by architect Thomas Cubitt

Front Elevation of Osborne House-by The Jive Master -Wikipedia Commons

Thomas Cubitt was one of the most renowned architects of the 19th century and known as “the emperor of the building trade”. Impressed with his previous works, prince Albert commissioned him to rebuild Osborne House. They worked hand in hand in constructing and designing the house, thus the mix of Palladian architecture and Italian Renaissance style.

Cubitt implemented many of his own features from his own workshops in the house. He also incorporated his own patterns for the plaster within the house. Queen Victoria admired Cubitt not only for his work on Osborne House but also for his character, she referred to him as “our Cubitt”

2. The house served as a Military Convalescent home

During world war 1, the secondary wings of Osborne house were used as an officer’s convalescent home. Robert Graves and A. A Milne were two famous patients. Being known as the King Edward VIII retirement home for officers. the house later accommodated convalescents from military and civil service backgrounds which included retired officers of the British armed services until the late 1990s.

3. It served as a Royal Naval College

In 1903, the new stable block became a junior officer training college for the Royal navy known as the royal naval college Osborne. Initial training began at about the age of 13, whereafter 2 years later the studies were continued at the royal naval college, Dartmouth. The college was closed in 1921. former students of Osborne included victoria great – grandson. the future Edward VIII and George VI and their younger brother George, Duke of Kent.

4. Its design was influenced by the Italian palazzo style

When it comes to the design of the Osborne house on the isle of wight, it was heavily influenced by the Italian palazzo style. It has pairs of towers and all terraces of the house were connected by flights of steps.

It is designed in a way so that it could blend in with the settings of the island, where the temperatures and views reminded Prince Albert of the Bay of Naples which had visited in 1839, before a clear design like this could be tried, there were multiple approaches that could be selected, some of which had already been tried.

5. Why it is called Osborne house

The area where Osborne’s house is located today has been known as Osborne for over 1000 years, it is believed to be named after a nearby oyster bed. The microclimate of the isle of wight made it the perfect location for a grand summer residence fit for a Queen and her prince’s comfort.

6. It is a former Royal residence

Osborne House, Isle of Wight-by Kitmasterbloke-Wikipedia Commons

The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat. They bought the house on the isle of wight from lady Isabella Blachford in October 1845. They wanted a home removed from the stresses of court life.

They realized that the house was too small for their needs and decided with their advisors, to replace the house with the new larger residence. The house was rebuilt in the style of the Italian renaissance, complete with two belvedere towers that prince  Albert designed himself in conjunction with Thomas Cubitt. The couple paid for much of the new house furnishings by the sale of the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.

7. How to get to Osborne House

Osborne’s house is located on the isle of wight, one mile southeast of east Cowes. Ryde Esplanade train station is 1 mile away, while east Cowes ferry port is 1.5 miles away. The southern Vectis bus services  4 and 5 also stop near the site. 

8. It is today under the management of English Heritage

In 1986, the preservation agency English heritage assumed management of Osborne house. Since then Osborne’s house has been extensively repaired and restored. In 1989, the second floor of the house was opened to the public. In 2012, Queen Victoria’s private beach was opened to the public and in 2014  a multimillion dollar project was concluded at the swiss cottage, a chalet that had served as a private getaway for Victoria’s children.

9. The Osborne House was opened to the public in 1986 

Since 1986, Osborne house has been under the care of English heritage. which is open to the public. The former Naval College Cricket pavilion was converted into a holiday cottage in 2004. In 2005 the house occasionally started hosting picnic-style concerts on the lawn outside the main house. Queen Victoria’s private beach including a personal bathing machine, was opened to the public for the 1st time in July 2012, following an extensive restoration program.

10. It is one of the Royal attractions in Britain

Icehouse at Osborne House-by David Smith-Wikipedia Commons

Osborne House-by David Short-Wikipedia Commons

 When it comes to Britain’s royal attractions, Osborne House is relatively not as famous compared to the likes of Buckingham Palace and Windsor castle.it has a captivating seaside retreat, ornate furniture, artifact, and fine art that fill the rooms and corridors.

It has a beautiful bathing machine where Victoria would undress before heading to the beach .it is one of the most visited places by tourists and attracts a lot of people around the world.

Osborne House is of outstanding significance for its close association with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and for its survival with its original contents largely intact.