The entrance of Marlborough House was to the west, where the road formed the public way from East Street to Marlborough Row, which consisted of nine houses, whereof North House—that now contiguous to the northern entrance of the Pavilion Grounds—was No. 9. It was a boulder-fronted house, having adjoining it to the north, Coupland’s blacksmith’s shop, with three horse-shoes on a board adorning its front. These premises projected from the front line of the south side of Church Street; and, connected with them, were the dwelling-houses of Mr. Coupland and Mr. Beattie, and Beattie’s donkey stables, the whole group of buildings, for many years after the Pavilion and Grounds became royal property, disgracing the approach to the Sovereign’s residence and destroying the uniformity of the street. Eventually, the town purchased the property, and it was then wholly cleared away. The other houses of Marlborough Row were cant-bow fronted and were approached by four steps each. They were principally lodging-houses; but in 1800, No. 2,—opposite Marlborough House,—was in the occupation of Mr. John Wymark, baker, and in September, that year, on the occasion of a fire breaking out upon his premises, on a Saturday night, the Prince of Wales received the unfortunate family, and exerted himself in protecting their goods, which were taken for safety into the Pavilion.
The grounds attached to the Royal Pavilion and Marlborough House were, originally, of very limited proportions, those to the east front consisting only of a narrow lawn west of a direct line northward from the east front of the houses that form the north-east corner of Castle Square, on the Steine. But in consideration of the Prince and the Duke constructing in 1793, the sewer to carry off the stream which flooded the Steine in winter, the Lords of the Manor,—Brighthelmston-Lewes—with consent of the homage, gave them permission to enclose a certain portion of the Steine,—the Marlborough Steine, as it was termed,—adjoining their houses respectively; but never to build or encumber it with anything that might obstruct the prospect, or be any way a nuisance to the Steine. The ground then taken in was parted from the Steine by park palings, and posts and rails were put along the outer side to form a foot-way for the public.
In 1800, His Royal Highness purchased the principal portion of the Pavilion property to the south, of Mr. Weltjie, but no important improvements were undertaken until the following year, when, His Royal Highness having purchased the Elm Grove Gardens, the permission of the inhabitants was given him to enclose the old London Road, which ran direct northward from the top of East Street, on his making the New Road at his own expense. By this alteration, the Grove, and the shrubberies and pleasure-grounds of the Duke of Marlborough, which he likewise purchased, became united with the Pavilion Grounds.
The Promenade Grove or Public Gardens, which were under the particular patronage of the Prince of Wales, occupied the space of the present Pavilion Grounds, directly south of the Royal Stables, as also the site of the stables, and were approached by way of Prince’s Place, an arched gateway occupying the space whereon stand the premises now occupied as the First Sussex Volunteer Rifle Orderly Room. Prince’s Place was intended chiefly for the accommodation of the London tradesmen who came to Brighton with their wares for the season. An enclosed shrubbery of small dimensions occupied the centre of the open space, and the carriage drive was about it.
The gardens were surrounded with large overspreading elms, hence the name of the Grove, and in the hottest day of Summer a luxuriantly refreshing shade was afforded the fashionable promenaders who supported by subscription the establishment, which was open every day during the season. On Wednesdays a public breakfast was provided, when a band of music attended, and played at proper intervals select pieces of music. The breakfasts, when the weather was fine, were well attended, and boasted of all the elegance and the fashion in Brighton. Parties also, at other times went there to breakfast, drink tea, take refreshments—which were provided in abundance,—read the papers, &c. It possessed a well-appointed saloon, fitted up in an elegant style: adjoining which was an octagon-shaped orchestra. On particular nights the Gardens were brilliantly illuminated, and displays of fireworks were given; at which times the admissions were half-a-crown, and the entertainments were conducted with the greatest order and decorum. Upon stripping the walls of the house formerly inhabited by Mr. Johnson, recently purchased by Mr. Bradley, in Bond Street, a bill, having reference to these Gardens, and printed as follows, was brought to light:—
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness
THE PRINCE OF WALES.
PROMENADE GROVE.The Nobility, Gentry, and Public are respectfully informed
that there will be
On Thursday Evening, August 8th, 1802,
A GRAND CONCERT,
of
Vocal and Instrumental Music.
After which a
MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY OF FIRE-WORKS.
Designs and Fire-works by
Mr. Mortram.By Permission of Colonel Jones, the Band of the
18th Dragoons will perform on the Lawn.Admission at Half-past Seven; Concert at Eight, and
Fire-works at Nine O’clock.Managers,—
Messrs. Verney and Johnson.
The Promenade Grove, as a place of public entertainment, closed with a Grand Gala, which terminated with the spectacle of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, on the 19th of September, 1802.
In 1805, the Royal Stables were commenced, after the plan and under the direction of Mr. Porden. They may be reckoned as the first great architectural work in Brighton. The centre of the building which supports the dome is circular, and contains a spacious reservoir of water for the stables which surround it. In this circular area the doors of various stables, comprising sixty-two stalls, open. Somewhat elevated, a gallery leads, by way of two staircases, to the several apartments of the servants required about the stables. The circumference of this spacious building is 250 feet, and the dome which surmounts it is nearly of the magnitude of that of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. On the west side is the magnificent Riding School, 200 feet long and 50 broad; and eastward of the dome was a spacious Tennis Court. The Parochial Offices occupy much of this latter space, which had previously, by order of William IV., been added to the stables, a blank screen front to the east giving the buildings an appearance of uniformity. There are two grand entrances to the stables, the one from Church Street, through a lofty archway which enters into a spacious square court, containing the coach-houses, carriage-horse stables, and general offices. A similar archway leads to the circular dome, opposite to which is a corresponding entrance from the Pavilion lawn. On the east and west sides of the circle are similar archways leading to the Riding School and the Tennis Ground.
The neglected state of these premises is a disgrace as well to the nation as to the town; for while Englishmen pride themselves on the vaunted greatness of their country, such is the reduced condition of her military resources that she is compelled to beg house-room of the civil authorities for the accommodation of her soldiers, in a town where two ranges of barracks are inadequate to the requirements of a single regiment. The Town Council are bound in justice to the ratepayers to appropriate the premises to purposes for which little or no provision is made. The Courts of Justice in Brighton are libels on the name; the police accommodation is meagre in the extreme, persons only suspected of a crime being placed in underground dungeons similar to which criminals convicted of the darkest crimes would not by any British Government be permitted to be consigned; and while other towns with less pretensions to greatness than Brighton have their Public Baths and Wash-houses, these premises, which may be easily converted on a small outlay to meet all the requirements alluded to, are permitted to be illegally let and grossly misapplied, to the detriment of the property and the inconvenience of the inhabitants.
The most memorable event, in connexion with the Royal Stables, was the celebration of the Jubilee of the Fiftieth Year of the Reign of George III., by Mr. Philip Mighell feasting 2,000 of the poorest inhabitants of the town, by permission of the Prince of Wales, in the Royal Riding Room, on Wednesday, October the 25th 1809. The following is a copy of the letter to Mr. Mighell, conveying the sanction of His Royal Highness:—