I headed to Brighton with American Women's Club one day last week.
Here's a little history lesson from my travel book: On the Sussex coast and a mere 50 miles from London on the English Channel, Brighton is England's most famous and popular seaside town. The small city was a fishing village until the prince regent, George IV, became enamored with the place and had the Royal Pavilion built. And in England, where royalty moves, fashion follows, and Brighton eventually grew to become one of the country's most fashionable towns. The long terraces of Regency townhouses everywhere in Brighton date from this same period. Later in the 19th century, when doctors prescribed breathing sea air as a cure-all, the Victorians descended en masse, as did the world-weary simply looking for a little fun --and they still do. Today, Brighton is a popular place for conventions and weekend getaways to hang out at the beach, shop, and stroll along Brighton Pier.
Brighton Pier (a little cloudy on our travel day)
Victorian bandstand (to right) and Brighton Beach overlooking the English Channel
Entrance to the Royal Pavilion
The Royal Pavilion
American Women's Club ladies before heading back to London
AWC friends Kathy and Becky
Most interesting: Flamboyant and indulgent George IV had this former farm house remodeled to reflect Indian architecture on the exterior and all sorts of Asian influences from China and Japan on the inside. BUT, neither he or any of the rest of the monarchy had traveled to any of these Far East places. Queen Victoria, upon inheriting the throne, thought it was awfully ugly, and sold it to the City of Brighton.
Our tour guide told us tale after tale and a whole array of interesting facts to and from Brighton. He then confessed a rhyme about the British monarchy, which he uses to keep all of the kings and queens in order, and his tune was pretty funny:
Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three,
One, Two, Three Teds, Richard Two,
Henry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Edward, Edward, Dick the Bad,
Henry, Henry, Ned the Lad,
Mary, Bessie, James the Vain,
Charlie, Charlie, James again,
William and Mary, Anna Gloria,
Four Georges, William and Victoria,
Eddie Seven, Georgie Five,
Eddie, George and Liz alive...
and that's 1,000 years of English history in a nutshell.
1 comment:
That rhyme is fabulous! I wish I could hear the "tune!" Hope you're doing great, Kambry. =)
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