Public Places English Heritage are


the governors of four historic sites of national importance on the Isle of Wight; Osborne House, Carisbrooke Castle, Yarmouth Castle and Appuldurcombe House.


Peter Britton visited two of the island’s most popular tourist destinations, Osborne and Carisbrooke, to discover how the gardens and grassed areas are tended


V


isitors to Osborne House - simply referred to as Osborne - will have little idea of the splendour that awaits them, as the building is offset from the main drive and also


obscured by specimen trees. It is this privacy that particularly appealed to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as they sought refuge from Royal Court duties in Windsor and London. The royal couple purchased the Osborne estate in 1845 and, on the advice of London Building Contractor, Thomas Cubitt, the existing Georgian building was demolished and a new Italianate styled house built.


It was constructed in red brick and


concrete rendered to ‘suit the Queen’s privy purse’. At the time it was believed that Osborne had the largest area of concrete rendering in the UK. This exterior layer was sculpted and painted to resemble stone. Prince Albert laid out the gardens and lawns and, along with the Queen and their nine children, was responsible for planting a good number of the stunning specimen


One’s


summer retreat!


Aerial view of Osborne showing the extensive terrace and Durbar Lawns (top right)


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