Tour the grand and elaborate interior of a beautiful Victorian building and pick up insights into the lives of the wealthy residents who used to live here.
Step inside Number 33 Palmeira Mansions, a large 19th-century terrace home filled with its original Victorian fixtures and fittings. Visit magnificent rooms lavishly decorated in marble, stained glass and elaborate fireplaces.
Palmeira Mansions is one of two south-facing terraces of four-story houses. On one corner is Number 33, purchased by Arthur William Mason in 1889. The wealthy ink company owner used his fortune to furnish the property with an opulent and eclectic collection of art and furniture.
Mason lived in the stately residence from 1889 until his death in 1940. Today, 33 Palmeira Mansions is home to the English Language Centre, a non-profit educational foundation for international students. The other buildings on the street now house private apartments and offices.
There are several opportunities to tour Number 33, which isn’t always open to the public. It is possible to pre-book private tours on weekends as well as weekday afternoons and evenings. You can also visit during May as part of the festivities of the annual Brighton Fringe and regular tours take place on the first Sunday of the month.
Take a moment to admire the building’s façade, which consists of stucco over brick. Look over the ground floor’s Doric porches, featuring rusticated columns and half-glazed doors. On the floor above is a decorative cast-iron balustrade.
Once inside, there are lots of beautiful features to see. They include carved mahogany doors, marble inlaid walls, stained glass windows, parquet floors and a marble staircase. Study the extravagant Moorish-style ceiling and see large areas of lincrusta, a type of deeply embossed wallpaper. Examine the ornate over-mantels decorating the home’s fireplaces.
Number 33 Palmeira Mansions is located on the corner of Salisbury Road and Church Road, opposite the Floral Clock. Use local bus services to get there or take the car. If driving, you’ll find car parks for a fee nearby, as well as some street parking, also for a fee. There is an admission fee to tour the building.
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