Fife House

Fife House
Fife House (in foreground) at west end of Lewes Crescent
General information
Type Terraced house
Architectural style Regency
Location Kemp Town, Brighton, England
Coordinates 50°48′57″N 0°06′46″W / 50.8159°N 0.1129°W / 50.8159; -0.1129Coordinates: 50°48′57″N 0°06′46″W / 50.8159°N 0.1129°W / 50.8159; -0.1129
Construction started 1828
Technical details
Floor count 5
Design and construction
Architect Charles Busby, Amon Wilds
Main contractor Thomas Cubitt
Awards and prizes Grade I listed

Fife House, No 1, Lewes Crescent, is a Grade I listed building in Kemp Town, Brighton, United Kingdom, which was previously owned by the Duke of Devonshire and the Duke of Fife; it is not to be confused with the former Fife House, Whitehall, in London.

History

Fife House was originally built in 1828 by Thomas Cubitt, as part of the Kemp Town estate planned by Thomas Read Kemp, and designed by Charles Busby and Amon Wilds. It was bought in 1829 by the William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. He had the property, situated at 1, Lewes Crescent, joined internally by Thomas Cubitt, using workmen from Chatsworth, to an adjacent property he also owned at 14, Chichester Terrace.[1] The Duke had the property redecorated by John Gregory Crace in 1848, and lived there until his death in 1858.

The Duke of Fife lived in the property from 1896,[2] with his wife, Princess Louise, the daughter of King Edward VII. The house was named Fife House at that time.[3] King Edward visited the house on a number of occasions, most notably staying there during his convalescence in 1908. It was for this reason that the King's toilet was installed in the house. Princess Louise lived in the property until 1924.[4]

From 1947 and for most of the rest of the 20th century, Fife House was the home of the Weston family, who founded and ran the nearby Nevill House Hotel.

Recent history

During renovation work carried out under the supervision of new owners Todd Cooper and Giuseppe Sironi in 2001 the decoration by Crace was rediscovered under several layers of wallpaper.[5]

Telecommunications millionnaire Patrick Naughton bought the property in 2002 for £2.85 million.[6] The bathrooms in Fife House were renovated in 2002 by Emily Swift-Jones and Joseph Atkinson of Aurum Design.[7]

The property was sold in 2008, to an unknown buyer, for £1.75 million.[6] It was reported that the property had been occupied by squatters during December 2008, but they had moved out by mid-January 2009.[8]

Fife House was most recently acquired by Jason Cale, a financier, in 2013. Over the next two years he carried out a comprehensive restoration, both internally and externally, to bring the house back to its original glory. He relied upon expert contractors, Hartes of London, and after advice from curators at the V&A and the Royal Pavillion, brought in a number of specialist master craftsmen to restore the historic Crace Brothers interior. He also sought experts to assist in furnishing the interior with bespoke commissioned furniture to match its royal heritage. It was his enjoyment of this process which led to him setting up www.lignae.co.uk - a business which creates unique pieces of museum quality furniture for discerning interior designers and private clients.

References

  1. ↑ Daily Telegraph Oh my lord! 10 July 2006
  2. ↑ Kemp Town history
  3. ↑ The Independent Squatters invade £2m Regency house 11 December 2008
  4. ↑ My Brighton & Hove
  5. ↑ The Argus US may snap up Duke's wallpaper 19 July 2001
  6. 1 2 The Argus Squatters' 1.75m pad 10 December 2008
  7. ↑ The Argus Royal nod for restoration duo 20 August 2002
  8. ↑ The Argus Squatters leave 1.75m Regency home 15 January 2009
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