The Royal Gymnasium And Attached Railings

BRIGHTON

TQ3203NE PASTON PLACE 577-1/49/659 (East side) The Royal Gymnasium and attached railings

II

Also known as: St George's Hall PASTON PLACE. Gymnasium and fencing rooms. 1864. By Frederick Mahomed, the second son of Sake Dene Mahomed. Stucco scored to imitate ashlaring. Roof of slate with gable facing Paston Place. Rectangular plan with long axis to return on Sudeley Terrace. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys over basement. 3-window range on main and return elevations. The main elevation is treated as a temple front with a tetrastyle portico of Tuscan pilasters supporting an entablature and shallow pediment with raking cornice. The pilasters and entablature continue across the return for 3 bays. The structure might be termed "Greek Revival" style were it not for its very late date and its eccentric use of the order; the pilasters are exceptionally narrow for their height, and the intercolumniations so wide as to be mannered. This is especially true on the return. The entablature is unusually broad, making the barely articulated cornice an almost vestigial feature. This rather wilful rendering of classical forms may perhaps be explained by the building type, which is not an exalted one. In any case, there is a flat-arched entrance in the centre bay of the main elevation. It is set within an aedicule consisting of a pair of Tuscan pilasters and entablature. All the windows are flat arched with deep reveals and projecting sills. Each first-floor window on the main elevation has a floating cornice supported by a pair of console brackets. On the return there is a second flat-arched entrance to the rear. The entablature to the return is topped by a blocking course. INTERIOR: not inspected. There are spear-headed cast-iron railings with French-curve brackets to entrance and broad area on all sides. HISTORICAL NOTE: the Gymnasium and Fencing Rooms were first opened in Church Street, in what is now the Wagon and Horses Public House. It became St George's Church Hall in 1889, when the Church was being reseated, redecorated and extended. The gymnasium fittings remained in place until 1962. (Carder T: The Encyclopaedia of Brighton: Lewes: 1990-: 166A).

Listing NGR: TQ3263103811