French Convalescent Home, Brighton
Encyclopedia
The former French Convalescent Home (now a residential development called The French Apartments) was a seafront sanatorium
and rest home built in Brighton
, part of the English seaside city of Brighton and Hove, on behalf of the French government
. It received patients from the French Hospital in London and served as a home for elderly French nationals. It was sold for redevelopment in 1999 and was briefly threatened with demolition; but English Heritage
listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance, and it was converted into flats
. The unusual château
-style French Renaissance Revival
building has been criticised as "dreary" and "gauche", but is believed to be unique in England and demonstrated innovation in its use of double glazing
.
's French residents
was opened in 1867; four years later, a French dispensary
was opened on another site. In 1890, the institutions moved to a combined facility, the French Hospital, on Shaftesbury Avenue
; funding came from the French government and other donors.
The French government sought to establish a home outside London where former patients of the hospital could recuperate. Brighton had grown in the previous century because of its proximity to London, excellent climate and status as a fashionable, high-class resort; these advantages helped Brighton to be chosen, and a site on the cliff above Black Rock
and behind Marine Parade was found. On 5 October 1895, Baron de Courcel, the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, laid the building's first stone. Local architecture firm Clayton & Black, who were responsible for many buildings throughout Brighton and the surrounding area, were commissioned to design the home; it has been described as an "interesting example of their work", which also encompasses such buildings as the mock-Tudor King and Queen Hotel, the former St Thomas the Apostle's Church
and the pink Baroque
former Leeds Permanent Building Society
.
The institution opened in 1896, and was finished in its original form in 1898. Its capacity was 61. Two pavilions were added at the ends in 1904 and 1907: the eastern pavilion—named after Gambon, a later French Ambassador—came first, followed by the Ruffer pavilion (named after the French Hospital's president) on the west side.
From the beginning, nun
s were used as nurses (the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres were responsible for the home until 1994), and non-French nationals were sometimes accepted as residents; during World War I, British soldiers injured in action were treated there. Structural alterations since 1907 included an extra wing on the east end in 1914, adding more capacity, and a new rendered façade, larger lift shaft
, new internal doors, tiling and the removal of some chimneys.
In 1986, the local health authority registered the institution as a nursing home under its control. The Sisters of St Paul of Chartres still ran the home until 1994, though; at that time they were replaced by local authority nurses. Five years later, the building's future was in doubt when its trustees sold it to housebuilder Bovis Homes Group
. The decision, on 29 October 1999, was followed four months later by an announcement that the home would close: all staff would be made redundant and all residents would have move to other institutions by 31 May 2000. In the meantime, English Heritage
granted Grade II listed status to the building, and instead of being demolished it was converted into fourteen luxury flats under the name "The French Apartments". Listed status was granted on 26 January 2000; the Grade II designation is given to "nationally important buildings of special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 1,124 Grade II-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city of Brighton and Hove. It is the only known current or former French convalescent home in England, and was known in French as La Maison Française de Retraite et de Convalescence or La Maison de Convalescence Française.
, making it appear "out of place on Brighton's seafront" (which consists almost exclusively of stucco
ed Regency-style
buildings). Nikolaus Pevsner
and Ian Nairn
criticised it as a "dreary institution", and the greyish-green cement
applied to the exterior in the 20th century has made it appear drab. Other descriptions have included "gauche" and "interesting", and the building has been likened to a château
.
The structure is built of Belgian brick (subsequently covered with cement) with some stonework. The roof is of slate with some ironwork at the tops of the pavilions. The use of concrete suspended floors and "secondary glazing" in most of the wooden-framed windows was requested in the design requirements; the latter represented the first use of double glazing
in an English building. The entrance, facing north away from the sea, is set in a gable
d recess below a cornice
; there is a six-window range with some stained glass
, and a double doorway at the top of a balustraded staircase. Facing the sea on the south side, behind a garden, is a five-bay
, three-storey façade with and in black lettering, a ground-floor round-arched colonnade
and small single-storey projections between the outer bays and the four-storey pavilions flanking them.
Interior facilities which existed before the building was sold for conversion included a three-bay chapel in the base of the eastern pavilion (with mural
s, wooden panelling and lancet window
s), a billiards
room in the western pavilion, two lounges and a dining room. Near the original oak staircase is a bronze
statue of the founder of the French Hospital.
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
and rest home built in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, part of the English seaside city of Brighton and Hove, on behalf of the French government
Government of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
. It received patients from the French Hospital in London and served as a home for elderly French nationals. It was sold for redevelopment in 1999 and was briefly threatened with demolition; but English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance, and it was converted into flats
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
. The unusual château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
-style French Renaissance Revival
French Renaissance architecture
French Renaissance architecture is the style of architecture which was imported to France from Italy during the early 16th century and developed in the light of local architectural traditions....
building has been criticised as "dreary" and "gauche", but is believed to be unique in England and demonstrated innovation in its use of double glazing
Insulated glazing
Insulated glazing also known as double glazing are double or triple glass window panes separated by an air or other gas filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope....
.
History
A hospital to serve LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's French residents
French diaspora
The French diaspora consists of French emigrants and their descendants in countries such as the United States, Canada and Latin America. Although less important than other European countries, immigration from France was numerous from the start of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century...
was opened in 1867; four years later, a French dispensary
Dispensary
A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital or other organization that dispenses medications and medical supplies. In a traditional dispensary set-up a pharmacist dispenses medication as per prescription or order form....
was opened on another site. In 1890, the institutions moved to a combined facility, the French Hospital, on Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue
Shaftesbury Avenue is a major street in central London, England, named after Anthony Ashley Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, that runs in a north-easterly direction from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street, crossing Charing Cross Road at Cambridge Circus....
; funding came from the French government and other donors.
The French government sought to establish a home outside London where former patients of the hospital could recuperate. Brighton had grown in the previous century because of its proximity to London, excellent climate and status as a fashionable, high-class resort; these advantages helped Brighton to be chosen, and a site on the cliff above Black Rock
Black Rock (Brighton and Hove)
Black Rock is an area of wasteland located near Brighton Marina in the city of Brighton and Hove.-History:From at least the early 19th Century , Black Rock was the site of an inn and a few houses overlooking cliffs to the east of the then town of Brighton....
and behind Marine Parade was found. On 5 October 1895, Baron de Courcel, the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, laid the building's first stone. Local architecture firm Clayton & Black, who were responsible for many buildings throughout Brighton and the surrounding area, were commissioned to design the home; it has been described as an "interesting example of their work", which also encompasses such buildings as the mock-Tudor King and Queen Hotel, the former St Thomas the Apostle's Church
St Mary and St Abraam Coptic Orthodox Church, Hove
St Mary and St Abraam Church is a Coptic Orthodox Church in Hove, in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is one of 27 such churches in the British Isles, twelve of which are British Orthodox churches...
and the pink Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
former Leeds Permanent Building Society
Leeds Permanent Building Society
The Leeds Permanent Building Society was a building society founded in Leeds, England in 1846 and was commonly known in a shortened form as The Leeds...
.
The institution opened in 1896, and was finished in its original form in 1898. Its capacity was 61. Two pavilions were added at the ends in 1904 and 1907: the eastern pavilion—named after Gambon, a later French Ambassador—came first, followed by the Ruffer pavilion (named after the French Hospital's president) on the west side.
From the beginning, nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s were used as nurses (the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres were responsible for the home until 1994), and non-French nationals were sometimes accepted as residents; during World War I, British soldiers injured in action were treated there. Structural alterations since 1907 included an extra wing on the east end in 1914, adding more capacity, and a new rendered façade, larger lift shaft
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
, new internal doors, tiling and the removal of some chimneys.
In 1986, the local health authority registered the institution as a nursing home under its control. The Sisters of St Paul of Chartres still ran the home until 1994, though; at that time they were replaced by local authority nurses. Five years later, the building's future was in doubt when its trustees sold it to housebuilder Bovis Homes Group
Bovis Homes Group
Bovis Homes Group plc is a second tier national British housebuilding company based in New Ash Green, Kent. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.-History:...
. The decision, on 29 October 1999, was followed four months later by an announcement that the home would close: all staff would be made redundant and all residents would have move to other institutions by 31 May 2000. In the meantime, English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
granted Grade II listed status to the building, and instead of being demolished it was converted into fourteen luxury flats under the name "The French Apartments". Listed status was granted on 26 January 2000; the Grade II designation is given to "nationally important buildings of special interest". As of February 2001, it was one of 1,124 Grade II-listed buildings and structures, and 1,218 listed buildings of all grades, in the city of Brighton and Hove. It is the only known current or former French convalescent home in England, and was known in French as La Maison Française de Retraite et de Convalescence or La Maison de Convalescence Française.
Architecture
The French Convalescent Home was designed by the Clayton & Black firm in the French Renaissance Revival styleFrench Renaissance architecture
French Renaissance architecture is the style of architecture which was imported to France from Italy during the early 16th century and developed in the light of local architectural traditions....
, making it appear "out of place on Brighton's seafront" (which consists almost exclusively of stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
ed Regency-style
Regency architecture
The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style...
buildings). Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
and Ian Nairn
Ian Nairn
Ian Nairn was a British architectural critic and topographer.He had no formal architecture qualifications; he was a mathematics graduate and a Royal Air Force pilot...
criticised it as a "dreary institution", and the greyish-green cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
applied to the exterior in the 20th century has made it appear drab. Other descriptions have included "gauche" and "interesting", and the building has been likened to a château
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
.
The structure is built of Belgian brick (subsequently covered with cement) with some stonework. The roof is of slate with some ironwork at the tops of the pavilions. The use of concrete suspended floors and "secondary glazing" in most of the wooden-framed windows was requested in the design requirements; the latter represented the first use of double glazing
Insulated glazing
Insulated glazing also known as double glazing are double or triple glass window panes separated by an air or other gas filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope....
in an English building. The entrance, facing north away from the sea, is set in a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d recess below a cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
; there is a six-window range with some stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
, and a double doorway at the top of a balustraded staircase. Facing the sea on the south side, behind a garden, is a five-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, three-storey façade with and in black lettering, a ground-floor round-arched colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
and small single-storey projections between the outer bays and the four-storey pavilions flanking them.
Interior facilities which existed before the building was sold for conversion included a three-bay chapel in the base of the eastern pavilion (with mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s, wooden panelling and lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s), a billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
room in the western pavilion, two lounges and a dining room. Near the original oak staircase is a bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
statue of the founder of the French Hospital.