Jody East: The Royal Pavilion and its connection to India and the First World War

The life of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton & Hove has been varied to say the least. From a farmhouse to a flamboyant palace for George IV to an embarrassingly expensive holiday home for Queen Victoria; a town council function venue for beauty pageants, civic events and flower shows to a 21st century Grade 1 listed tourist attraction. No part of its history takes people by surprise more than discovering it was a hospital for Indian soldiers during the First World War.

My talk will focus on why it was chosen? Why particularly for Indian troops? How it was turned into a hospital? It will also explore the steps we have taken at the Royal Pavilion over the last 15 years to share this story more widely.

Jody East is the Creative Programme Manager for the Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust, Brighton & Hove. She is part of a team responsible for the programming of temporary exhibitions and events across their five sites, including the Royal Pavilion. Jody has particular interest in the history of the Royal Pavilion during it’s time as a hospital for Indian soldiers in the First World War. She has worked on different exhibitions, events and installations sharing this story. In 2014, Jody travelled to India to collaborate with the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, giving talks and visiting archives. From this, she organised an international conference in Brighton, ‘Voices from India: The First World War’.

Jody has also worked closely with organisations such as UK Punjab Heritage Association, to raise awareness of India’s role in the First World War, and most recently collaborated with artist Chila Burman, historian Dr Kiran Sahota and the Imperial War Museum to create a light installation at the Royal Pavilion inspired by the history of the Indian troops hospitalised here, and a new video tour of the Pavilion through the context of this history.

SPONSOR – Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust