Osborne House, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, 1894. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Osborne House and its estate from Lady Isabella Blachford in 1845. In 1848, the old house was demolished to make way for a new three-storey pavilion with flagtower, designed in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo and built by Thomas Cubitt. It was used as a summer home and rural retreat by the royal family. From Beautiful Britain; views of our stately homes. [The Werner Company of Chicago, 1894]