Then - and then - and now. A very early photograph on the left of the Kings Arms Hotel which was located on the corner of Sandgate Road and Guildhall Street. The King's Arms was originally in Guildhall Street itself - but that was back in late 1600's early 1700's. The building you can see next door to the King's Arms is M. P. Valyer, a livery stables that went into liquidation in 1872. The King's Arms was demolished in 1882 to make way for the widening of Guildhall Street and the Queen's Hotel that was built on that corner, shown in the middle picture above. This was a very grand hotel, and it contained the popular Bodega Bar that was used as a pub. Unfortunately, this beautiful piece of architecture was pulled down in 1963, and Queens House on the right was built in its place. Currently on the corner is Ladies' Wear Bon Marché.
Queen's Hotel, 2 Sandgate Road, built 1884 at cost of £25,000
King's Arms Hotel, built 1692, demolished 1881 First licensee recorded, Richard Verrier 1717, last licensee Richard Medhurst 1878 - 1881
Queen's House featuring Bon Marché
This fabulous photo was sent to me by Alan Taylor, and is of Guildhall Street, looking towards the Town Hall - or Guildhall as it was probably known as at that time. It also shows the back of the King's Arms Hotel, and you can certainly see why it had to go in order to widen the road.
A couple of postcards issued by the Queens Hotel. What an absolutely magnificent place it was. I really wish I had ventured inside it when I had the chance, as it was demolished shortly before I moved to Canada.
Did the council of the day really think the plans for Queens House would be a suitable replacement for this building? I hope they were haunted by the hotel's architect!
When I bought these cards, I knew absolutely nothing about this hotel, and couldn't find anything on it, so wrote to Alan Taylor, who knows everything! True to form he came up trumps, and this is what he told me:
"Hundert's hotel stood next to the Pleasure Gardens Theatre in Bouverie Road West. It was built in 1892 and run by Max Wilhelm Hundert until c1931. By 1933 the name had changed to the Princes Hotel. The Princes was purchased by the Orion Insurance Company (which stood on the Theatre site and now the Police Station) it was demolished in August 1976 and the site became an extension to the Orion's gardens."
Personally, I don't know exactly where the building was, but this modern photo is roughly where it stood, as this is the grounds of the Police Station.
This was the Jubilee Hotel, and I didn't know where it had been located. Paul Seward contacted me to say it was around the middle of Langhorne Gardens. I checked all the Kelly's Directories I have, but it wasn't listed in any of them, but I trust his knowledge, so would guess it was around where this building is today.
Now over to 10-12 Langhorne Gardens where we find the Norfolk Hotel in 1961. It was built in the late 1800's
Here it is in 1981, now called the Langhorne Garden Hotel. Not to be confused with the Langhorne (see further down )
Now, thanks to Brian McBride I have now discovered the Langhorne Garden Hotel has been sold, and has undergone a major face lift, but at the same time, they have been careful to preserve the best of the original 1890's building. It is now a Bed & Breakfast, going under the name of 10 To 12 - still located of course at 10 to 12 Langhorne Gardens. You can take a look at their refurbished rooms HERE
This was the Langhorne Hotel in 1911 which was being run by Mrs. Hughes. I found it in an early Ward Lock Guide, but it just lists it on The Leas, but you can see the Wm. Harvey statue alongside, so it had to be on the corner of Langhorne Gardens.
The building has now been demolished, and this is what that site looks like now. It is occupied by the Skuba Bar & Grill, and the front garden of the old hotel has been made into a very pleasant outdoor spot for patrons to sit.
The wonderful photo of the Leas Hotel on the left, was sent to me by Paul Seward, who told me that the building is located at 30-32 Clifton Gardens on the corner of Sandgate Road, and is now known as Leaside Court. As you can see, some major refurbishment has taken place with the entrance being moved a little further down, and windows added where the door used to be. they also removed the mansard, changing the look of the top forever. The photo in the middle looks even older than the one on the left, but very little change in appearance.
This building was called Leas Mansions in 1913 (left). I didn't know where this hotel was located, but Paul Seward certainly did. He tells me the building is still there on The Leas, and in 2019 is occupied on the left by the Carlton Hotel. So now we know!
Note the way the child on the right is dressed. Tight trousers with thigh high boots. Loose fitting shirt with a hip belt and flared cuffs. Plus the large cap that was so fashionable in those days. Obviously a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth!
I put this one in the Hotels section instead of The Leas, because the card says "Shewing Skelmersdale Hotel". (I do love the word 'shewing')
I did enlarge part of this card though, because I am sure many of you have never seen a horse-drawn lawnmover before! I hadn't either.
The Skelmersdale Hotel was built in the mid 19th century ( around 1850) I've traced it back so far to 1871 where it was privately owned but the hotel was created in around 1892 and was at number 22 -24 the Leas it was later named The Ambassador Hotel which is now the South Cliff hotel, not far from the Leas Cliff Hall.
This snippet of information was provided by Mark Cunningham
May 2009
A long time landmark in the Harbour area has been the London & Paris Hotel. It was built in 1853 on the site of Thomas Maxted's blacksmiths' shop at 28-30 Harbour Street. Initially called the Paris Hotel, it became the American and Paris in 1886, but was renamed the London & Paris in 1887. Although the back of the building was destroyed by a German shell in WW2, it was business as usual at the front. Closed for a short time in 2000, it was reopened on August 15, 2001 under the name of Gillespies, named after its owner Kevin Gillespie.
Here we are in 2024's Google and just look on the right. It has had a facelift inside and out, still working on the back but that could be finished, and it now contains a high class fish restaurant, and according to the reviews, can't be beaten in Folkestone. I think it is still a hotel too - and it has gone back to the London & Paris name!
Now this one has been around for a very long time. It is the Lismore, located in Trinity Crescent, the photo on the left shows only part of it, they have expanded over the years, and it is looking better than ever!
I said that a few years ago, just looked on Google in 2024, and although it still comes up on Trip Advisor as a hotel, there is no name on the building, and looks in need of lick of paint.
1933
This lovely photo from 1906 is the Longford Hotel on the Leas. As you can see, it was right next door to the Leas Pavilion, so the guests didn't have far to go for entertainment. This hotel was still in operation in 1958, but above right is the way it all looked around there next. The newer building to the right of the construction is Priors Lees, and the Leas Pavilion, until recently, served up alcohol instead of plays, and called itself the Leas Club. Now that too has closed and the future of the Leas Pavilion is, they say, as the lobby of a large block of flats. Sigh....
Both of these photos show the Salisbury Hotel in the foreground and the Clifton Hotel on the other side of the gardens.
Although both hotels are still there, even if this one had been taken from the grass, as the other two had, you still wouldn't see the Clifton, as the trees are now too tall. The Salisbury now is The View, and the restaurant on the Leas side is called The Cliffe.
This photo is too small to make out the name on the hotel. The print on the card says it is the Salisbury, but I think it should be The Langhorne. The Salisbury is on the corner of the Leas and Clifton Gardens, and as far as I know, always was. The Langhorne has now been demolished.
1928
1950's
1950's Coach has 'Gay Discovery' on the side
The Lyndhurst Hotel was on the South side of Clifton Gardens for a very long time, the above three photos show first the garden side, and then the street side. Like so many of Folkestone's beautiful hotels, it was demolished, and Home Pine House, below left, now stands on the site.
This is an art card dating back to 1913, promoting the virtues of the Westcliff Hotel, also known as the Westcliff Garden Hotel. You can see the clientelle they catered to in those days, can't you? I bet these people never had a vision of the Westcliff Shades that was to arrive in its future!!
Home Pine House
The card on the left was drawn at the back of the hotel, showing the beautiful gardens this hotel once had. The photo above, showing the front, and dating from 1916 when it was being used as a Canadian-run eye and ear hospital for wounded servicemen, shows it was located in Sandgate Road, and you can see Christ Church in the background. The building next door to the hotel was the parsonage belonging to the church, and I believe the hotel's livery stables in Christ Church Road later became Westcliff Shades, and housed the Back Bar. This pub became the Happy Frenchman, now just The Frenchman - No, in 2024 it's the Radnor Arms.
At one time, the name was changed to the Majestic Garden Hotel, but I am not quite sure when it ceased to be the Westcliff. It was the Majestic Garden in this photo, which dates from the 1940's. I know too it was the Majestic in 1958, but it wasn't listed at all in my 1964 directory. Those are very different looking bollards aren't they?
It's too bad I don't have a date for this one, because it must have been bought around the time of the name change. It was printed with Westcliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital, and someone has crossed it out, and handwritten Hotel Majestic in.
This is the site of the Westcliffe, or Majestic Hotel in 2024. The flats behind and also on the property are Castle House, entrance on Castle Hill Avenue.
The Mayfair Private Hotel, located at 9, The Leas. Another one gone under the wrecking ball, and the site is under the flats you see above.
Here we have Milford Court Private Hotel on the corner of Trinity Gardens and Sandgate Road. I tried to capture it from the same angle, but the tree is now too big there, and hides the building. So I took two. The top one from Trinity Gardens and the other, showing the addition to the building, from Sandgate Road. It is now Hatfield Lodge Residential Home, address 1 - 3 Trinity Gdns.
I don't know if Mayfield House was a hotel or a guesthouse - possibly it was a care home, but they had it put onto a postcard for some reason, so decided to put it here until someone tells me not to. It was called Mayfield House, located at 1 Grimston Avenue. It looks to be a private home or flats these days, but I still really don't know. In 1958 it was the home of John Wilfrid Douglas Buttery, Consulting Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. But there were also a couple of other people who had flats in the building at that time. Was it ever a hotel or B & B? Paul Seward took this photo in 2009.
This was the Moore's Hotel at 11 - 12 The Leas. Don't you love the old car parked outside?
A much later photograph, by which time they had also acquired No. 13, and built an annex between the two buildings.
In 1958 the Proprietress was Mrs. F. Saxby. But the whole building was left out of the 1964 Directory.
All those buildings gone now, demolished to make way for White Cliffs apartments, which in 2004 are already undergoing major renovations. They don't build them like they used to!
I am assuming that this one too was either a Bed & Breakfast or a Guesthouse, as they went to the expense of putting it onto a postcard. It was called Netley Cottage, located at 4 Claremont Road. The building is still there, but looks to be a private residence these days, so hope they don't mind me grabbing a photo of their house!
OK, who is old enough to remember Sandgate Road before Bobby's? Not many of you I bet, as Bobby's was built around 1934. Before that, this building was on the site, and at No. 52 was the Ormonde Pension. As I said before, a Pension was somewhere inbetween a B & B and a hotel. They might serve you meals, but did not have a public restaurant.
Located near the Central Railway Station, the Central Hotel has always been busy, opening first in 1898 as a temperance hotel (no liquor!) However, that all changed after March 1947 when they were granted a wine licence, and full licence in 1949. The name was changed to The Park Hotel in 1986 when Carole and Vincent Bushell took over. Carole wrote to me some time later, asking if I had any information on the hotel being haunted, because she was having trouble with some servants' bells in the basement ringing on their own. I confessed I didn't, but I see by reading Martin & Eamonn's write-up on it that they have discovered their resident ghost is named 'George', who has a penchant for turning gas taps on and off and walking down stairs. A little disturbing to say the least - especially if he forgets to turn them off again at some point!
This is the Queen Alexandra House on Earls Avenue. It was described in my Kelly's as Holiday Home (Order of St. John and British Red Cross & State Registered Nurses) (Miss M. F. M. Trimble R.R.C. warden)
located at 24-26 Earls Avenue. More recently the care home has gone, and the building has been converted into luxury flats.
Above wonderful photo of The Central Hotel dates from 1908 and was kindly supplied by Jan Pedersen of Even More Tales From the Tap Room who had it supplied to him by Martin Easdown. Thanks both of you!
I guess the biggest claim to fame for the Rhodesia is that Sidney De Haan bought it soon after the war, and quickly discovered he needed to find a way to make money during the winter months, so Saga was born. He noticed the large number of retired people who came to the south-east coast after the high season crowds had gone. De Haan decided to offer affordable, off-peak holidays exclusively to people who were retired. The plan was to offer them all-inclusive holidays with built-in travel by coach and three meals a day. Seeing the potential economic value in stretching the holiday season, he persuaded the local council and other traders to find ways of welcoming the retired visitors, with special offers and discounts.
De Haan soon expanded the business overseas and as Saga grew, it became impossible to continue selling all its holidays face-to-face, he began to promote Saga holidays by mail, inadvertently becoming a pioneer in what would become known as direct marketing.
I don't know when the Riviera Hotel ceased to be. The above two photos show the front and back, and were listed in my 1964 Directory at 8 The Riviera, Sandgate. The older photo on the left is dated 1953. Everything looks very different around there now, but I think it must have been located around the space now occupied by Zarena Court - left.
Back to Sandgate to the Friendship Holiday Association Hostel. The back of the card states it is from Castle Glen, Castle Road, Sandgate, and is dated 1949. I believe Castle Glen is/was right next door to Sandgate Castle, but the only way to get a photo from the same angle is to go on foot. Looking at a satellite view however, none of the buildings appear to be this close to the beach, so possibly it has been demolished.
Left is a view of the Royal Kent Hotel. It was in business at 83 Sandgate High Street for many years, but was demolished some time between 1958 and 1964. The Riviera Court now stands where it used to be.
Another nice one of the lower end of Sandgate Road, showing the Queens Hotel on the right. In the centre of the picture you can see a policeman. The one shop which is readable is Wolton, and either side of the name, it says Radnor House. I was trying to figure out exactly which shop of today that would have been, it looks to be about three shop fronts down from the East Kent Arms, which would bring it around the site of Wilko. Not absolutely sure though, because Wolton has that triangle between the second and third floor. The only shop left with that in the modern photo is the Phone Doctor, but that triangle is right on the bend as it curves into Rendezvous Street. I would guess that whole row of shops had the triangle at one point, but have been remodelled over time.
The Seabrook Hotel in 1962 at 95 Seabrook Road.
The Seabrook Hotel, now Cautley House Christian Centre in 2009
This scan was sent to me by Josie Campbell, relative of Catherine Dunk, who has a page of her own on the People page. Josie tells me it was the Shannon Hotel, 59-61 Cheriton Road where her parents stayed in 1981, however, she feels sure this card is from the 70's. This hotel is not listed in my 1958 directory, but was in the 1964 edition, unfortunately it doesn't say who owned it. Thanks Josie.
By 2014 the Shannon has gone back to its original state - two private residences again.
This was the Sharon Christian Guest House, 50 Earls Avenue, and in 1964, around the same time the above card was printed, it was run by Mrs. D. H. Hindle.
I don't know the year the Sharon ceased to be a guesthouse, but it looked like a private residence or more likely residences in 2022.
Here we have Sothoron Lodge which used to stand on the corner of The Leas and Clifton Crescent. A lovely building, now demolished. It was at one time purchased by Sidney de Haan who renamed it Seagulls, Sidney also owned the Rhodesia. He used to run between the two to prepare the meals! The latter info was supplied by Paul Seward.
Here is what they put up after demolishing Sothoron Lodge or Seagulls, it is now called Madeira Court. What were they thinking? They made absolutely no attempt to make it fit in with the surrounding buildings. How do these things ever get approved?
A building such as Sothoron Lodge deserves a second showing. This row is like a sandwich made with delicious bread, filled with fish paste that has gone off! I think you get the idea that I am not impressed with Madeira Court, they took the showcase location in one of the most beautiful areas of Folkestone and stuck this total blot on the landscape into it. Makes me angry every time I look at it.
1911
1920
It certainly wasn't a vegetarian hotel when H. G. Wells owned it, that came later in 1955. It was also not technically built by Mr. Wells, he commissioned Folkestone Building Contractor William Dunk to build it for him. That last snippet of information was supplied to me by Josie Campbell, Dunk's distant relative.
I am not sure how long the vegetarian hotel was in business, but in both the 1958 and 1964 it lists a Mr. Arthur Dixon-May as being in residence there. The building in Radnor Cliff Crescent is currently being used as a nursing home, and has been renamed Wells House. Photos of the latter supplied by Paul Seward.
H. G. Wells & Sarah sitting on the patio, probably where that bench is shown in the photo above them.
You have heard me mention Paul Seward several times on this page, his parents, A. J. & E. R. Seward used to own the St. Olaves Hotel at 11 and 13 Trinity Crescent, so Paul grew up there, and knows an awful lot about all the hotels in that area.
He tells me it was originally the home of the Mackeson family - they of brewery fame. He also told me they had some famous names pass through the door, like Robert Morley's mother (you can read some of Robert's reminiscences on the 'Lifts' and 'People' pages), also Clive Gallop of the Bentley Boys fame. He was also involved with Count Zoborowski of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame.
Now all I am waiting for is an old photograph of the St. Olaves Hotel, as I haven't come across one yet.
The Sunnyside Private Hotel, 25-27 Clifton Crescent in 1938. The modern photo shows it is no longer a hotel, and has lost its awning and the glassed in porch. It also looks as if the top has gone from one of the dormer windows, and another room built right into the attic.
I was wondering on Page 2 if Eden House could have been today's Dudley Court, but if it was, it wasn't at the same time as the Dudley Hotel, for which I didn't have an address, but now I believe it was definitely on that site at 4 Trinity Crescent. Compare it with the photo below, and I think you will agree.
Yes, it has undergone a lot of renovation, but the similarities, plus it being called Dudley Court, has to be the place doesn't it? Now we still need an address for Eden House!
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My thanks go to Alan Taylor for these three photographs. The first two are the front and back of the Toynbee Hotel on Langhorne Gardens. When the Toynbee was there, even the part that ran along Sandgate Road was called Langhorne Gardens, and this was the location of the hotel. After it was demolished, along with a few other buildings, the Waldorf Apartments was erected, which you can see in the above photograph. That stretch of the road is now referred to as Sandgate Road along with the rest.
The Trevarra Private Hotel, shown here in 1924 is still there - or at least the building is, on Bouverie Road West, but it is now flats and called Trevarra Court. Unfortunately it has also lost all the features that made it an interesting building, like the cupola and the turret style balconies. It has also had an extra floor added.
A 2009 picture of the Hotel Relish, 4 Augusta Gardens, still in business today. I don't have an old photo of this building, but in my 1958 Directory, it was listed as the Rosbarnon, and in my 1964, it was named the Roskarnon. Obviously one directory has a typo.
I would guess this photo was taken not long after the swimming pool opened in the late 30's. It shows the Bathing Establishment in the background, or was it called The Marina by then? Next door to that, you can just see a low building advertising the Follies. I don't know if it is the same building that Cardow's Cadets used to perform from, but I think that is where the Red Roof Chalet was located.
Only feature left from the photo to the left. This used to be the Victoria Hotel, on the end of Marine Crescent. This whole crescent was refurbished a few years ago, and has been sold as condominiums. Starting to look a bit shabby again, doesn't take long this close to the seafront.
31 to 37 Castle Hill Avenue was the location the Continental Wampach, and of the wedding reception of my first marriage. Now THAT was a waste of money! :-) Someone has written on the back of this 1961 card "The waters are French here" I never thought of them like that, after all, it is called the English Channel!
This was an advertising postcard for the Wampach Hotel, seen here flying the flags. The advertisement boasted having electric lights and a lift. Quite a selling feature in those days!
Don't you love the way someone has written 'SEA' at the end of Castle Hill Avenue? They just didn't mention that there is a pretty high cliff to get down to reach it!
The Continental Wampach is now a distant memory, on the site is Court Place Retirement flats, which has a slight nod to the old building with the bay windows.
The photo on the left is rather blurred, but it shows the White House Hotel, located at 5 & 6 Clifton Gardens. It is now part of the Clifton Hotel. Actually this is an older photo of the Clifton Hotel too, but it seems since Best Western took it over, the colour changed to all white, and is always covered in scaffolding. I think this is a lot prettier.
Couldn't get a modern shot from the same angle, as I had to get it from Clifton Crescent, and the first was photographed from The Leas. This was the Wyndham's Hotel, and then it was the Mont Calm Care Home . I am not sure of it's use now, but suspect like most other buildings in Folkestone, it has been converted into flats.
The Windsor Hotel in Langhorne Gardens has been in business a long time. But it too must have undergone some changes because in my 1958 directory it was listed at 7, 8 & 9 Langhorne Gdns, now it is located at 5 & 6. Regardless, they are one of the few that have managed to stay in business all these years, and advertise that for a small fee, you can take your pet with you! They are located quite near the William Harvey statue.
The Wynstead Hotel, on the corner of Clifton Crescent and Trinity Crescent, now flats.
Mrs. H. Weatherby ran the Wythenshaw Private Hotel at 5 The Leas in 1958. You can pick it out of the top photo by the striped awning. The bottom photo shows you the flats that are there now.
Three pages of hotels, and we probably haven't even scratched the surface of the number of hotels that have been in Folkestone over the years
If you have your own memories of Folkestone, be sure to share them with us by jotting them down in the Guestbook below
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Queen's Hotel, Sandgate Rd/Guildhall Street
Another one of the Bethersden Hotel shown on page 2, not sure if this is older or newer than the previous one.
The Elysium Private Hotel, 9 Christchurch Road. Looking at the modern photo on the right, it appears to be either a private home or flats these days.
The Folkestone Rover, that I am assuming belonged to the Queen's Hotel above.
Just outside Folkestone, this was the Royal Oak, Newingreen. It is now Oak Creative, which appears to be a website design company.
Another one of the Salisbury Hotel in the 1950's
After closing as a nursing home, St. Andrews, up on the Durlocks, became the W.T.A. Guesthouse. 'W.T.A.' stood for Workers Travellers Association and it was owned by a union for their workers to go to for their holidays. Today, like everywhere else, it is flats
The St. Heliers Hotel was, and still is in Clifton Gardens, I believe the private garden they were boasting of in the older photo is shared by all the buildings along there. Still there, but in 2022 is a Care Hotel, with disabled parking out front. Not sure how you would get inside in a wheelchair though.
No modern photo of The Aston Hotel, because I don't have an address for it, and it doesn't appear to be in business any more.
I have had this one quite a while, but have been unable to find out anything about it. It was called the Eastern Boarding Establishment, and it seems to me I can see the hills not far away in the background, so it is/was nowhere near the seafront.
I know we have already had quite a few of the West Cliff Hotel in Sandgate Road, but I liked this one because of the horse & cart and the fancy street light. This one also shows what Folkestone's streets must have been like in those days. horse poo everywhere, and with women crossing the road in their long dresses - and having no washing machines - I really don't think I would have liked it much back then!
Here is the Wycliffe Hotel, 63 Bouverie Road West. This hotel is still in business, however, in 2023 it is now known as the Wycliffe Guest House.
This page updated March 6, 2024
This is how it looked after a facelift. It became the Mont Calm care home for dementia patients, and I found it listed as both the Queen Alexandra Care Home and the Montcalm Care Home,
The above 1934 photo of the Rhodesia Hotel, sent to me by Alan Taylor, was a private home until 1908, when it became the Rhodesia. I haven't been able to find out a lot about it prior to it becoming a hotel, or even afterwards for that matter. However, I did hear from Brian Jameson, who told me his Great Great Grandfather, James Jameson had been there over the Christmas period of 1883, and the people who called upon him there were Lady Glasgow, Mrs Parker, The Hancocks, Mrs Dawson, The Hilliers, George Stanley Byng Viscount Torrington. On looking up the latter, he had married Mr. Jameson's daughter Alice in 1882, but sadly she died in 1883. Alan Taylor kindly looked in his Owen Directory for Folkestone for 1883, and Mr. Jameson was not listed, so we can only assume he was either renting, or a visitor there himself.
Here are two views of that space in 2016. I do think the Rowan tree in front is pretty, which is more than I can say for the architecture of the rest.
Eureka! Had an e-mail from Ann Darby in the East Midlands, who told me she was amazed to see a photo of the view she looked at daily from her rear window when they owned a property on Radnor Bridge Road. She went on to say that this row of houses are still there, in East Cliff, immediately to the left as you walk through the East Cliff Passage from Radnor Bridge Rd. Of course, they are all flats these days, but believe it or not, the gazebo is still there, although it has had it's glass top removed, along with some of the windows.
Great minds think alike. Just as Mark Hourahane went out to get photos for me, Ann also recruited a friend of hers to do the same. They couldn't get the same angle or a closeup, as the gardens back onto the gardens of the houses on Radnor Bridge Road, but I think you will agree, the question has definitely been resolved! Thank you Ann and Mark - you are stars!
Ann Darby
Mark Hourahane
Update: Paul tells me Mrs. Perkins used to own it, assisted by her daughter Ephraxia. Now that is an unusual name, it sounds like a course of Penicillin would clear it right up!
Before we leave, I must show you a couple of scans sent to me by Paul Seward, whose parents used to own the St Olaves Hotel, mentioned earlier. The first was a brochure advertising rates from 1955 that we can only dream of today. (But up a bit from the 1930's prices above) The other photo from around 1975 shows Paul's Mother-in-law, Joan Vincent, and a guest by the name of Thea standing in the doorway.
Another view of the West Cliff from 1904 showing the beautiful private gardens they used to have.
We have already shown the Barrelle Hotel on Marine Parade, but this one sent to me by Diane Hagan is so beautifully clear, I had to include it.
Now here are a couple of images for you to give me an answer to, because I have no idea where they were located, or even if they were hotels. But I will leave them on this page until I hear otherwise. On the left it was entitled 'Woodlands, Folkestone' and the name on the right was Albion House. I checked Albion Road for the latter, but the houses on that street are small with entrances at ground level.
This was entitled the Grill Restaurant, Majestic Garden Hotel, which as you know was previously the West Cliff Hotel.
Update: I just checked on Google, and although the Scuba Bar signs are still up, it looks closed and a bit derelict, but maybe it only opens in the summer months.
Below is what is there today, Brand new Bobby's below, and then Debenham's (right), now closed. The building has been named Folca, and there are plans to turn it into a medical centre, which include demolishing the only part of the building which is worth saving, the beautiful architecture on the corner. They have no respect for history or beauty!
Not yet built, and in 2024 still a building site with no sign of workmen and the Leas Pavilion totally demolished.
Looking at the Clifton in 2022, I see it is offering romantic Dome Dining, now that's different!
2018
The site of the Seabrook Hotel in 2023, I guess now it is 14 apartments.
I think William needs his face washed. Those seagulls have no respect!
I was saying above that I would like an old photo of the St. Olaves Hotel, and was hoping for one from before I was alive, but even though it seems like yesterday to me, the one below is probably before most of you were, so I am very grateful for it!
Here is one that I hadn't heard of before, and it took a man from South Africa to tell me about it. His name is Arthur Talbot, and he tells me his Great Aunt , Miss E. M. Talbot owned the Glendower Hotel, and wanted to know if the building was still standing. Well it certainly is, although I am not absolutely sure which one it is now, as you can no longer count the chimneys, but the hotel was located at 29 Clifton Gardens, and I can't see any numbers via Google. He is unsure of the period of time she was there, but my guess would be the 1930's judging by the telephone number. I would guess it may have been taken over by the military during the war, as many of the hotels were, and she might have decided it was a good time to retire, because I found someone of that name living in Kent House on the corner of Bouverie Rd West & Grimston Avenue in my later directories.
Another modern view of those buildings on Clifton Gardens taken from the Sandgate Road end.
Just look at the bargain prices in those days! For those younger than me, a guinea in old money was one pound and one shilling. So about 105P.
Thank you very much for reminding us of the existence of the Glendower Private Hotel that was at 29 Clifton Gardens Elaine and Arthur, Another one popped out of obscurity!