Littlestone

New Romney

Above showing the plans 1890.

Above photo, 1930s.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo, date unknown, caption stating the following:- The above 'Bus will leave the "Grand Hotel," Littlestone, for Folkestone, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 9 a.m., returning from Town Hall, Folkestone, at 3.45. Single fare, 2s. Return fare, 3s.

The following was written by David Wimble and published on September 12, 2024, in Marsh Memories.

The drawing shows the architect Percy Tubb’s design in 1890 for the proposed Grand Hotel at Littlestone, a rather more grandiose building than was actually built. Together with the "Dormy House Hotel," just to the east on The Parade, it was one of the largest hotels in the area. Two wealthy businessmen, Henry Tubbs and Sir Robert Perks, started to develop Littlestone in the 1880s with the building of Littlestone Golf Club and they hoped to make Littlestone into a major seaside resort, especially for the wealthy gentry of London and well-known politicians of the day. Numerous large properties were built along Marine Parade including the "Grand Hotel."

In the 1920s, the hotel was advertised as containing spacious and handsomely-appointed rooms, a dainty drawing room overlooking the foreshore and a billiard room. Special attention was given to the all-important matter of cuisine with good, wholesome and well-cooked food. A garage and inspection pit was built for the convenience of visitors with motor cars. The proprietor at the time was a Mr. Frank Urry and telephone number was New Romney 7.

The hotel suffered major damage in a fire in the 1930s and also some bomb damage in the Second World War and when it reopened afterwards, it was renamed “Pope’s Hotel” after the people who owned it. A feature of the hotel at this time was “Pope’s Club”, a popular meeting place for local teenagers.

In the 1950s, the owners moved to St. Mary’s Bay and started “Pope’s Club” there and the hotel was acquired by Messrs. Leroy Tours of Tunbridge Wells. They renamed it the “Ferry Hotel”. It was used by them as an overnight stop for holidaymakers before they flew out from Ferryfield Airport early next morning at the start of their holidays.

They described the hotel as situated on the “Kentish Riviera”, and renovated it in 1956 with accommodation for 70 – 80 visitors. The bedrooms had running hot and cold water and most of them overlooked the sea. There was a Marine Lounge for quiet and reading and a Tapestry Room for television, music and dancing. The Limoges Restaurant had a continental atmosphere and the Europa Cocktail Bar and the Cinque Ports Bar were very popular. The hotel closed in the 1960s and was demolished in 1973 to make way for the block of flats known today as “Grand Court”.
 

The Grand, as it was originally known, was one of the largest hotels in the area. It suffered major fire damage in the 1930's and after it was repaired, it reopened as "Pope's Hotel," named after the people who owned it. In the late 1950's it was renamed the "Ferry Hotel."

The hotel closed in the 1960’s and was demolished around 1973 to make way for the block of flats known as 'Grand Court'.

The entrepreneur Henry Tubbs, who established Littlestone Golf Club in 1888, wanted to turn Littlestone into a major resort and embarked on an ambitious building programme, including the Marine Parade, the Grand Hotel and the Water Tower.

The 120ft Water Tower was built in 1890 to supply water to his properties in Littlestone, including his proposed housing development.

Tubbs also had plans to build a pier and promenade off of the Grand Parade, opposite Littlestone Road.

Whilst Littlestone continued to grow, it never quite matched the ambitions of Tubbs; much in the same way as the development of its neighbour Greatstone was never fully realised.

Being an hotel you would probably have had to be a resident or guest to gain access and I'm not sure whether they had a drinks license.

LICENSEE LIST

ERRY Frank 1920s+