Above postcard, kindly sent by Wendy Fox.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above postcard, date unknown.

Above photo, 1907.

Above pictures kindly supplied by Sue Solley, date circa 1916. Incorrectly named as the "Guildford Hotel."

Above postcard, date unknown should the hotel and also the nearby cottage.

Above postcard, date unknown. Showing Whitehall and Guilford Hotel.

Above photo, date unknown.

Above photo, 1971, kindly sent by Lynn Laramy.

Above photo, 1971, kindly sent by Lynn Laramy.

Above advert 1907.

Sandwich Bay Estate and Guilford Hotel.

Written by Colin Varrall.

Before 1900 the only buildings near Sandwich Bay were a former Napoleonic Battery and adjacent Coastguard cottages. In 1902 the Earl of Guilford began developing the private Sandwich Bay estate selling land for prestigious houses, which mostly accommodated weekend golfers. By 1905 the main estate roads had been laid out. There were two phases of development with the first stage beginning pre-1939. The earliest houses were large properties that had their own staff accommodation.

After the Royal St. George’s golf course had been opened plans were drawn up in 1895 for a tramway to run from the quay at Sandwich to the golf course and then on to the beach at Sandwich Bay to help golfers avoid the rough roads. The plans were opposed by the trustees of the landowner the Earl of Guilford. A tramway was eventually built with a 3ft. 6inch gauge rails from Guilford Wharf on the River Stour to Sandwich Bay with a locomotive called Waldershare after the Earl’s estate at Waldershare Park near Dover. The line was opened in 1903 to supply materials for the construction of the "Guilford Hotel" & other buildings in this exclusive private estate. The line ran until 1915 although it may have been used later during WW1 for military purposes.

The "Guilford Hotel" was built in 1906 as a seven-storey steel and concrete-framed building on the seafront. The hotel was later rebuilt on a smaller scale and was mostly used to accommodate visiting golfers playing at the local links golf courses. The hotel was considered by the Canadian Red Cross Society to become a rest home for nurses during the First World War, but the idea was never taken any further. The Dover Express and East Kent News in December 1971 stated Sandwich Bay’s luxury hotel “The Guilford” will reopen again next year. It has been bought by Upper park Loughrony Development Ltd. Following the closure of the hotel there were fears it would not reopen, but would either or be converted into flats or even be demolished. The "Guilford Hotel" was eventually demolished in the summer of 1974.

The second phase took place during the 1960s and 1970s after the Earl of Guilford had sold the land. Plots for houses became smaller, along with the newer houses that were being built. The houses are freehold by their owners with a range of covenants on them to preserve the characteristics of the area. Many of the large houses have now been converted into apartments and there are a number of vacant plots, but they are owned to preserve open space rather than future development. The roads and verges are presently owned by Sandwich Bay (Residents) Ltd.

Sandwich Bay beach has always been very popular with visitors and is a mixture of sand and shingle. There is a toll charged by the residents’ company for non-residents to use the private road and access to the beach. The Sandwich Bay Sailing and Water-ski Club located to the south of the estate, which was established in 1963.

The Guilford Hotel For Golf - Relaxation and Seclusion.

Sandwich bay, Kent.

Telephone: Sandwich 2345 (3 lines)

Telegrams: Guilsand, Sandwich.

From a pamphlet form 1968 kindly sent by Lynn Laramy.

 Showing the hotel.

The Guilford Hotel

Ideal situation.

The Guilford Hotel is ideally situated, not only is it a focal point for three of the finest championship golf links in the country, but it stands on the edge of a glorious sandy bay. It is a first-class hotel with its own private beach. The hotel is within easy reach of Dover for the channel crossing and of Lydd Airport for the car-ferry to France.

Golf

The three fine links, Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal St. George’s are all within easy reach of the hotel, and offer an excellent game and first class facilities.

Tariff

The Management offers special terms for midweek visitors and golfers. Facilities are available for banquets, weddings and special parties. The Hotel is admirably suited for conferences of up to 50 persons, with private rooms for both meetings and meals, surrounded as it is by so many opportunities for recreation and relaxation. The Manager will be pleased to provide quotations for all requirements.

For your comfort

All the Hotel’s rooms have running water and telephones. Private bathrooms are available, as well as several suites. Nearly all the bedrooms have splendid views of the sea. The spacious dining-room has a maple dance floor, and the Hotel provides a Cocktail Bar, as well as the Bay Bar and Grill Room, Billiards Room, Card Room, and a Television Lounge. A Valet service is available, and floor service for all rooms and suites.

Places of local interest

Kent has an abundance of places of historical interest. Among those worth visiting are: Rich-borough Castle, Canterbury and its Cathedral, Deal, Sandwich, Walmer Castle, and Dover Castle.

Your holiday

During the summer months Sandwich Bay has wonderful safe bathing, sea fishing, sailing, tennis and riding—everything the visitor could desire for the perfect holiday. Children are catered for by the hotel, where children’s meals are a speciality.

The view from the entrance.

Showing the lounge.

Showing the Bay Bar.

Showing the restaurant.

Showing the sun terrace.

Above map showing the golf courses locations.

Above photo showing the nearby Prince's Golf Club.

Above photo showing the nearby Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club.

Above photo showing the nearby Royal Saint Georges Golf Club.

Above merged photo by Locations Photography, 2011.

Above photo 2011, showing the site of the Guilford Hotel.