West Cliff Lodge

West Cliff Lodge is a house built in the early 19th century and remodelled in the early 20th century. It is constructed of stock brick, rendered on the main elevations, with a slate roof. The entrance front is two storeys high, featuring a plinth, cornice, and stacks to the left and right. Projecting single-storey irregular wings extend to the right, and a projecting porch is on the left. The window arrangement is irregular, with glazing bar sashes in rusticated surrounds. A round-headed stair window is set within a rusticated surround to the right. A multi-panelled door is located to the left within a hollow moulded surround, while a multi-panelled and glazed door is at the centre, topped with a shell hood on enriched brackets. The garden front also has two storeys, with a plinth and pedestals to the first-floor Ionic pilasters rising to a cornice; a frieze and cornice form a pedimented detail to the left and to the right. A parapet, balustraded in the centre with an egg and tongue cornice and ball finials, is enriched, particularly with plaster panels depicting grazing horses. Four glazing bar sashes are on the ground floor, accompanied by a tented verandah supported by moulded square piers on a moulded base wall with central steps. A conservatory and outbuildings are located to the left. Originally built by a Mr. Benson and known as Royal Villa, the house appears on Collard & Hurst’s 1822 map. It subsequently became West Cliff Lodge, the residence of the Earl of Darnley, and was also used by Princess Victoria during her time in Ramsgate.