Royal Victoria Hotel

The Royal Victoria Hotel is a building of several periods, dating from the 17th century. It is situated on the High Street. The core of the building was originally a manor house, recorded as being built in the 16th century, with the front elevation dating from the first half of the 18th century. Later additions include wings from the first half of the 19th century.

The central block is three storeys high and features pilasters between the upper-storey windows, topped by a stone eaves cornice and blocking course with Ionic capitals. A central stone pediment incorporates a Venetian window and a cornice with modillions. The upper storey contains five sash windows with original glazing bars, shouldered architraves, and keystones. The middle storey has an early 20th-century projection extending across the entire front, which has a semi-circular glass projection in its roof. The ground floor of this projection has six sash windows. The wings, dating from the first half of the 19th century, continue the stone eaves cornice and blocking course of the central block and contain sash windows, with the upper-storey windows retaining their original glazing bars. Some modern windows have been inserted.

The hotel was formed from the original manor house by William Morton Pitt and was visited by Queen Victoria (then Princess) in 1833, leading to the hotel’s name. A section of the east wing, the south part, is now in separate ownership and is associated with Pier View Flats on Seymer Road.