Langham Hotel

From Historical Hastings
Langham Hotel
General information
Address16 Elphinstone Road
Postal CodeTN34 2EQ
Admin. Information
Electoral/Planning WardBRAYBROOKE Pre May 2018
Prop. Ref. No.100062572099

The Langham Hotel, which stood prominently on the junction between Mount Pleasant Road and Elphinstone Road opened circa 1878. The hotel was constructed for a Mr. J. G. Langham for the sum of £3,000 and when the hotel was nearing completion, a competing hotel applied for a license a hundred metres or so away; The Hughenden Inn. Mr. Langham gave evidence to the licensing application for the latter pub, stating that in his opinion, the Langham was large enough for all the residents within that area[1]. Later, in 1878, the Langham applied for an early opening license to serve the workmen constructing houses in the surrounding roads - this was declined[2]. The hotel very quickly gained recognition as a local land-mark and was referenced quite frequently in the years subsequent to its opening when describing nearby properties.

The public house later was transferred to the Courage Brewing Company[3]. In 1957, the layout of the hotel was reconfigured to extend the public bar by means of removing the existing saloon bar to what was the hotel's lounge and knocking the partition wall through. At the same time, the upper floors were modified to create a separate property for the landlord to reside in[4]. The rear garden was subsequently converted to a car-park in 1967[5]

Following the hotel's closure circa 2010, it lay empty for a while, with plans at one time to demolish the building; these did not however come to fruition, and the property was converted to six flats around 2012[6].

Licencees and Proprietors

1878:Mrs Emma Curren[7][8]
1880:Mr. James Webb[9][8]
1881:Caroline Crutchley[10][11]
1882:Robert Norford[11]
1890:Charles J Burrows[7]
1891:Charles Burrows[10]
1904:W.F. Warner (Proprietor)[12]
1911:William F Warner[13]
1918:George Arthur Griffin[7]
1921:James Grant[14]
1938:Thomas Westley Wawman[7]
1962:Len & Joan Bryan

There was a public hearing about the 1921 landlord, James Grant, aged 21, as a result of his bankruptcy, during which it transpired that a large quantity of whisky could not be accounted for, whether by consumption by the landlord, or concealed around the premises in locations such as a chimney, under the bed and other locations[14] Mr. Grant had obtained a loan of £900 from his brother in law, Mr. Royal, but due to Mr. Grant's practices of giving free drinks to his friends, and alleging that his wife was removing money from the business the young landlord became insolvent and was declared bankrupt by his brother in law.


Images

References & Notes

  1. British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 25 August 1877 Pg. 0006
  2. British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 11 May 1878 Pg. 0008
  3. East Sussex County Council Archive The Keep AMS5681/4
  4. Hastings Borough Council Planning application ref HS/FA/57/00656
  5. Hastings Borough Council Planning application ref HS/67/00506
  6. Hastings Borough Council Planning application ref HS/FA/12/00037
  7. a b c d Post Office Directory
  8. a b British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 6 March 1880 Pg. 0003
  9. British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 14 February 1880 Pg. 0002
  10. a b Census
  11. a b British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 3 June 1882 Pg. 0006
  12. British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 29 October 1904 Pg. 0005
  13. Kelly’s Directory of Sussex
  14. a b British Newspaper Archive Hastings & St. Leonards Observer 8 October 1921 Pg. 0004