Bexhill Buildings Chronology

  • Bell Hotel: first reference 1751 – thought to be 17th century.
  • Belle Hill Wesleyan Methodist Chapel: Built 1825, closed 1938.
  • Bexhill Institute: 1887 – now youth centre.
  • Bexhill West Station: Opened 1902, railway closed 1964, now auction gallery.
  • Bexhill Central Station: Opened 1902.
  • Bijou Cinema: Opened 1910, during WWI name changed to St. George’s Cinema, closed 1954.
  • Castle Hotel: Built 1886, gave to brewery 1892.
  • Cinema de Luxe: Opened 1913, closed 1921.
  • Clock Tower, West Parade: Intended for 1902 but not completed until 1904.
  • Collington Manor, a medieval farmhouse converted into a Tudor-style residence by Daniel Mayer at the end of the 19th century, demolished 1968.
  • Colonnade: Built 1911, opened July 1911.
  • Cooden Beach Hotel: Opened 1931.
  • Curzon Picture Playhouse Cinema: Playhouse became Curzon in 1974.
  • Cycle Chalet: Opened 1896, used as timekeeper’s chalet in 1902 automobile races.
  • De La Warr Gates: Opened 1895, demolished 1913.
  • De La Warr Pavilion: Designed 1934, built 1935, opened December 1935.
  • Devonshire Hotel: Built and opened 1886, enlarged 1929 ceased to be a hotel in 1957.
  • Devonshire Square Railway Station: Opened 1891 closed 1902.
  • Egerton Park Theatre: Started 1933 on site of Park Pergola.
  • Egerton Park: laid out in 1888 by John Webb, acquired by Urban Council 1901.
  • Egerton Park Swimming Pool: Built 1889, closed in mid 1980s, demolished 1987.
  • Gaiety Cinema: Bombed in 1940 and never reopened.
  • Granville Hotel: Built 1902, opened 1905.
  • Henry Lane Memorial: Opened 1898.
  • Hotel Riposo: Built 1901, demolished 1961 to make way for flats.
  • Kursaal: Built and opened 1896, demolished 1936 – part of site now occupied by Sailing Club headquarters since 1965.
  • London & County Bank: Opened 1898.
  • Maharajah of Cooch Behar Memorial Fountain: Opened 18th September 1913, removed to Egerton Park in 1934, demolished 1963.
  • Manor House: At least 13th century c1250, demolished 1968.
  • Marina Court: Opened 1901, demolished in 1970 to make a car park.
  • Marina Garage: dates unknown
  • Metropole Hotel: Construction began 1897, opened 1900, left derelict 1941 after bomb damage, demolished 1955 – now putting green by De La Warr Pavilion.
  • Metropolitan Convalescent Institution: opened 1881, In 1905 another convalescent institution for men was built in Cooden. Demolished 1988.
  • Pankhurst Mill: from at least 1813, removed to Leigh (Kent) 1928, collapsed 1960.
  • Park Pergola: Built 1906, became theatre and indoor bowling centre 1933.
  • Park Shelter Hall/Museum: Built as Park Shelter Hall 1903, Museum opened 1914.
  • Parkhurst Road Methodists’ Church: built 1895, opened July 1896.
  • Post Office, Devonshire Square: Opened 1931.
  • Ritz Cinema: Opened 1937, closed 1961.
  • Roberts Marine Mansions/Marine Mansions Hotel: Built 1895, bought for holiday home 1903, bombed WWII, demolished 1954, now block of flats since 1961.
  • Roller Skating Rink: Opened 1910 closed during 1920s.
  • Sackville Hotel: Opened 1890, closed 1960, converted into flats 1963.
  • Sackville Lodge: Built 1903.
  • Sidley Station: Opened 1902, closed during WWII, site now filling station.
  • St. Andrew’s Church: dedicated 1900.
  • St. Mary Magdalene’s Church: Original Catholic church opened in 1891, consecrated 1913.
  • St. Steven’s Church: Consecrated 1900.
  • St. Barnabas’ Church: Consecrated 1891.
  • St. Peter’s Church: Originally built in 8th century, Saxon in origin, registers started 1558.
  • St. Mark’s Church, Little Common: Built and began 1842.
  • St. Mark’s School, Little Common: Opened 1855, closed 1961, demolished 1967.
  • The Cairo, Marina Arcade: Built c.1905.
  • The Sussex Inn, Sidley: Demolished and replaced by Sussex Hotel in 1900.
  • The Down Mill/Hoad’s Mill: Built 1735, operated until 1928, collapsed 1965.
  • The Pelham Hotel, Sidley: Built 1902.
  • The New Inn, Sidley: Known as The Five Bells in mid 18th century.
  • The Wheatsheaf, Little Common: Substantially modified in 1886.
  • Town Hall: Built 1894, opened 1895.
  • Victoria Hall: Opened by Congregationalists 1887, now part of the London Road church opened in June 1897.
  • War Memorial, Little Common: Unveiled 21st November 1920.
  • War Memorial, seafront: Unveiled 12th December 1920.
  • War Memorial, outside St. Mary Magdalene’s Church: Unveiled 2nd November 1919.
  • Wilton Court: Opened 1900, closed 1970.
  • York Hotel: Built 1895.
  • York Hall: Built 1895, became Gaiety Cinema 1935, now part of commercial premises.
  • Railway Stations
  • First halt: 1846.
  • Station in Devonshire Road: opened in 1891, closed 1902.
  • Bexhill Central Station: opened 1902, still in use.
  • Bexhill West Station: opened 1902, line and station closed in 1964, Crowhurst Viaduct demolished 1969.

Hotels/Inns

  • Bell Hotel, Old Town: first reference in 1751 although the building may be 17th century, substantially modified in 1888.
  • Black Horse, Belle Hill (became the Queen’s Head): closed 1977.
  • Queen’s Head, Belle Hill (formerly the Black Horse): closed 1977.
  • Denbigh: dates unknown, formerly Denbigh Arms but in 1900 changed name to Denbigh Hotel.
  • Wheatsheaf, Little Common: substantially modified in 1886.
  • Sussex Inn, Sidley: demolished and replaced by The Sussex Hotel in 1900.
  • Sussex Hotel, Sidley: built 1900.
  • New Inn, Sidley: known as The Five Bells in mid 18th century, rebuilt c1902.
  • Pelham Hotel, Sidley: opened 1902.
  • Star Inn, Normans Bay: Sluice House in 1402, first reference to The Star in 1597.
  • Castle Hotel , Town Hall Square: built 1886, sold to a brewery in 1892.
  • Devonshire Hotel, Devonshire Square: opened 1886, enlarged 1929, sold to a brewery in 1934, ceased to be a hotel in 1957.
  • Sackville Hotel: opened 1890, closed in 1960, converted into flats in 1963.
  • Metropole Hotel: construction began in 1897, opened in 1900, left derelict after bombing and a fire in 1941 and demolished in 1955.
  • Granville Hotel: Built in 1902 but not opened until 1905.
  • York Hotel, London Road: built 1895.
  • Riposo, De La Warr Parade: demolished 1961.
  • Wilton Court, De La Warr Parade: opened 1900 closed as a hotel c1970.
  • Glyne Hall Hotel, De La Warr Parade: opened c1893.
  • Marine Hotel: built 1895, in 1903 became Roberts Marine Mansions, a holiday home for drapers.

Cinemas

  • Bijou Cinema, Town Hall Square: opened 1910, closed (after several name changes) in 1954.
  • Cinema de Luxe, Western Road: opened 1913, closed 1921.
  • Curzon Picture Playhouse, Western Road: opened 1921 and is now Bexhill’s only cinema.
  • Gaiety Cinema, London Road: opened 1935, bombed in 1940 and never reopened.
  • Ritz Cinema, Buckhurst Road: opened 1937, closed 1961.

Churches

  • St. Peter’s, Bexhill: possibly 8th century, Norman tower, extended in 13th century, modified in 1878.
  • St. Mark’s, Little Common: built in 1842 with rubble from Martello Tower No.42.
  • St. James’, Normans Bay: built 1866.
  • St. Barnabas’, Sea Road: opened 1891.
  • St. Stephen’s, Bexhill Down: built 1898 opened 1900.

If you know any of the dates that are missing then please let us know so we can update this list.

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