Ilfracombe Hotel, North Devon (1868)

Walters, W. Ilfracombe: a health resort. Ilfracombe: John Tait, 1878. pp. 14-16. The Hotel is about five stories in height (the central section some stories higher), and is built of grey brick picked out by red and black, and has about the windows and doorways a considerable amount of external decoration, making it altogether an imposing structure. The principal entrance is from the south side, and on entering the visitor will find himself in a spacious vestibule, from which immediately fronting the entrance a grand staircase leads to the different suites of upper apartments; on the right is the bar and manager's room; on the left the secretary and clerk's office; and a corridor leading to a spacious reading-room having a southern frontage, and, it is needless to say, supplied with all appliances requisite in such an apartment; other sitting-rooms are reached by the corridor, and at its termination is a spacious, well ventilated, and handsome billiard room furnished with two good tables, connected with which is a smoking room, and usual lavatories. The Billiard Room is almost a separate structure from the Hotel itself, thus preventing any odour of tobacco from ascending to the bedroom floors, and this apartment faces the sea. Returning to the vestibule, on the right will be found the table d'hote and coffee rooms, magnificently proportioned and appointed; by means of a sliding partition these rooms can be made distinct from each other, but are usually thrown open during the season for purposes of ventilation and effect, conjointly forming an apartment rarely equalled. The southernmost of the rooms is the dining, and the other, facing the sea, the coffee-room, so that the visitor who prefers to enjoy the sociability of the table h'hote to dining solus and in solemn state, may here do so to his heart's content. A short corridor at the right of the vestibule conducts you to the marine terrace, where the post-prandial cigar may be smoked under the most favourable and delightful conditions. A Ladies' Drawing-room also faces the sea, and here pleasant little carpet dances are usually indulged in by the younger portion of the guests. The kitchen and offices are in the basement, fitted with all the modern appliances for cooking on a large scale, and sufficiently ventilated to prevent any unpleasant results. There is an entirely distinct water service for culinary purposes, besides an abundant and never-failing supply for baths and sanitary requirements; indeed all the arrangements of this nature, including ventilation, are of the most modern and perfect description. The bedroom accommodation is spacious and well arranged, and one room is specially provided for airing the linen, so that the nervous or rheumatic need have no fear of damp sheets. Along the corridors water pipes are laid, with taps, and also coils of hose, and nozzles for use in case of fire; these are now inspected quarterly by the chief of the local Fire Brigade and a detachment of his men, to see that all is in a proper state of efficiency, an arrangement which affords another instance of the thoughtful policy initiated by the Directorate, to add to the comfort and safety of their visitors. It will be unnecessary further to speak of the details of this establishment, except to say that it is efficiently managed, and the visitor may reasonably expect to be lodged in a first class manner.[Text may be taken from a different source or edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Steel l.engr vign

62x91mm

Rock & Co. ; no. 5869. 1 May 1868