The Sir Richard Hotham Trail Hotham Richard Sir The
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bognorregistrails.co.uk bognorregistrails.co.uk (1983) (1) Gerard Young. The History of Bognor Regis Regis Bognor of History The Young. Gerard (1) permission of RIBA. RIBA. of permission Kenneth Blamires. Bersted Lodge image by kind kind by image Lodge Bersted Blamires. Kenneth Interest, by Ron Iden published by BRLHS in 2010. in BRLHS by published Iden Ron by Interest, Images by Darren Crisp, Richard Bettles & & Bettles Richard Crisp, Darren by Images into one publication: Bognor Regis; Buildings of of Buildings Regis; Bognor publication: one into The series of three booklets were combined combined were booklets three of series The Sylvia Endacott. Sylvia Trail 2008 and reprinted 2011 by Ron Iden. Ron by 2011 reprinted and 2008 Hotham Park House compiled by by compiled House Park Hotham Number One”, A Brief History of Bognor Regis Regis Bognor of History Brief A One”, Number A Tall Story, The story of the Clock Tower at at Tower Clock the of story The Story, Tall A Three walks around Bognor Regis – Walk Walk – Regis Bognor around walks Three Hotham Hotham Endacott on Hothamton Crescent. Hothamton on Endacott Local History Society for use of “A series of of series “A of use for Society History Local An article from The Argus May 2015 by Sylvia Sylvia by 2015 May Argus The from article An Thanks to Ron Iden and the Bognor Regis Regis Bognor the and Iden Ron to Thanks Sir Richard Richard Sir ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The The The Sir Richard Hotham Trail Hotham Richard Sir The TRAIL 3 ENDS HERE ENDS 3 TRAIL The Picturedrome ends ends Picturedrome The TRAIL 3 TRAIL Picturedrome Cinema. Picturedrome Opposite the Station on Canada Grove is the the is Grove Canada on Station the Opposite station. station. chains. pedestrian and landscaped frontage to the the to frontage landscaped and pedestrian compared with the major Cinema multiple multiple Cinema major the with compared Digital Hub in 2018 and new paved paved new and 2018 in Hub Digital it provides fi lmgoers with a low cost venue venue cost low a with lmgoers fi provides it with £2milllon investment in a Creative Creative a in investment £2milllon with in screens and cinema technology. Today Today technology. cinema and screens in station has undergone further restoration restoration further undergone has station and has undergone £1 million investment investment million £1 undergone has and of an Edwardian Seaside Terminus. The The Terminus. Seaside Edwardian an of Picturedrome Electric Theatre Company Company Theatre Electric Picturedrome Grade II listed in 1989 as a complete example example complete a as 1989 in listed II Grade in 2010. The Cinema is operated by the the by operated is Cinema The 2010. in 1899. Under threat of demolition it was was it demolition of threat Under 1899. purchased by Bognor Regis Town Council Council Town Regis Bognor by purchased wooden structure, which burnt down in in down burnt which structure, wooden it was Grade II listed for preservation and and preservation for listed II Grade was it imposing building replacing the original original the replacing building imposing then owners The Bognor Pier Company Ltd, Ltd, Company Pier Bognor The owners then in 1902 at a cost of £68,000 creating the the creating £68,000 of cost a at 1902 in Under the threat of closure in 2009 by its its by 2009 in closure of threat the Under The present station building was completed completed was building station present The Cannon, Classic and ABC Cinemas. Cinemas. ABC and Classic Cannon, day trippers. day 1919 and had various owners including including owners various had and 1919 town as a seaside resort with the growth of of growth the with resort seaside a as town It became a cinema opening of the 5th June June 5th the of opening cinema a became It RICH HISTORY RICH factor in increasing the popularity of the the of popularity the increasing in factor OF BOGNOR REGIS’ REGIS’ BOGNOR OF had a pedal powered revolving light. revolving powered pedal a had by the pier just one year later was a major major a was later year one just pier the by UNLOCKING THE BEST BEST THE UNLOCKING year 1911 and the octagonal lantern Tower Tower lantern octagonal the and 1911 year branch line from Barnham in 1864 followed followed 1864 in Barnham from line branch was renamed The Queen’s Hall in Coronation Coronation in Hall Queen’s The renamed was to The Railway Station. The opening of the the of opening The Station. Railway The to TAILORED WALKS WALKS TAILORED Assembly Rooms and opened in May 1886. It It 1886. May in opened and Rooms Assembly right into Lyon Street West will bring you you bring will West Street Lyon into right The Cinema was originally built as the New New the as built originally was Cinema The Carry on down London Road and turning turning and Road London down on Carry 9 9 The Picturedrome Picturedrome The The Railway Station Station Railway The 8 8 TRAIL 3 1 Hotham Park House Hotham Park House is Grade II* listed and John Ballett Fletcher purchased the property The Sir Richard Hotham Trail is surrounded by 9 hectares (22 acres) of on the 18th May 1857 for £8,500, he parkland, which is open to the public. demolished the chapel shortly after in 1859 but the clock tower was retained. This trail explores the buildings which Sir Richard Hotham was instrumental in Sir Richard fi rst visited Bognor in 1784 during building at the start of the creation of Bognor as it was known at the time. a period of ill health to take the benefi ts of In 1899, it was renamed Aldwick Manor by sea bathing. The benefi ts of sea water in his son William Holland Ballett Fletcher, who the treatment of diseases of the glands was was Lord of the Manor of Aldwick at the time. The Trail covers Chapel House (Now Hotham Park House), its clock tower and reported by Richard Russell in 1750, thereby He moved to the property in 1900 with his estate. With the building of Hothamton Crescent, Sir Richard Hotham’s aim was starting the trend of the Sussex coast as wife Agnes who had an interest in reptiles; seaside spas. her pets included pythons, boa constrictors, to attract Royalty to the town thereby increasing its status and popularity as a small crocodiles and giant lizards. William’s At the start of his grand plans for the town healthy bathing resort. Dome House, part of Hothamton Crescent, was built own interest was Arboriculture and he spent (then a small hamlet), he acquired some a fortune laying out the grounds and planting 1,600 acres of land for his project. Sir Richard with the hope that King George III would visit. them with magnifi cent trees and shrubs. He paid £700 for 35 acres immediately east of also built a lake with water lilies and large the current Royal Norfolk Hotel and a fi eld The trail includes the Ice House, part of the original Hotham Park Estate and goldfi sh. The fruits of his work we see today close to Bognor Lodge on which he was as Hotham Park. (1) one of the best preserved examples of its kind in West Sussex. to build Chapel House (Today known as Hotham Park House). (1) During the war the building was requisitioned Hotham Park is owned by Arun District Council with the support of the Hotham and leased to Government ministries. Sir Richard Hotham was not new to property Park Heritage Trust. The gardens were developed in the early 1900s by William development. In 1764 he purchased Moat The building was acquired by Bognor Regis Fletcher, who was interested in Arboriculture, in association with Kew Gardens. Farm in Merton in Surrey and developed it Urban District Council in 1946 along with the into Merton Place, which became the future grounds and neighbouring land and opened The fi nal part of the Trail fi nishes at the Railway Station and Picturedrome. home of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. to the public in 1947. These building are not directly linked to Sir Richard Hotham, being built long At Bognor Sir Richard Hotham converted The Listed building status describes the a farmhouse into his fi rst mansion in 1787 building comprising 2 storeys and semi after his death in 1799. The buildings do however represent an important named Bognor Lodge. This building was basement, 10 windows, Stuccoed Cornice element in the development of the history and culture of the town. demolished in 1937. and parapet. 2 large bays, which are linked on the ground fl oor by an arcaded Hotham Park House was built to the north verandah raised above ground level. Above of the Lodge in 1792 as his main residence the verandah is an iron balcony with hood in Bognor. Known then as Chapel House it supported on trellis columns (this was THERE ARE TWO CAR PARKS IN AND ADJACENT TO HOTHAM PARK. THE SMALLER included a private chapel built at the rear of removed during renovations in 1977). The P the house and the clock tower. SHORT STAY (LODGE) CAR PARK WITHIN THE PARK ITSELF IS ACCESSED DIRECTLY building demonstrates many of the attributes FROM THE ROUNDABOUT ON UPPER BOGNOR ROAD AT THE JUNCTION WITH From 1815, the House was renamed Bersted of Regency style. HIGH STREET. THE LARGER LONG STAY CAR PARK IS LOCATED NEXT TO HOTHAM Lodge (pictured below). PARK OFF LONDON ROAD CLOSE TO THE ICE HOUSE. TRAIL 3 STARTS HERE The start of the trail is Hotham Park House at the south east corner of Hotham Park close to the bandstand.