The Sandown Amusement Arcades
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE SANDOWN AMUSEMENT ARCADES By Dave Bambrough 2013 (part one) The idea for an “Amusement Park” in Culver Road was initiated by one Mrs Gertrude Emma Taylor, married for 45 years with 10 children (this may have been exaggeration to suit the moment, as only two of her off spring attended her funeral) and a resident of Shanklin. A late challenge for someone not exactly in their prime of life, without doubt a lady of visionary qualities. A property owner in Surrey before moving to the Island, she also owned East Cliff Social Club, a Café in Shanklin and lived in a large house named La Turbie, Culver Road, Shanklin. Previous to Amusement Arcades an early form of light amusement for holidaymakers came by way of a game named “Bubbles”. Site competition for this was by way of tenders to the local Council as portrayed in the November 1924 caption. The game, a simple one, with several competing players were required to catch 3 ping pong type balls in a net on the end of a long stick, the first player to do so won a prize. The proposed first amusement site in Sandown had formerly been home to Sandown Coastguard Boathouse. (Kelly’s 1924/5 Isle of Wight directories listed it as “in operation” with Joseph Butterfield the Chief Officer in charge). The Coast Guard Station stood on land later occupied by “Dragonetti’s” hot dog stall, (for those that remember) adjacent to this stood the seven Coast Guard cottages, which were in turn adjacent to the Boathouse, which occupied the land the Amusement Park was to be built on. If Kelly’s directory is correct Coast Guard operations ceased from there that year and the land was up for sale. Mrs Taylor showed immediate interest. She acquired land fronting Culver Road including the Coast Guard area, from the end cottage to the junction with Fort Street. Her plan was the erection of a Concert Hall with a large stage, also to include provision for a Café, Amusements, a series of Kiosks for covered attractions and a line of summer dwellings above, (described as Bungalows/Cubby’s at the time) overlooking the sea. This was to be a costly venture. Sandown had nothing to compare with this suggested radical form of amusement, so would the Council endorse it? Not without much debate. Minutes of the Council’s Work’s Committee showed that at two separate meetings they unanimously disapproved of the idea. The problem was the building line; the plans showed that the intended layout would project far beyond the accepted limitation. As usual there was immediate discord within the Council ranks. Certain members objected, as they considered that if erected it would block out the view of their recently opened Sandham Grounds, even distracting custom from it. In addition, loss of views of the Downs from Culver Road were also considered enough to reject the proposal. Fortunately however some members welcomed the idea. It was felt, by some, that Sandown needed attractions in order to entertain the ever-increasing number of visitors arriving and if for no other reason to counteract their daily departure to Shanklin for entertainment. The building line was set at 6 feet within the boundary wall but the plans showed that the buildings would project 6 feet beyond this. At this time the stone wall stretched as far as Fort Street without a pedestrian pavement to the standard expected today. It then transpired that the building line should have been 9 feet within the wall, incurring immediate response from opposing members wanting this amended. There was even suggestions that Mrs Taylor had bribed the surveyor to reduce it by 3 feet. Then the subject of the Bungalows/Cubby’s that were to be built above the Park; would they encourage immorality with people wanting to stay for one night? Mrs Taylor adamantly refuted this suggestion. Plans for the Amusement Park had been debated and turned down by Sandown Council for sometime prior to many requested amendments agreed to by Mrs Taylor. Agreement was eventually reached with approval, but not without further pedantry. The amended plans submitted in March 1926 included, Shops, the Cubby’s, a temporary stand for Skeeball a Concert Hall and the conversion of the old Coastguard Boathouse into a dwelling house. Approval was granted on the premise that the buildings would be built six feet within the wall, which enclosed the land adjoining the old Coastguard Station. However, once the wooden framework was up it was noticed that the first floor stood out on a level with the wall and that the builders had also transgressed 10 feet further eastwards than the plans allowed. A fresh meeting was called by the Council to discuss the indiscretions with the vote once again in the affirmative. There was further difficulty with Mrs Taylor over drainage. The drain to be laid across Fort Street would be near the surface but on inspection of the plans it showed she had conformed to accepted regulations. She was also accused of writing abusive letters to the Council. She basically told the Council that if her plans complied with council regulations she could start building and there was little they could do about it. She also wrote to the effect that she would like a “scrap” with them, as it was good fun. Adding, that she had recently lost £300 in a casino in Monte Carlo and scrapping with the Council was even more fun than that. Summing up, she added that she was old enough to be the mother of the Chairman, would not let quarrels with him get her down, so would he please get on and do his duty. (Obviously not a lady to take lightly, usually it seems winning the day against formidable opposition). Mrs Taylor did not have it all her own way however as two buildings erected by her at the Amusement Park were ordered to be taken down by the Council as they were not compliant with the agreed plans. The Amusement Park opened at Whitsun 1926, but closed for a while whilst further problems were ironed out. There was an interesting mix of entertainments: many unexplainable i.e. Strad-lla (involving darts being thrown on a revolving table) Skid-ball, Basketball, Bubbles, Billiards, Balloon bursting by football and kiddies round-a-bouts. Stalls for the selling of ice cream, sweets etc. Mrs Taylor also installed an eight valve Marconi Wireless Set, reputed to be the most powerful of its kind in the Land at the time. This could be heard along the beach and throughout the town, apparently not to everyone’s liking. The old Coastguard Station Boathouse was converted into a restaurant and tearoom. This was open to the public every afternoon and evening, fronted with a sea view. The dancing area, with a specially built floor was open for dancing free of charge, but temporarily, in the open air. Collections at dances were made in aid of the I. W. County Hospital at Ryde. The Council had requested that an entrance fee be charged for dancing and a separate entrance provided. The Council also queried the legality of one of her vending machines. Her reply was that she had received a letter from Scotland Yard agreeing that it was. In reality it was a type written copy of a letter purported to have been written by the Chief Constable of Southend. This tranquil agreement betwixt the Council and Mrs Taylor lasted only briefly when a week later her application for music and dancing license was revoked by the Isle of Wight County Bench. Sandown Council having brought the case against her then applied for a dancing license for the Sandham Grounds, which was approved. One month later her music license was renewed before I. W. County Bench at Newport, although once again opposed by the Sandown Town Council. She secured the license for the remaining six weeks of the 1926 season having previously held a license for 14 days on the understanding that the Marconi Wireless volume must be lowered so as not to cause a public nuisance to the surrounding area. Even with the volume reduced the Council insinuated that it was now even more offensive than before as it had become a dull droning noise. The Wireless loud speaker generating the music was placed on the balcony above the Amusement Park in order to project the sound for a long distance. In the mornings the horn was moved to face the seashore and could be heard so loudly at the Pier Head (allegedly) that it completely drowned out the resident Orchestra at the Ballroom. The subtle reason behind the increased decibels was not simply for the daily dancing but in the hope that it would attract custom from a far off distance. (To be continued) THE SANDOWN AMUSEMENT ARCADES By Dave Bambrough 2013 (part two) The Council inferred that the music could be heard as far off as the Pier, the Town Hall, Morton Manor and Yaverland. On winning the day, Mr C. F. Hiscock who represented Mrs Taylor made one final comment to the Bench “Sandown is waking up”. The Bungalows/Cubby’s above the amusement area, which commanded a wonderful view over the sea could be leased, furnished or unfurnished for the season or shorter periods for a charge of two guineas per week. By summer 1927 the place was in full swing, and Mrs Taylor was receiving very complementary reviews regarding her dancing nights. The dancing room was named the “Gaiety Dance Hall” enabling exponents of the “Charleston” and “Black Bottom” dances to strut their stuff.