{"id":1102,"date":"2016-01-16T10:48:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-16T10:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/?page_id=1102"},"modified":"2021-01-02T17:16:21","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T17:16:21","slug":"03-victoria-hotel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/?page_id=1102","title":{"rendered":"03. Victoria Hotel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Heritage Trail location 3<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Photo 1 \u2013 This early photograph, taken from Coronation Road, shows the main entrance to the hotel to the left of the photograph.\u00a0The Spa Baths can be seen in the rear, right of the photograph.\u00a0(Photo courtesy of Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum).<\/p><\/div>\n

In the 1830s, Mr Thomas Hotchkin, Lord of the Manor of Woodhall Spa, had a bath house built over a spring of water which many people, including himself, found beneficial to health.<\/p>\n

Visiting a spa was a fashionable pursuit at this time and as people heard of this new spring and came to sample it, Mr Hotchkin set about the construction of a hotel in which to accommodate them.<\/p>\n

This hostelry was completed in 1839 and 12 months later a group of medical men of the area, plus local gentry, met at \u201cThe New Hotel\u201d to celebrate the opening of the Spa.\u00a0Interestingly, this was before the water had been analysed.<\/p>\n

In his book \u201cSpas of England\u201d, published in 1841, Dr Granville M. D. F. R. S describes how he advised Mr Hotchkin on the advisability of \u201cprocuring a perfect and correct knowledge of the chemical composition of the water\u201d.\u00a0He describes the hotel as a \u201cneat, unostentatious edifice, honoured with the name of Victoria\u201d (Queen Victoria had ascended to the throne in 1837).<\/p>\n

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Photo 2 \u2013 The main entrance to the Victoria Hotel, taken in the early 1900s.\u00a0The gardener is standing on what is now Coronation Road.\u00a0The area behind the gardener is now woodland (The \u201cUps and Downs\u201d).\u00a0(Photo courtesy of Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum).<\/p><\/div>\n

The two principal fronts faced South and West and there were two rows of stables separated by a large courtyard.\u00a0Inside there was a dining room, morning room and drawing room, single as well as double bedrooms, the best of which had a favourable aspect, overlooking a fir plantation, or giving extended views towards Horncastle, or Tattershall Castle.\u00a0The furniture was new and of the best kind and the Manageress was \u201cactive and mistress of her business, with an imposing figure and intelligent countenance.\u201d\u00a0The \u201cspirited proprietor was determined to spare no expense to render this Spa deserving of the countenance of the better classes of society.\u201d\u00a0Sadly, the worthy doctor did not feel these \u201cbetter classes\u201d were aware of this Spa yet, for judging by the names and handwriting in the register, he deemed the majority of visitors were \u201cfarmers or people of the industrial classes.\u201d\u00a0The terms of the hotel were not considered extravagant.\u00a0Single board for a day was 5 shillings, with 1 shilling more for a bedroom.\u00a0Board and lodging for a servant was 3 shillings.\u00a0A private sitting room cost 6 shillings a day.<\/p>\n

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Photo 3 - Victoria Hotel - early 20th Century (Postcard from Webmaster's collection).<\/p><\/div>\n

The Spa proved popular and when Mr T. J. S. (Stafford) Hotchkin succeeded his father as local Squire, in 1849, he set about replacing the building erected by his father with a large commodious hotel set in grounds of 100 acres.\u00a0This proved a wise decision, for when the railway reached the Spa, in 1855, numbers of visitors requiring accommodation increased considerably. (Figs 1, 2, 3 & 4)<\/p>\n

The Spa Baths and the Victoria Hotel were leased to Dr Robert Cuffe, M. R. C. S. for no less than 21 years, from 1862 until 1883.\u00a0After he retired, the hotel was refurbished under the management of Mr A. J. Heaton.\u00a0A bill of 1885 gives the total price of a visit lasting from luncheon on 15 May, until after breakfast on the 21st, as \u00a39 \u2013 13 \u2013 6d.<\/p>\n

However, Squire Hotchkin decided to sell the hotel and 70 acres of land, although the enterprise was still a flourishing concern.\u00a0Mr. W. Colburn became Manager in January, 1886 and in April there was an advertisement for a cook who must \u201cunderstand\u201d soups, entrees and jellies.\u00a0There had evidently been much discussion about the proposed sale because a Syndicate of several worthy gentlemen was formed to purchase the concern. On the 3rd July, the transaction was completed and on 31st of that month it was reported that the hotel was full to overflowing and ladies and gentlemen of title, as well as admirals and generals, desiring of staying at the Victoria, had to be turned away and were obliged to return to London.<\/p>\n

There was an enthusiastic article in the Horncastle News on 21st August of that year.\u00a0The reporter was effusive in his praise of the establishment.\u00a0The grounds, he said, \u201care of a most extensive and pleasant description\u201d and \u201cadjoining the well kept gardens are capital cricket, croquet and lawn tennis grounds.\u00a0The stabling arrangements are excellent and there are plenty of lockup coach houses.\u00a0As far as outdoor advantages are concerned, the Victoria Hotel is simply perfection.\u201d\u00a0One begins to wonder if the indoor arrangements were not but no, there is gratifying praise for the interior of the hotel, also.\u00a0Under the management of Mr. Charles Hawkins and his wife (who is \u201cwithout a superior as a manageress\u201d), it is described as \u201cone of the best appointed and best managed establishments of its kind in the kingdom\u201d, its only drawback being that it is not half big enough to accommodate the ever increasing number of would be guests.\u00a0The drawing room is described as \u201ca grand apartment, elegantly furnished.\u201d And with its spacious dining room, \u201ccapital\u201d smoking room, ladies room, sitting room, good billiard room and bedrooms \u201ccalculated to give satisfaction to the most fastidious of visitors,\u201d it possessed all the attributes of a high class hotel.\u00a0At the rear of the hotel was a restaurant and here again the reporter waxed enthusiastic, commenting that diners are served with the \u201cexcellence and rapidity of the Criterion and other great metropolitan restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo 4 \u2013 The rear of the Victoria Hotel, after extension, taken from the extensive hotel grounds.\u00a0The area is now woodlands.\u00a0(Postcard from webmaster's collection).<\/p><\/div>\n

However, Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins did not last long, for in April 1887 it was announced that the hotel had been let \u201cfor a term of years\u201d to Mr. John Roberts, Proprietor of St. James Hall, Piccadilly and other esteemed establishments.\u00a0The entire hotel of 150 rooms was to be reorganised.<\/p>\n

The spacious grounds were utilised for garden parties and bazaars such as one held in June 1887, which was in aid of the Kirkstead Methodist Chapel and was opened by the mayor of Lincoln.<\/p>\n

Sadly, in June of that year the death occurred of Mr Heaton who had been Manager of the hotel just two or three years previously.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the following year, the hotel had been \u201centirely remodelled and beautifully refurbished throughout\u201d.\u00a0The garden was surrounded by a park of 70 acres.<\/p>\n

It was decided to have a special inaugural day to celebrate the work of the Syndicate and many important personages were invited.\u00a0A special train conveyed visitors from London, among who were Lord Colville, Chairman of the Great Northern Railway, and Directors and the General Manager of that Company.\u00a0There were titled people, ecclesiastical dignitaries, including the Bishop of Nottingham, eminent doctors from far and near and Major Davis, architect of the baths at Bath, under whose direction the remodelling of the Baths here had been effected by the Syndicate.\u00a0The Mayor of Lincoln was present and, naturally, the gentlemen of the Syndicate, no doubt anxious for the guests\u2019 approval of the alternatives.\u00a0They were:- Rt. Hon. Edward Stanhope, M.P. for Horncastle and Secretary of State for War; Rt. Hon. Henry Chaplin M.P.; Sir Richard Webster, Attorney General; T Cheney Garfit Esq. and Rev J. O. Stephens.\u00a0A triumphal arch of evergreens, flowers, and shields, had been erected at the entrance to the Hotel grounds, surmounted by the words \u201cSuccess to Woodhall Spa\u201d.\u00a0The guests enjoyed a sumptuous luncheon, in a specially erected marquee, which was followed by toasts and speeches.\u00a0They were shown around the entire complex and were \u201cloud in their praises thereof\u201d.\u00a0The new South wing of the hotel, which had 17 bedrooms with private sitting rooms, was considered to be an elegant and tasteful addition, as well as considerably increasing the accommodation available.<\/p>\n

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Photo 5 \u2013 Firemen on the roof of the Victoria Hotel damping down after the fire on Easter Sunday 1920.\u00a0(Photo courtesy of Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum).<\/p><\/div>\n

The Syndicate did not rest on its laurels for less than a year later it was reported that a magnificent dining room seating 160 people and with a minstrels\u2019 gallery for balls and soir\u00e9es had been built.\u00a0The chef of the Victoria, Monsieur A. Kruz, was evidently top notch, for he won a bronze medal for \u201cartistic cookery\u201d, with his creation of \u201caspic de foie gras aux truffles\u201d, at a cookery exhibition in London, in May 1889.<\/p>\n

The Victoria Hotel was the obvious choice for the celebratory luncheon, again attended by the great and the good, at the opening of the Alexandra Hospital, in May 1890.\u00a0The gathering was served consomm\u00e9, salads (one of lobster), quail pie, pigeon pie, galantine of chicken truffe, forequarter of lamb, fore rib of beef, boar\u2019s head, York ham etc., with an array of desserts, including strawberries, cheesecakes and Charlotte a la Vanille.<\/p>\n

In June, Mr Roberts \u201ccarried the respect and good wishes of everybody\u201d when he relinquished his post as Manager of the Hotel.\u00a0He was succeeded by Mr. Paine, who brought with him \u201cthe fashionable atmosphere of Brighton\u201d.<\/p>\n

By August, the hotel was reported as being absolutely full with not so much as an attic room unoccupied.\u00a0The billiard room had been improved and the table was \u201cone of the best in the country\u201d.\u00a0The following week, the fashionable Mr. Paine introduced music in the dining room.\u00a0The minstrels\u2019 gallery was prettily decorated and the Spa band, stationed there, played during the course of the meal.\u00a0However, perhaps the gentleman from Brighton proved too fashionable for Lincolnshire taste for he was replaced by Mr. and Mrs. Hunt at the end of May 1890, having been here less than a year.<\/p>\n

In Edwardian times, it cost 12\/- a day for a room on the ground floor and 13\/6 for the first floor, except during the high season, mid July to mid September, when it was more expensive.\u00a0Rooms for servants cost 2\/- and 5\/-.\u00a0A fire in a bedroom was 2\/- extra, but only 1\/- if it was required for the morning alone.\u00a0Hip baths in bedrooms were 6d, dinner (including coffee was 5\/- and as Woodhall Spa became noted for golf, after the opening of Mr Hotchkin\u2019s Golf Links, in 1905, there was a Golfers\u2019 Special Weekend.\u00a0This consisted of 1st class rail, return from King\u2019s Cross, all meals from Friday lunch to Monday breakfast, and the golf fee.\u00a0It cost a staggering \u00a32.15.<\/p>\n

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Photo 6 \u2013 Part of the gutted interior of the Victoria Hotel after the fire on Easter Sunday 1920.\u00a0(Photo courtesy of Woodhall Spa Cottage Museum).<\/p><\/div>\n

After the dark days of World War 1, it was hoped that the Woodhall Spa baths and the Victoria Hotel would draw crowds of visitors as before.\u00a0Alas, disaster struck less than 2 years after the war had ended.\u00a0At this time, the hotel had a turnover of \u00a325,000 a year.\u00a0In the spring of 1920, the building had just been redecorated for the start of the Season when, early in the morning of Easter Sunday 4th April, an electrical fault started a fire in the boiler room, which spread to the linen room above.\u00a0The wife of the porter, James Rose, smelled burning at 3.30 a.m.\u00a0The Manager, Capt. Farmer, aroused the staff and guests, who were evacuated from the hotel, although some helped to remove furniture to the lawns outside.\u00a0Woodhall Spa and Horncastle Fire Brigades were called out, but the fire was burning furiously by the time they arrived.\u00a0The fire fighters were handicapped by lack of water as the hydrant was on the Broadway and was only enough for one jet.\u00a0Later, an elderly resident who remembered the fire, recalled water being obtained from the stream that runs behind the Teahouse.\u00a0Another said that the local Brigade had worried that the hotel was a fire risk.\u00a0\u201cMt father was Captain of the Fire Brigade and he thought there should have been a lake in the grounds - they had just about everything else!\u201d\u00a0Residents awoke to see flames high above the trees and made their way to the hotel to see if they could help.\u00a0The fire brigade from Lincoln set off to lend assistance but the rear axle of the brand new motor engine broke 10 miles away.\u00a0To the horror and dismay of the people of Woodhall Spa, their prestigious and beautiful hotel was gutted.\u00a0It was the end of an era. (Figs 5 and 6)<\/p>\n

The hotel was never rebuilt and the area has reverted to woodland.\u00a0Vegetation has grown over the foundations, causing lines of small hillocks; giving the area the local name of \u201cThe Ups and Downs\u201d.\u00a0Many of the exotic and specimen trees planted in the hotel gardens can still be seen mixed in with the native trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Heritage Trail locations<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"heritagetrail\"<\/p>\n

The trail can be started at any location, but we suggest you also visit the Cottage Museum to see the photographs taken by John Wield during the heyday of the Spa and items associated with this unique Victorian Spa town.<\/p>\n

The Trail is just one of several projects in the hands of the Woodhall Spa Parish Council sponsored Heritage Committee. Click here if you are interested in the committee or their projects.<\/p>\n

How well do you know Woodhall Spa?<\/p>\n

See if you can identify the location of these architectural features and items of street furniture! Or find the Letterbox (coming soon).<\/p>\n

Find out more about the Woodhall Spa Conservation Area<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Heritage Trail location 3 \u00a0 In the 1830s, Mr Thomas Hotchkin, Lord of the Manor of Woodhall Spa, had a bath house built over a spring of water which many people, including himself, found beneficial to health. Visiting a spa was a fashionable pursuit at this time and as people heard of this new spring … Continue reading 03. Victoria Hotel<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":40,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"two_page_speed":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1102","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","without-featured-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1102"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5429,"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1102\/revisions\/5429"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.woodhallspa.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}