Clacton On Sea, Pier Avenue 1921

Photo ref: 70269

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Having built the pier, the next move by Peter Bruff and the directors of the Woolwich Steam Packet Company was to build a hotel. They formed a hotel company which, for £900, bought from Peter Bruff the street block to the east of the pier. Frederick Barnes of Ipswich was appointed architect and it was hoped to open the new hotel, to be called the Royal Hotel, in time for the 1872 season. The timetable was not met and although an official opening ceremony took place at the end of July, the first visitors were not accommodated until 17 August. The total cost of the building was £7,465. Because Bruff and the Woolwich Steam Packet Company controlled the town they placed a covenant on other premises which enabled the Royal to enjoy a virtual monopoly for a number of years both as a hotel and as a public house. During its first four months the bar took £377 and the hotel £535. Within a year of building, a separate tap room was added at the rear. To attract trade outside the summer season the hotel advertised 'good Stabling and Horse Boxes for Hunters .… the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds meet in the Neighbourhood within easy distance'. Peter Bruff began to sell off other plots of land around Pier Avenue to individual developers, but he was determined that his town of Clacton-on-Sea should maintain proper standards. His vision of this new seaside resort was as a retreat for the upper middle classes and the generally better off. To this end he laid down very strict conditions in his 'Deed of Mutual Covenants'. This dealt with draining, fencing, paving, lighting and other improvements 'maintaining and keeping for the common benefit and at the common expense the said New Sea side Town or Watering place called “Clacton-on-Sea”'. Peter Bruff was, to all intents and purposes, a one man Town Planning Committee. It is largely due to Bruff that the centre of Clacton still retains that airy and well laid out

An extract from Clacton-on-Sea Town and City Memories.