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Lee On The Solent, Lee Tower c.1955
Photo ref: L461005
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Lee Tower was built at the end of the pier in 1935; it was Art Deco in style, and 120 ft tall. From the top it was possible to see right across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. Inside there was a restaurant, a cinema and reputedly the south coast's best ballroom. Unfortunately, it was pulled down in 1971. Lee has definitely lost some of its character.

Memories of Lee on the Solent, Lee Tower c1955

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. These memories are of Lee On The Solent, Lee Tower c.1955

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My husband (Tony Coleman), tells me of being in a Children's Home on the sea front. Does anyone remember this or was anyone there with him? He remembers Ernie Curl, Tony Lobb and David Ayers. He would dearly like to get in touch with anyone with any knowledge of this time.
I remember me and my school friend walking from Rowner to the Tower in the school holidays. When we went in there we found a mate we both knew from school who was working the lift to the top of the Tower (the steps were unsafe) and he took us up to the top for free and allowed us to operate the lift. This was about 6 months before it was all knocked down.
I remember the Tower Cinema in the late 1940s, the Saturday afternoon kids' show. Later in the early 1950s I went three times a week, as there were three programes each week, Monday to Wednesday then Thursday to Saturday and old films on a Sunday. We did not have a TV until the mid 1950s. Once I had left school I went to the Tower Ballroom on a Saturday night and to Bert Sharp, also once a month on ...see more
I was born in Lee-on-the-Solent and so was quite young when I first went to the cinema. I loved going down the sloping floor to the auditorium. It was almost underground, although we went up steps at the end of the slope. Every Saturday afternoon saw us queuing to get in. The only film I can remember seeing though was a war film after the V E Day street party. My eldest brother was so disgusted (he was all of ...see more