West Lees

Folkestone

Above photo shows the "Hotel Metropole" in 1896.

The above 1920 photograph shows the "Grand Hotel" on the right and the "Hotel Metropole" on the left.

Above photos showing the "Metropole" as viewed circa 2010 and inside.

Kelly's directory of 1899 says the following about the "Hotel Metropole."

The Hotel Metropole, opened in 1896, occupies a fine position on the Lees, and stands within its own grounds of 2½ acres, upwards of 300 feet above the sea level; it comprises fine dining halls and ball, banqueting and billiard rooms, besides suites of private apartments &c. and is available for 350 visitors.

Now private apartments, with an art gallery occupying the elegant Victorian public rooms on the ground level.

Next door to the "Metropole" is another hotel called the "Grand." After the "Metropole" had been constructed, Daniel Baker, a local builder being disappointed at not gaining the contract for it, decided to build another, even grander hotel right next door.

From an email received 24, May 2011. I have a brass key fob '2nd floor 87' Found it when digging in my allotment in north London. Sorry no key attached. It had obviously been in the ground a long time - possibly at about the time the house was built around 1927. I would love to know how the key got into the ground so far from home - it will remain a mystery. Geoff Gilby.

LICENSEE LIST

GORDON HOTELS Lim. 1899-1934+

From the Kelly's Directory 1899