Westleigh, Seaton, Devon

 

Now just called Westleigh, this imposing Edwardian building was once the Westleigh Hotel, and was one of the foremost places to stay in Seaton.

 

Built in 1906 by George Henry Richards, at the time when many new buildings were erected throughout Britain as an expression of the new century. The then Lord of the Manor Walter Trevelyan, for instance, commissioned several new buildings in Seaton. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to discover anything about Mr Richards yet, so I don't know if he commissioned and paid for the hotel or was the architect who designed it.

Festooned in balconies with lovely wrought iron railings, angled bays, corner tower and turret, like many Edwardian buildings it was inspired by a late Victorian style.

I'm not sure when it ceased to be a hotel, but it's been divided into separate flats for several decades now. Downstairs belonged to the Seaton Social Club, then later a pub. I used to love going in there for morning coffee every now and then and sitting in the window looking out to sea or chatting to a friend or two. Sadly it seems to be boarded up now and unused, with the glassed front entrance (seen below) removed.

Looking through some of my black & white photos I found this one showing Westleigh nestled at the lower end of Seafield Road. 

I took the colour photos in February 2012, when it still looked lovely. It's unfortunately a little the worse for wear now and looks rather unloved and uncared for. Let's hope it's given a new lease of life. :)

Just a short one to start off with this year. Unlike my very late start in 2021, I'm really pleased to get something in for January this time! I don't do new year resolutions as such but I do have some goals of things I'd like to do, and doing more on my blog is one of them. Happy New Year, everyone. Peace. :)