History of the building and local area

This property is a former National Provincial Bank designed by architect William W Gwyther of London and built in 1895. It’s one of 900 listed properties in Ramsgate. Not only is the building a stunning landmark, an Italianate style corner building with curving facade, but the entire area around you is steeped in fascinating history. 

Nearby St Augustine’s Church, designed by Augustus Pugin in 1847 in the Gothic Revival style is a notable example. It commemorates the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who landed at Ramsgate in AD 597 bringing Christianity to Britain.

For over 250 years people have headed to Ramsgate for a day at the seaside. Princess Victoria first came to Ramsgate in 1823 when she was only four years old and was a regular visitor throughout her childhood, staying at Albion House and Townley House on Chatham Street. By the time Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837, Ramsgate was covered with elegant crescents, squares, places and lawns, all with fine bow-fronted Regency houses, embellished by delicate gossamer ironwork and Pagoda-style canopied balconies.

Jacques Joseph Tissot was among many other famous 19th century visitors to Ramsgate. Several of Tissot’s most famous works, including Seaside, A Passing Storm and Room Overlooking the Harbour, were painted from this very spot looking out onto the harbour when the building was the Royal Albion Hotel.

Because of its proximity to mainland Europe, Ramsgate was a chief embarkation point during the Napoleonic Wars, and for the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, when 4,200 ships left Ramsgate Harbour to rescue men from the Dunkirk beaches during World War II.

Ramsgate’s famous tunnels re-opened in 2014 allowing visitors to walk the winding underground city that was briefly home to 26,000 people taking cover during German air raids.

More recently Ramsgate has featured in several films, TV shows and advertisements.