The King’s Rooms

There is now no trace of an extraordinary building that stood on the site now occupied by Clarence Pier. Built largely in 1824/5, and named after a visit by the Duke of Clarence who later became William IV, this building had aspirations to have an aura of a London Club. It included an assembly room complete with chandeliers, reading and card rooms and a long colonnade that overlooked the sea. Its enterprising owner, Mr Hollingsworth, installed solid marble warm vapour baths, one for each sex, which were equipped with steam pumps capable of raising 40 gallons of water per minute from the sea. Balls were held here which ‘attracted the greatest assemblages of rank and fashion ever known in the neighbourhood’. It was at the King's Rooms in 1845 that a Capt Seaton quarrelled with Lieut Hawley leading to the reputedly last duel to be fought in this country.