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Latitude: 50.2798 / 50°16'47"N
Longitude: -3.8981 / 3°53'53"W
OS Eastings: 264858
OS Northings: 43932
OS Grid: SX648439
Mapcode National: GBR Q9.CSJ2
Mapcode Global: FRA 28Q9.95L
Plus Code: 9C2R74H2+WQ
Entry Name: Burgh Island Hotel
Listing Date: 25 January 1990
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1108101
English Heritage Legacy ID: 99608
ID on this website: 101108101
BIGBURY BURGH ISLAND
SX 64 SE
6/17
Burgh Island Hotel
- II
Private guest house, now hotel. Built 1929 for Archibald Nettlefold, architect
not known. Reinforced concrete, rendered, steel-framed windows, asphalt flat
roofs, copper cupola to lift shaft. A complex T-plan with fully glazed 'palm
court' in internal angle to the south east, and the captain's cabin of HMS
Ganges built on to the east end of the north block. Four storeys, built into
ground slope at south end. Most windows are narrow-light (500 mm module)
standard steel casements, some with top lights; large units to public rooms.
North front, towards mainland, has projecting public rooms under flat terrace,
then suite of public rooms with large glazed openings, beneath two continuous
balconies to set-back ranges of 9 windows; at right end a half-cylindrical unit
with small openings at first floor level, and a small flue at the corner. Left
return has the attached captain's cabin below 3 windows in two levels above.
Right return has small openings in plain wall, and a projecting lofty stair
tower with tall slit window, returning to main entrance on set-back east
section, heavy concrete lattice balustrade to balcony over glazed main doors
flanked by curved service units with small square windows at two levels; above
this, in south wing, continuous balconies at two levels to set-back range of 6
windows, above large glazed openings to public rooms. Plain south end returns
to inner faces of north and south wings with standard windows at two levels, 2
small-pane casements in a lower flat-roofed unit adjoining lift tower to tent-
like copper-clad roof over open loggia. In the internal angle a large glazed
palm court with quadrant wall to south and east. Interior: retains much of the
original Art Deco decoration in the public rooms; the main Function Room has
large engraved mirror and a characteristic continuous lighting trough. Stair-
case is lined with black Vitrolite, and has two 'ladder' radiators topped by Art
Deco light fittings; there are also many original square light fittings. In the
main rooms facing north, some aluminium sliding windows have been inserted.
Some of the doors in the service basement include typical porthole openings.
The balconies have good quarry tile pavings. Much of the interior fitting and
finishing appears to be the original work. Palm court glazed roof has radial
bars and scale-like patterns in the 'peacock dome'. This is an advanced build-
ing for its date in England, in the International style. The structure of
reinforced concrete is said still to be in very good condition, and the inspec-
tion suggests a very well built and maintained building, although it lacks the
clarity of the best buildings of the movement. Much careful restoration under-
taken in 1980s. The original purpose was as a weekend party venue, and visitors
included Agatha Christie who set two of her books on the island; Edward, Prince
of Wales and Mrs Simpson, Noel Coward, and other inter-war personalities also
stayed here as Mr Nettlefold's guests.
(Information from brochure produced by the owners in 1987, Beatrice and Tony
Porter).
Listing NGR: SX6485843932
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