Rapid strides were made in the development of St. Leonards from the opening of the Royal Victoria Hotel in 1829. This was followed by St. Leonards Church in 1831, the foundation stone being laid by her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia of Gloucester, who had taken up her residence at Gloucester Lodge. St. Leonards was originally designed as a distinct town and had a distinct governing body called the St. Leonards Commissioners, quite independent of the old Corporation of Hastings. Royalty favoured it very early in its history, The Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria were at Victoria Lodge, 57, Marina, wintering there in 1834-5. Queen Adelaide spent the winter of 1837 at Adelaide House, 23, Grand Parade. The Victoria Hotel has been a favoured home for Royal
Grosvenor Gardens and West Marina, St. Leonards. 1920
visitors, including Louis Philippe, Queen Amelie, the Duchess of Orleans and her children, the Prince and Princess de Joinville. The Brighton coach started from the Victoria 1st June, 1830, called the Dispatch. There was a St. Leonards Spa on the West Hill[a] opened by Mr. E. Grosslob, proprietor, and late Manager of the Streatham Spa. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their infant son stayed at the Royal Victoria Hotel in 1864. The frequent visits of royal personages attracted many of the richer classes to St. Leonards, and building operations at Marina were pushed forward in order to provide ccommodation, and a great number of the workmen employed -
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