About Us

To satisfy this growing demand, the splendid Crescent and the illustrious Anglesey Hotel were brought into existence,

About Us

History

At the dawn of the 19th century, the South Coast of England began to flourish as a haven for fashionable seaside resorts. This burgeoning trend for coastal escapes was fuelled by none other than King George III and the Prince Regent (later George IV), who popularized the healthful allure of sea bathing—a pastime that quickly became the epitome of elegance and leisure.

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forming an integral part of Gosport’s architectural heritage. While the identity of the visionary behind these grand designs remains a mystery, historical whispers attribute the work to Jacob Owen, a Portsmouth-based architect and Assistant Clerk of Works for the Royal Engineers Department under the Board of Ordnance.

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Wade Warren

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Wade Warren

Quality Assurance

The Crescent and Anglesey Hotel were the ambitious creations of Robert Cruickshank, a bold and enterprising local figure. Completed in 1830, this remarkable ensemble of monumental seaside architecture became a crowning jewel for Gosport, a lasting testament to Cruickshank’s foresight. Back in those days, the endorsement of the aristocracy was essential for such ventures to thrive. In a stroke of fortune, Cruickshank secured the support of the First Marquis of Anglesey—renowned hero of the Battle of Waterloo, where he lost a leg. The Marquis was invited to lay the foundation stone for the Anglesey Ville on 19th September 1826. Sadly, due to illness, he could not attend, and the honour was carried out by his son, the Earl of Uxbridge, with a silver trowel specially crafted for the occasion. This ceremonial artifact, inscribed with “The first stone of Anglesey Ville was laid by the Most Noble Marquis of Anglesey on the 19th of Sept 1826,” remains in the hotel this day.

To draw visitors to the burgeoning resort, a racecourse was established in Anglesey, adding to its allure. Its inaugural race, held on 28th August 1832, was a grand affair, overseen by Senior Steward Lord Charles Wellesley, a member of the esteemed Wellesley family. Six spirited runners competed over a one-mile distance, with a horse named “Fleur-de-Lys” claiming the victory.

Upon Robert Cruickshank’s passing on 13th February 1853, the Anglesey Hotel was bequeathed to his widow, Harriet Susanna. Eight years later, on 4th July 1861, she sold the property—including the adjoining house and a parcel of land behind the hotel—to Richard Henry Wyatt of Grosvenor Place, Hyde Park, London, for the substantial sum of £2,454 16s 5d. By 1878, the property changed hands again, being sold to Samuel and Thomas Blake of Blake’s Breweries for £1,025.

Throughout its history, the Anglesey Hotel played host to a glittering array of distinguished guests, cementing its reputation as one of the South Coast’s premier destinations. Its proximity to the Royal Naval Dockyards naturally attracted naval luminaries and celebrities of the era. In 1830, Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) graced the hotel with her presence, accompanied by her mother, the Duchess of Kent, Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. Not long after, in October 1839, Captain Charles Austin, brother of the famed novelist Jane Austen, dined at the hotel and delivered a speech in honour of its visionary founder, Robert Cruickshank.

This legacy of elegance, history, and monumental design endures, leaving an indelible mark on Gosport’s cultural fabric.