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The Shirley Hotel was situated on Main Road, West Lulworth between numbers 29 and 30.
The only photographic image we currently have of the Shirley Hotel is this poor-quality aerial image from 1953:
The hotel, neighbouring garage, all outbuildings and two residential properties, Handel Cottage and Wellington Cottage, were all demolished in 2007.
A development of eleven thatched and tiled properties in a mix of Purbeck stone and render finish were constructed on the site in 2008/09 by Cawdor Developments with a private access road named Shirley Close – see site plan below. Originally twenty-two properties had been proposed on the Shirley Hotel plot alone!
History
The property was built on the site of Randall’s Stores which burned down in 19291.
It was a three-storey brick building and was initially named the Strathnavar Private Hotel.
Strathnavar Private Hotel (Mrs M.E. Thwaites, proprietress): modern & convenient accommodation near Cove; luncheons, teas &c,; garage for 20 cars adjoining T N 6
In 1931 both Alan Thwaites and Mabel Thwaites were living at Strathnavar.2
Later in the 1930’s, the name of the property changed to the Shirley Guest House.
The ‘modern and convenient accommodation’ boasted ‘hot and cold water in all bedrooms’ and garaging for 20 cars.3
By 1939 it was being run by William Robert Elldred (1895-1976) and his wife Anne Elldred nee Cunningham (1898-1969). Sadly their second son Peter John Elldred (1921-1943) died in World War 2 aged just 22. He was buried in the graveyard at Holy Trinity and his name appears on the War Memorial.
The name Shirley Guest House continued to be used until at least 1947.
The Shirley Guest House | Tel No 40 | 5 – 7 guineas per week4
I lived there in 1947 when it was called the Shirley Guest House. My dad was chef and my mother operated the petrol pumps for the garage.
Julia B
By 1951, the name Shirley Hotel had been adopted:
From 1952 to 1959, the Shirley Hotel was run by Michael and Marjorie Harries.
My parents owned and ran the Shirley from 1952 to 1959 and employed a number of villagers, including Mrs. Whittle who lived opposite the war memorial. The hotel had 9 bedrooms. There were no en-suites in those days, just a bathroom on each floor. The hotel had a cafe on the same plot, separate from the hotel dining room. We used to get quite a lot of business from the nuclear power station at Winfrith Heath, plus many regular holidaymakers, but closed during the winter months. My father was previously an industrial chemist with Cellon Paints in Surrey.
Alan Harries, 2022
I was friends with Valerie Harries when they owned the hotel in the 1950’s.
JB, 2022
During 1959, the Harries were searching for alternative sites in Somerset or elsewhere to set up a motel:
By January 1960 new owners had taken over the Shirley Hotel and were advertising for business further afield. The telephone number was now West Lulworth 358.
The Williams family took over running the hotel by 1974. The hotel was run jointly by Stanley Howard Williams (1904-1989), his wife Mary Jane Williams nee Hinde (1918-1980) and their eldest son Tony with his wife Jess. Tony and Jess later ran the hotel on their own until their retirement.
A series of improvements were made over the next two decades. Planning permission was granted for the following:
- 1974 – single-storey extension at rear to include laundry room
- 1974 – change of use from chalet to hairdressing salon
- 1978 – extension to porch
- 1981 – two-storey extension at rear for extra bedroom accommodation and workshop
- 1984 – single-storey extension at front to entrance and reception area
- 1988 – extension and alterations to rear including new resident dining area
- 1991 – single-storey extension and install sauna and steam room
- 1992 – erect building over existing swimming pool
- 1993 – erect two hotel signs – one illuminated – one sign stated all rooms were en-suite
- 1996 – extension at side to dining room
- 2003 – change of use to include use as a private members club
The property name was changed to Hambury Hotel in 2003 and it may have been promoted as Hambury Hotel and Health Club.
By the end of 2004, the first proposal to demolish the hotel was public. The plans were for 22 units on the site of the hotel plot. Later proposals took in the Central Garage plot too.
I used to work there as a waitress for Mrs. Williams. There used to be a small restaurant out the back where we served the residents.
KO, 2022
I remember the cosy little sitting room.
KB, 2022
I worked there for a while as a waitress and chambermaid in the early 1980’s. Jess and Tony were lovely and Tony always had a joke to tell.
MH, 2021
It was a lovely hotel. I grew up next to it and watched Tony & Jess develop it into a great business.
CN, 2021
They had an indoor swimming pool and local residents were allowed to use it.
MP, 2021
I used to go to swim there quite often. I was gutted when it closed.
MF, 2021
If you have any photographs or other information about the Shirley Hotel, please contact us.
Page last updated: 8 October 2022