1855, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk
Lowestoft chapter, page 551
At the bottom of these gardens a range of buildings appropriated to the purpose of curing fish, extends along the beach, nearly the whole length of the old town. From the situation of these fish-houses the inhabitants derive the two-fold advantage of the easy conveyance of the herrings from the boats and the total exemption from the disagreeable effluvia arising from them during the process of curing.
The descent to the beach has been rendered easy and agreeable by several winding roads from the main street, with an occasional flight of steps.
The Esplanade and the Marine Parade, and the Terraces in South Lowestoft are all new and elegant, and the houses are large and commodious, and display a great variety of architectural beauties. They all front the sea, and have easy access to the beach, the pier, and the adjacent country.
The shore is peculiarly favourable for sea bathing, havin a regular descent, and consisting of a hard sand, intermixed with shingle, and perfectly free from ooze, and those beds of mud which are frequently met with on other coasts. It often presents a very busy scene, ana variety of very curious pebbles, with amber and jet, thrown upon it by the tides. On the beach are about 20 bathing machines, and every other convenience for the numerous visitors who resort hither in summer, and for who accommodation ther are in the town many commodius lodging houses and several large inns, some of them commanding extensive prospects of the sea and the coast.
Hot and cold baths were established here many years ago by Mr. Wells; and in 1824 a New Bath House, upon more a extensive plan was erected on the south beach by four gentlemen, who sold it in 1830, to Mr. Walter Jones, but now belongs to Mr. W. Woods. It is an oblong pebble building, with rusticated angles, and has a spacious reading room, convenient hot and cold baths, and also a sulphurous medicated bath, upon an improved principle. The approach to it has received extensive improvements, and is a gradual descent from the town, forming an excellent carriage way and promenade.
The Royal Hotel, near the South Pier, and at the end of the beautiful Esplande, is a large and handsome building, erected in 1848'9, and having about eighty bed rooms, hot and cold baths, billiard rooms.
Midway on the Pier an elegant Subscription Reading Room was erected in 1853-4.
The Suffolk Hotel is another large, elegant and well-conducted establishement, situated near the Railway Station, and having a large Bowling Green, which is often thronged with pleasure parties.
The Crown Hotel, another large and first-class family and commercial hotel, is in the old part of the town, and now presents an elegant front to High street, having recently been nearly all rebuilt of red brick, with Caen stone dressings, in the Italian style.
Besides the three hotels here are several commodious inns and taverns. New houses are still erecting in the new town, where a new church, two new chapels, and other handsome buildings, have recently been completed.
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