Vine Hotel Skegness
Built around 1770 and called the Skegness Inn, Thomas Enderby took over in 1828 and renaming it Enderby’s Hotel.
The 1851 census records reveal the name of the hotel as ‘The Vine’.
Though the building is very old, it is not a listed building, presumably because it has suffered substantial structural alterations over time,
1929 – The fact that the Vine Hotel at Skegness just passed into the ownership of a gentleman who is well-known throughout East Lincolnshire and beyond (Mr. Harry Bateman, of Wainfleet), renders of special
interest our reproduction of the “Vine” of snout hair a century ago.
So far as can be ascertained, the Vine hotel is the oldest in Skegness itself, and also one of the oldest hostelries in this, of the county, Just when the original inn was erected is a matter for conjecture, but that the place is of great antiquity is shown by the following interesting advert isement taken. from a _London paper called “The General Evening Post,” dated from Thursday, July 1st, to Saturday, July 3rd, 1784 (145 years ago):
“Sea Bathing, Skegness, Lincolnshire.— Samuel and Ann Salter, ‘of the Vine Inn, beg leave to acquaint their friends and the public in general, that the malicious report of the said Ann Salter being dead is absolutely false, being now alive, in good health, and ready to pay the strictest attention to the accommodation of I falmilies and every individual, which lies in her power.
N.B.—Bathing machines and Post-chaife as usual.”
In the old days the inns along this section of the coast formed the rendezvous of sailors and others whose activities were not always in accordance with the strict letter of the law, and there are good grounds for surmising that the Vine was one of several haunts of those who hatched plots for outwitting the Customs authorities.
Mr. Thomas Leeman, Skegness’s oldest inhabitant (in 1929), well remembers how the Customs officer—who used to ride on horseback from Boston—was “entertained” while certain other things were happening on the shore between Skegness and Gibraltar Point. Apparently there were few coastline dwellers who were not prepared either to lend a helping hand or to maintain, discreet silence in connection with the smuggling operations which were rife hereabouts for many years.
It is almost superfluous to draw attention to our picture to indicate the structural changes which the passage of time has brought about at the Vine. From an isolated country inn the place has been transformed into a modern residential hotel, lighted throughout by electricity and embodying all the other conveniences which the present-day patron demands.
A good deal of the old-time “atmosphere,” has, however, been retained, notably the old-world gardens and other features which form a link between the ancient hostelry and the present-day buildings.
In 1902, during renovations of the Vine Hotel, it’s said that a skeleton was uncovered behind brickwork. The skeleton is thought to have been a customs officer as brass buttons found near it are those of a customs officer uniform. As yet, I have found no reference to this in the 1902 Skegness Herald newspaper.
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