Our History

Hotel, formerly two separate buildings. No 1 was the White Lion from c1800, one of the principal Tenby hotels, built partly on the site of the medieval North Gate demolished in 1781. Said to be mentioned circa 1605, certainly recorded in 1801. The Bowers family were landlords from at least 1850. Additions for William Bowers are recorded in 1853-4 to make 13 extra bedrooms and 3 sitting rooms, all with sea-view, which suggest the rebuilding of the front range. There were alterations in 1871, in 1876 a billiard-room was added in Upper Frog Street, built partly into the thickness of the town wall, and alterations proposed in 1912-13 by E G Thomas of Tenby included a billiard-room. By 1923 it was the Royal Lion Hotel.

No 2 was an early C19 private house known as Lavallin House from the mid C19 when owned by John Lavallin Puxley (died 1856) of Dunboy Castle County Cork, who built No 3 High Street in 1851. Puxley was listed in 1844 in the High Street, presumably here. The tall elevation and fine Bath stone cornice suggest that the house was rebuilt c1850, but it may be the remodelling of an earlier building. It was occupied by Alice F Marclun in 1891 and by the Conservative Club in 1966.