Back in April 2023 on a trip to Cornwall we took a diversion on our way home, to see an impressive viaduct, the Treffry Viaduct, near the village of Luxulyan. This caused a secondary diversion into the small ancient church in Luxulyan. That, by chance, led me to the name of Silvanus Trevail, a man who is memorialised in that church by a stained glass window. That in turn led me to finding out who he was and writing a little about him.
So now, in January 2025 I found myself looking at this impressive edifice on the headland at Newquay, wondering, after what I found out about Mr. Trevail, if he built this hotel. Which it turned out that he did.
This is the Headland Hotel, formerly The Atlantic.
It sits in a formidable location above Fistral Beach, commanding sea views from almost every window.
Royal Cornwall Gazette - Thursday 04 June 1891
THE NEW HOTEL AT NEWQUAY.
Mr. Silvanus Trevail, M.S.A. of Truro, attended the last meeting of the Newquay Local Board on Monday with the plans of the new hotel in course of erection on the Beacon, for the Cornish Hotels Company, by Messrs. Lang and Sons, of Liskeard. After the plans bad been examined and explained, it was proposed by Captain Bennett, and seconded by Mr. White, and carried unanimously, that the plans be passed.
The plans provide for one of the very best appointed hotels, and will be equal to anything of the sort in the West of England. The building will be nearly square, presenting good elevations on all sides, and situate as it will be on a bold promontory jutting out into the Atlantic, there will be excellent sea views from each of the four fronts....... Briefly, the arc of the Atlantic commanded by the windows of the hotel, will stretch from the Godrevy Light and St. Ives Head on the west to Trevose Head on the north — a sea view without equals anywhere along the coast, fairly entitling the hotel to the proudly distinctive name of the "Atlantic," by which it appears it is in the future to be known........
Fistral Beach is best known for surfing. Its west-facing aspect exposes it to Atlantic swells ensuring consistent waves suitable for surfing. The beach is the venue for major international surfing competitions and a competition suite for judges and competitors has been built at North Fistral along with a surf museum. Wikipedia
The waves didn't look that impressive to me until I spotted the rubber coated men on top, it was only then that I realised why this beach is so famous amongst surfers in Britain.
I am not sure The Headland, or The Atlantic as it was, has ever been described as beautiful, but then Victorian architecture has long fallen out of favour. What you can say is that they certainly made a statement, and in this case the building only cost a mere £10,854 to build with a further £3,809 spent on furniture, with other expenditure bringing the total to £15,191 (£1.3 Million today). There were some other facilities added later such as stabling. It was so well run as an operation that in less than a year it had paid out a 5% dividend to its shareholders, all of whom went out of their way at the shareholders meeting in 1893 to declare their appreciation to the manager.
You may be surprised to read that this top manager who achieved this speedy return on the investment was in those supposedly "patriarchal" times, a woman, namely, Miss Williams from Bournemouth.
Royal Cornwall Gazette - Thursday 30 March 1893
The hotel was only opened in July, and to make such such a large profit, over 12 per cent, on the paid-up capital— was; a matter for much congratulation, and would also reflect great credit on their able and efficient manageress, Miss Williams, and her staff— (applause).
Certainly everyone who had visited the hotel had been loud in their praises of the hotel, of the accommodation and of the manageress— (applause). Nothing too good could be said in praise of Miss Williams.
The Secretary (Mr. Silvanus Trevail, C.C.) said he had the pleasing duty of proposing a vote of thanks to their excellent manageress, Miss Williams, for the way in which the house had been conducted. He was perfectly satisfied they had a manageress second to none in the county. He thought that was amply proved by the success that house had already attained, for they must not disregard the fact that however good the position of the house, unless it had been well managed they would not have had such a success— (applause)
It was a great pleasure to him to recognise that a great measure of their success was due to Miss Williams— a lady who thoroughly understood her business. The fact that she came from Bournemouth, one of the most fashionable seaside places in England, proved that she had had a splendid training, the result of which they had had put before them that day.
Mr Gatley seconded..... Miss Williams was a lady worthy in every respect of the confidence the chairman placed in her. Although she came here a perfect stranger, and the hotel was at that time in an unfinished state, the result of her labours bad been shown by the balance-sheet presented that day. He hoped and trusted that for many years they would retain her services, and that they would practically show their sympathy in her efforts on behalf of the hotel by spending a few weeks, or, at all events, a few days, there.
.....The coffee room especially will be a magnificent apartment in dimension, proportions, and situation, and with its deep set bays will adapt itself most conveniently to the modern idea of small separate tables for private parties, in addition to the set table d'hote, whilst the service will be direct from the service pantry and kitchens without crossing the visitors' entrances or corridors.
Above the ground floor there will be three floors of bedrooms, sitting-rooms, dressing-rooms, bath- rooms, etc., with the necessary service rooms, comprising in all upwards of 100 apartments. Varying in dimensions from 22 feet by 18 feet to 14 feet by 12 feet, according to situation and the purposes for which they will be required respectively......
Today's readers will be thrilled to learn that with over 100 apartments across three floors.....
There will be two bathrooms on each floor, with hot and cold water laid on. The sanitary provisions have been the subject of very careful consideration, so that the building when completed will compare favourably in these matters with such well-known houses as tbe Hotels Metropole of London or Brighton.
Towards the inner areas in the roofs will be a large water tank accommodation, supplied from the town mains, in which will be stored upwards of 5,000 gallons for the use of the elevator, and in case of emergency fire mains will connect each floor with patent valves, hoses, nozzles, and connections, for immediate service.
The site is on the property of Mr. Charles E. Treffry, (He of the Treffry Viaduct mentioned above) who has met the directors of the Hotel Company in the most liberal manner by granting a lease for 999 years on most advantageous terms. The architect is Mr. Trevail, of Truro, who is personally superintending the work, and the contractors are Messrs. Thomas Lang and Sons, of Liskeard, who are pressing on most vigorously, and intend to have all ready for the reception of , visitors during the season of 1892.
Later in the day of our trip to Newquay we were looking for somewhere to eat near our hotel, when we spotted this, the former railway hotel, opposite the railway station. On closer inspection it seemed to have a blue plaque. I always make a point of reading blue plaques.
What a surprise? Two Silvanus Trevail buildings in one day. Lunch in one and supper in the other.
In December 1877, the local newspaper reported that the owner, had commenced building the hotel, near Newquay railway station.
In January 1879 the hotel was completed and it officially opened on 7 April 1879. It was the first in a string of hotels designed to appeal to the renewed interest in Cornwall as a winter resort for the middle classes. In 1931 the original modest two storey gabled building was altered beyond recognition to the current symmetrical art-deco style building. The Hotel is recognised as a historic building and is recorded on The Historic Environment Record of Cornwall.
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