Lee Tower Art Deco Complex Opened (26 December 1935)
1935
Lee Tower, an iconic Art Deco complex, opened on 26 December 1935 on the seafront immediately adjacent to the old pier and railway station. Designed by the renowned architectural partnership Yates, Cook and Derbyshire, the striking white V-shaped building represented the apogee of Art Deco design and construction technique. The complex reached 120 feet at its peak, creating a distinctive landmark visible for considerable distance across the Solent. The building incorporated an 845-seat cinema with a dramatic 45-foot proscenium arch, a spacious ballroom for evening entertainment, a restaurant with full catering facilities, and a public viewing platform at the tower's peak offering panoramic views across the Solent. The cinema's opening film was "Marry the Girl" featuring comedian Sonny Hale and supporting players, selected to attract opening day crowds. The complex immediately became the focal point of the resort's entertainment infrastructure, combining modernist design sensibilities with comprehensive entertainment, dining, and recreational facilities under a single roof. The building's distinctive V-shaped design created dramatic visual impact and provided flexible internal spaces for multiple functions. The viewing platform at the tower's peak became a major attraction, with visitors willing to pay for access to enjoy panoramic vistas across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The cinema became the principal entertainment venue for the resort's visitors and residents, with changing programmes ensuring repeat visits. The ballroom hosted orchestral performances, dances, and formal entertainments that attracted substantial crowds. The restaurant provided casual dining and more formal dining facilities, accommodating tourists and local residents alike. Lee Tower represented the culmination of Lee-on-the-Solent's development as a fashionable resort destination, combining entertainment, dining, and recreation in a modernist architectural statement. The complex demonstrated the resort's commercial vitality and aspirations to compete with major rival destinations. The Art Deco movement was at its zenith in the mid-1930s, and Lee Tower represented genuine architectural achievement and commercial confidence.
Context
The 1930s Art Deco movement embraced modernist design principles, and seaside resorts across Britain invested in distinctive entertainment complexes to compete for leisure spending. Other major resorts had constructed comparable entertainment facilities, and Lee-on-the-Solent's development of Lee Tower demonstrated the town's commitment to remaining competitive. The complex represented substantial capital investment during a period of economic recovery following the Great Depression.
Impact
Lee Tower became the symbolic centrepiece of the resort's entertainment infrastructure, drawing thousands of visitors annually. The complex remained in operation until World War II requisition by military authorities, after which it was damaged during bombing raids and eventually demolished in 1971.