Founded by Sir Merton (1835-1921) and Lady (1835-1920)
Russell-Cotes at the turn of the twentieth century, the house is a rare
survivor as the residence of a Victorian private collector. It was
purpose-built and continues as a permanent art museum. The Art Journal
acknowledged that “Mr Russell-Cotes has devoted considerable time to
the bringing together of probably the most notable collection of modern
works of Art in the extreme south of England.” (1895, Art Journal, London: J.S Virtue & Co. Ltd., 83)
Originally from Tettenhall in Staffordshire, Merton Cotes
came from a middle-class family. He hyphenated his middle and last names
to signify a claimed link with Lord Russell, the Duke of Bedford. It
was his move to Glasgow and his friendship with John King Clark, which
introduced him to literary and artistic circles. It is from these days
that we can trace his interest in art and collecting paintings that
became his lifelong passion. King Clark also introduced him to his only
daughter, Annie Nelson Clark.
In 1860, he married Annie and they moved to Dublin, where
he worked for the Scottish Amicable Society for 16 years. Merton
struggled with poor health and, as a result, the couple moved to
Bournemouth in 1876 with their three children. They bought the Bath
Hotel on Christmas Day 1876 and later extended and extensively
refurbished it, re-opening it as the Royal Bath Hotel in 1880.
From 1884, the couple travelled extensively visiting
Australasia, America, India, the Near East, Egypt, the Pacific Islands
and Japan, collecting artwork and souvenirs. The resulting collections
were displayed throughout the hotel’s public and private rooms, which
gained a reputation for being an art gallery and museum. Many famous
guests stayed at the hotel including the Prince of Wales (later Edward
VII), Oscar Wilde, actor Sir Henry Irving, artist, Sir Hubert Von
Herkomer and Sir Benjamin Disraeli.
Eventually the collections outgrew the hotel and in 1897,
the couple commissioned the unique and eccentric East Cliff Hall. It was
intended as a home, but also as a showcase for their sizeable
collections of Victorian art and artefacts amassed on their world
travels. Merton wrote: “I made up my mind to construct it architecturally to combine the Renaissance with Italian and old Scottish baronial styles”.
The house (now a Grade II* Listed Building) reflects
Moorish, Japanese and French decorative styles alongside contemporary
Victorian design. The interiors provide a context for their extensive
collections of artefacts, furnishings, sculpture and paintings.
Completed in 1901, East Cliff Hall was one of the last Victorian villas
to be built in the town.
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