of the original purchasers of some of the plots in Albion Place. James Townley had gone on to purchase the green in front of Albion Place in 1803. This was sold in 1839 at the time of Mary Townley's death. Mary Townley, née Gostling, was one of England's earliest female architects. She came from a well-established family in Twickenham. The Archbishop of Canterbury occupied the house in the summer of 1810 arriving there in the August. At the end of June 1821 a Dr Andrews, doctor to the prominent banker, Mr Coutts, committed suicide whilst staying at Albion House when in Ramsgate to visit a friend. In March 1834 the property was let for three months to the Earl and Countess of Munster. The Earl was the eldest natural son of King William IV by his mistress. The Duchess of Kent with her daughter Princess Victoria, later Queen Victoria, stayed at Albion House for several months in 1835. Mary Townley owned Albion House until her death in 1839. At this point the property was put up for sale at auction along with a number of other properties owned by the Townley family. The house continued to be let as a holiday home to members of the gentry. In 1838 the Duke of Newcastle stayed there for the season. He returned again in 1846. The house was still being advertised to let in 1850 but after this time it appears that there was a change of use to a men's social club. There are plans of a billiard room originally dated March 1837 with accompanying description as to the works to be carried out but they do not appear to have been signed off until 1851. There is no mention of it in the sales particular of 1839 so it seems the plans were drawn up but not acted on until after its sale. It is described as Albion Club House, Albion Place. Mary Townley's death coincided with Ramsgate becoming a less fashionable resort to stay in for the aristocracy and gentry. "The smarter resorts on the south coast began to lose their aristocratic tone in the 1840s and 1850s, when they were discovered by middle-class Londoners. Towards the end of the century Charles Booth found a growing number of Londoners, especially clerks, policemen, shopworkers and local government employees, who had a week's or even a fortnight's paid holiday, and were