Crown House, St Leonards-on-Sea

Crown House
West Villa Victoria House
Crown House pictured in June 2015
Location	57 Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex TN38 0BE
Coordinates	50°51′03″N 0°33′09″E / 50.8509°N 0.5525°E / 50.8509; 0.5525
Founder	James Burton
Built	1828
Original use	Private house for James Burton
Restored	1951–52
Current use	Private house
Architect	James Burton
Architectural style(s)	Classical
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	Crown House, 57 Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea
Designated	19 January 1951
Reference no.	1043436
Location of Crown House in East Sussex

Crown House (formerly known as West Villa^[1] and Victoria House) is a residential building on the seafront of St Leonards-on-Sea, a 19th-century planned seaside resort on the coast of East Sussex, England. It was the first building completed in the town, which was planned and laid out by architect and property developer James Burton, and he used it as his own house. Intended as "a high-class watering place by the sea, along the best lines [and] for the best people",^[2] St Leonards-on-Sea was overshadowed by its larger neighbour Hastings and was merged into that town before the end of the 19th century, but Burton's venture was initially successful—particularly after a Royal visit in 1834–35 when the Duchess of Kent and the future Queen Victoria stayed at Crown House throughout the winter.

The house, an "elegant" three-bay villa in the Classical style, survived wartime damage and the threat of demolition, and was restored in 1951–52. It spent about 60 years in commercial use before reverting to residential use c. 2013. It is listed as Grade II* for its architectural and historical importance, and lies within one of Hastings Borough Council's designated conservation areas.