THIS year marks the 130th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of Bournemouth's historic Langtry Manor Hotel that was to be used as a romantic retreat for the Prince of Wales and his mistress Lily Langtry.

Lillie Langtry was born in Jersey on October 13, 1853, to the Very Rev William Corbet Le Breton and his wife Emilie.

She was christened Emilie Charlotte, a welcome daughter to a family of six sons with whom she enjoyed tomboy pursuits and riding bareback on the beaches of Jersey. Being with her brothers provided her with the toughness of spirit that saw her through her adventurous life.

Lillie married Edward Langtry and moved to live with him in his substantial Southampton home.

But the marriage was not as successful as she hoped and when she became ill with typhoid fever her doctor helped her to persuade her husband that her recovery would be speeded up by going to London.

Her style, beauty and personality made her a sought-after guest among the higher echelons of society and she became an artists' model, inspirer of poetry and plays, society hostess and mistress to the Prince of Wales (later to become King Edward V11).

The Prince decided he wanted to enjoy privacy with his mistress so he bought a plot of land in a secluded area of Bournemouth's East Cliff and asked her to design a home for them.

The first brick was laid in 1877 and the foundation stone marked ELL (Emilie LeBreton Langtry) and 1877. The building was her pride and joy and she named the property the Red House (now Langry Manor Hotel).

She and Bertie were very happy in the home she had made for them whenever they could get away.

On the outside wall of the King's room is the motto Dulce Domum (Sweet Home) and on the other side of the building Stet Fortuna Domus (may fortune attend those who dwell here).

The building was converted for use as a hotel in 1939 and taken over in 1978 by the present owner, Mrs Pamela Howard, now the chairwoman of the Langtry Manor Hotel and Langtry's Restaurant. Her daughter Tara is the hotel's managing director.