Famous people who have lived in Hythe

A note to all budding novelists or inventors…our town may offer the creative stimulation you need for success! Looking back through history, a number of famous authors and inventors have spent some of their lives in Hythe…could it be something in the air that led to such great achievements?

H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

Although not officially in Hythe, H.G. Wells (often regarded as the father of modern science fiction) lived in Sandgate between 1890 and 1910, building Spade House in 1901 largely from the royalties received from perhaps his most famous work, “War of the Worlds”.
He wrote several of his best known novels during his time here including; “Kipps”, “Tonobungay” & “Ann Veronica”. One of his more obscure works, “The Sea Lady” begins with a scene on Sandgate beach.
Many other renowned writers of the period were regularly entertained at Spade House; George Bernard Shaw, Henry James and Sir James Barrie of Peter Pan fame for example. It has even been said that Wells’ time here made Sandgate the hub of the literary world.

Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973)

Bowen was an Anglo-Irish novelist and writer of short stories including; “The Hotel”, “A World of Love” and “The Demon Lover & Other Stories”. Her work focussed on themes of innocence and betrayal and the secrecies beneath veneers of respectability.
Born in Dublin, her mother took her to England in 1907 after her father suffered a mental breakdown and they eventually settled in Hythe. Bowen spent five years in the town until her mother died in 1912, after which she was shuttled between England and Ireland, cared for by a number of different Aunts.
She led an interesting and varied life that was notably permeated by numerous extra-marital affairs. She returned to Hythe in later life where she died of cancer aged 73.

Lionel Lukin (1742-1834)

The invention of the lifeboat has been attributed to Lukin.

Although born in Essex, Lukin spent some of the latter part of his life in Hythe having built a reputation as a successful and well-respected coach builder and inventor. After experimenting with vessels that had been developed in France, he produced his own conversion of a Norway Yawl which he tested out on the Thames. After personal encouragement from the Prince Regent, Lukin took out a patent on his prototype in 1785.
He died in Hythe in 1834 and was buried in Hythe Parish Churchyard. The inscription on his tombstone reads; “This Lionel Luskin was the first who built a life-boat and was the original inventor of that principal of safety by which many lives & property have been preserved from shipwreck”.

Sir Francis Pettit (1812-1874)

Pettit lived at 31 High Street and was responsible for inventing the screw propeller in 1836.
He was born and raised in the town and a plaque in his memory can be seen above what is now Paydens Chemist.
Seafaring captured the interest of the young Pettit and he was a skilled boat builder with a particular fascination on means of propulsion. He became convinced that the method of a screw driven by a spring revolving underwater was superior to that of the paddle wheel that was currently used. He patented his invention in 1836.
Following this, he successfully persuaded Isambard Kingdom Brunel to change his design of the S.S. Great Britain from paddle to screw propulsion.

Tagged as: Elizabeth Bowen, H.G. Wells