The Grand Staircase - Midland Grand Hotel (Rennaissance Hotel), London (From Below)
The Grand Staircase. London, England. If you’ve seen the video for The Spice Girls’ “#Wannabe” (or perhaps the “Batman Begins” movie) you might recognise this staircase which is in the Midland Grand Hotel (now the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel). The hotel was opened between 1872 and 1876 and was the very definition of #Victorian gothic opulence. The Grand Staircase is truly magnificent, designed to be wide enough to allow two ladies (in bustles) to pass each other without touching. And it isn’t only the size that impresses, it’s the decorative features too. For example, the wrought iron balusters (which were usually hidden from view at that time) are high London, England. If you’ve seen the video for The Spice Girls’ “#Wannabe” (or perhaps the “Batman Begins” movie) you might recognise this staircase which is in the Midland Grand Hotel (now the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel). The hotel was opened between 1872 and 1876 and was the very definition of #Victorian gothic opulence. The Grand Staircase is truly magnificent, designed to be wide enough to allow two ladies (in bustles) to pass each other without touching. And it isn’t only the size that impresses, it’s the decorative features too. For example, the wrought iron balusters (which were usually hidden from view at that time) are highly prominent and testament to the craftsmanship of #Skidmore of Coventry. The stenciling at the top the staircase is especially notable, depicting eight virtues (four on each side) rather than the traditional seven – humility, liberality, chastity, temperance, truth, patience, charity and industry. The hotel closed in 1935 and was used as British Rail offices until 1985 when it was shamefully abandoned. Thankfully, in 1996 redevelopment began and although the hotel wasn’t open to the public, it was in constant renovation and extensively used as a film location. It reopened in 2011 and is a wonderful place to visit, if only for a coffee before catching the #Eurostar to the Continent.
Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: St. Pancras (Renaissance) Hotel, London
Photo credit: © AdvancedPhotons / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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