History
The Palace Hotel is a "grade II listed red brick and terracotta building" built in 1895. It was previously known as the Refuge building, where a life insurance and pensions company was based. It was supposedly built with a Gothic approach in mind, decorated with marble interiors and the construction of the clock tower (which stands at 217 ft/ 66 m). In ten years the Refuge Building was a city landmark due to its extravagant architecture. 2 others where built adjacent to the original refuge building.
The original building closed down in 1989, and bought by the PH hotels. Soon the 2 other were bought to provide a posh looking 252 room combined hotel.
The Explore
@aaron_croft_98 and I decided to try out the Palace Hotel tower after failing a few crane climbs. It panned out slowly, as we scouted for potential access point before deciding to go for an elusive way. Not only was there a hard start, but we almost walked right into a bunch of porters having a smoke outside.
Views
Trying to find a way into the tower was like an illusion. I spent quite some time trying to figure out where to go when the solution was right in front of me.
The staircase curving towards the clock room. The only thing slowing us down now was the flock of aggressive pigeons. But we finally made it.
The room was plain yet mechanically fascinating.
The Victorian engineering seemed untouched since it was built, with simple looking gears that controlled 4 of the clocks.
Picturesque city lights lighting up the tower above the clock room.
The top-most room was not worth the effort of battling pigeons and slipping on blackish grease. 2 sinister cameras watched either side of Oxford street.
Whatever the trouble, it was fateful for success without any reconnaissance.
The Palace Hotel is a "grade II listed red brick and terracotta building" built in 1895. It was previously known as the Refuge building, where a life insurance and pensions company was based. It was supposedly built with a Gothic approach in mind, decorated with marble interiors and the construction of the clock tower (which stands at 217 ft/ 66 m). In ten years the Refuge Building was a city landmark due to its extravagant architecture. 2 others where built adjacent to the original refuge building.
The original building closed down in 1989, and bought by the PH hotels. Soon the 2 other were bought to provide a posh looking 252 room combined hotel.
The Explore
@aaron_croft_98 and I decided to try out the Palace Hotel tower after failing a few crane climbs. It panned out slowly, as we scouted for potential access point before deciding to go for an elusive way. Not only was there a hard start, but we almost walked right into a bunch of porters having a smoke outside.
Views
Trying to find a way into the tower was like an illusion. I spent quite some time trying to figure out where to go when the solution was right in front of me.
The staircase curving towards the clock room. The only thing slowing us down now was the flock of aggressive pigeons. But we finally made it.
The room was plain yet mechanically fascinating.
The Victorian engineering seemed untouched since it was built, with simple looking gears that controlled 4 of the clocks.
Picturesque city lights lighting up the tower above the clock room.
The top-most room was not worth the effort of battling pigeons and slipping on blackish grease. 2 sinister cameras watched either side of Oxford street.
Whatever the trouble, it was fateful for success without any reconnaissance.
