The first phase of this Grade II listed red brick and terracotta building was designed for the Refuge Assurance Company by Alfred Waterhouse and built 1891–1895. The inside of this building is dripping with glazed brick and has an amazing grand entrance.
It was extended, with a striking 217-foot tower by his son Paul Waterhouse in 1910–1912. It was further extended by Stanley Birkett in 1932.
The Refuge Assurance Company occupied the building until 1987 and in 1996 it was converted to a hotel by Richard Newman. It is now the Palace Hotel, owned and operated by the Principal Hayley Group.
The building is amazing inside but our goal was the clocktower. Following some instruction from Nick to "act posh" we were in. WIN.
Visited with Nickuk and a few others, fun was had by all.
Thanks to Adders for the lens
Credit to ManchesterHistory for the first image
Up these stairs is a room at the top of the tower which houses two huge cctv camera's watching over the town, i learned two things up there....Nick doesn't like pigeons and they don't like him
Thanks for looking
It was extended, with a striking 217-foot tower by his son Paul Waterhouse in 1910–1912. It was further extended by Stanley Birkett in 1932.
The Refuge Assurance Company occupied the building until 1987 and in 1996 it was converted to a hotel by Richard Newman. It is now the Palace Hotel, owned and operated by the Principal Hayley Group.
The building is amazing inside but our goal was the clocktower. Following some instruction from Nick to "act posh" we were in. WIN.
Visited with Nickuk and a few others, fun was had by all.
Thanks to Adders for the lens
Credit to ManchesterHistory for the first image
Up these stairs is a room at the top of the tower which houses two huge cctv camera's watching over the town, i learned two things up there....Nick doesn't like pigeons and they don't like him
Thanks for looking
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