Hi folks,
First report(ish) for me. I was working an event in the Palace Hotel Manchester, formerly the Refuge Assurance building and I did a little snooping in my break to take some pictures of rooms and places which don't get seen buy guests.
I've posted pictures and a link to the Wikipedia page, if that's not enough I'll do some digging and see if I can come up with more history.
The only info I know other than what's on Wikipedia is apparently when the hotel chain took this building over, they didn't know the Grand Room existed. Legend has it that they were renovating and a builder knocked down part of a wall and discovered this cavernous room, untouched since the early 1900's.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_Assurance_Building
The stage in the Grand Room
A few pics of above the stage on the gantry, the original rheostat lighting system lies destroyed
Early flying system
The safe room. These are the original wooden clad safes the Refuge Assurance company used.
Level 2 corridor, the ceramic tile throughout this building is beautiful.
Level 2 stairs, I think these are the 'haunted' ones
These next few are of the directors suite, it's a conference room so won't be open to the public. It's wooden clad and the fireplaces are wonderful. First pic is of a window lock, still works, made from brass as far as I can see. These are original and all over the hotel.
Apologies for potato quality, they were taken on my phone. Next post will be better.
Hope you enjoyed!
First report(ish) for me. I was working an event in the Palace Hotel Manchester, formerly the Refuge Assurance building and I did a little snooping in my break to take some pictures of rooms and places which don't get seen buy guests.
I've posted pictures and a link to the Wikipedia page, if that's not enough I'll do some digging and see if I can come up with more history.
The only info I know other than what's on Wikipedia is apparently when the hotel chain took this building over, they didn't know the Grand Room existed. Legend has it that they were renovating and a builder knocked down part of a wall and discovered this cavernous room, untouched since the early 1900's.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_Assurance_Building
The stage in the Grand Room
A few pics of above the stage on the gantry, the original rheostat lighting system lies destroyed
Early flying system
The safe room. These are the original wooden clad safes the Refuge Assurance company used.
Level 2 corridor, the ceramic tile throughout this building is beautiful.
Level 2 stairs, I think these are the 'haunted' ones
These next few are of the directors suite, it's a conference room so won't be open to the public. It's wooden clad and the fireplaces are wonderful. First pic is of a window lock, still works, made from brass as far as I can see. These are original and all over the hotel.
Apologies for potato quality, they were taken on my phone. Next post will be better.
Hope you enjoyed!
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. Also last time I checked it was locked but as you know things can change overnight.
