Bust

Grosvenor Hotel - head 01

Erection date: 1862

Site: Grosvenor Hotel - 14 heads (14 memorials)

SW1, Buckingham Palace Road, Grosvenor Hotel

This 1860 building, by architect James Knowles Snr, is studded with many portrait busts of which we believe only these 14 are representations of particular individuals. Given their facial features and rather exaggerated head-gear the others seem more to represent types: racial, or national, etc.  The 14 are on the central section of the Buckingham Palace Road elevation, facing to the right in our photo, in the first floor window spandrels.

However we have failed to identify most of these heads. Victoria was easy and she gave us Albert, on her left, but the 6 on each side are tough. The costumes help - a few indicating military men, and the togas presumably indicating politicians but the two with loose-collared shirts - artists? We wonder, did the Victorian populace of the 1860s enjoy this 'spot the celebrity' game? If you have an eye for faces please have a go and let us know who you find.

2018: Via a lead we've nominated one of the heads as Palmerston. 3 down, only 11 to go.

2023: We've noticed that the south elevation which is barely visible also has some roundels, certainly at the fourth floor. We can't see the first floor at all but that could also have some heads. Perhaps when the hotel was first erected this elevation was more visible. Since those on the north elevation are generic, we trust these are too.

One of the more interesting visitors to this hotel was Emile Zola.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Grosvenor Hotel - head 01

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

Caxton Hall - head 1 - Milton

SW1, Caxton Street, 10, Caxton Hall

But look at head 8 too, that's also a candidate for Milton.

1 subject commemorated
A3 - Michelangelo

A3 - Michelangelo

W2, Westbourne Grove, 26, HBA

The Bayswater Athenaeum was built in 1863 by architect Arthur Billing of Newman and Billing. The name was originally inscribed in the pan...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Greenwich roundels - Cook

Greenwich roundels - Cook

SE10, King William Walk, Discover Greenwich (Royal Naval College, Pepys Building)

The roundels on the north, river-facing, frontage are occupied by, left to right: Anson, Drake, Cook, Howard, Blake, Benbow, Sandwich, Ro...

1 subject commemorated
07 Croydon - Walter Scott

07 Croydon - Walter Scott

CR9, Katharine Street, Croydon Public Library

Built in 1892 by Charles Henman Jr. this heavily decorated group of buildings makes up Croydon's Municipal buildings complex. The buildin...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Bloomsbury House - John Milton

Bloomsbury House - John Milton

WC1, Bloomsbury Square, 2-3

Bloomsbury House was built in 1887 for the College of Preceptors.  Designed by by F. Pinches it is Listed Grade 1.  The College, now call...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin

Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in East Street, Walworth (possibly, see Londonist). Comic actor, composer, director and producer.  Born into a music hall family. He joined a troupe of child dancers, '...

Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Switzerland, USA

13 memorials