Bust

Grosvenor Hotel - head 02 - Palmerston

Erection date: 1862

2018: Via Facebook (on head 3 page) Jackie Hoare directed us to the Telegraph article which mentions Palmerston as one of these heads. This one looks the most likely.

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.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Grosvenor Hotel - head 02 - Palmerston

Subjects commemorated i

Lord Palmerston

Born 4 Park Street (which is now 20 Queen Anne's Gate) as Henry John Temple. ...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Grosvenor Hotel - head 02 - Palmerston

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Grosvenor Hotel - head 14

Grosvenor Hotel - head 14

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 representat...

Shakespeare at Holborn Town Hall

Shakespeare at Holborn Town Hall

WC1, High Holborn, former Holborn Town Hall, 193-7

Above the entrance on the left "Public Library" and in the stone decorations: "1908" and "HBC" for Holborn Borough Council.  Details on t...

1 subject commemorated
05 Croydon - John Locke

05 Croydon - John Locke

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
Bermondsey Library - 4 - Milton

Bermondsey Library - 4 - Milton

SE16, Spa Road, Old Bermondsey Library / Kagyu Samye Dzong Buddhist centre

The busts are on the keystones of the library first floor window arches, numbered left to right.  Ornamental Passions has posted about th...

1 subject commemorated
Sanctuary - head on left - Victoria

Sanctuary - head on left - Victoria

SW1, Broad Sanctuary, The Sanctuary, 1-8 Broad Sanctuary

The building is Grade II listed, a terrace of Bath stone buildings incorporating gateway to Dean's Yard. 1853-54 by Sir George Gilbert Sc...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Sir Ralph Edgar Perring
2 memorials