Bust

Grosvenor Hotel - head 05

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 05

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Nash at Church of All Souls

Nash at Church of All Souls

W1, Langham Place

This simple spire was heavily criticised in its day, even sparking a Parliamentary debate.

2 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Hyde Park Barracks - Somerset and Raglan

Hyde Park Barracks - Somerset and Raglan

SW7, Kengsinton Road, Hyde Park Barracks - Officers' Mess

These two must be Somerset and Raglan but which is which we can't tell you.

2 subjects commemorated
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...

Royal Arcade - Victoria

Royal Arcade - Victoria

W1, Old Bond Street, 28

This arcade has two addresses, one at each end: 28 Old Bond Street and 12 Albermarle Street. The decorative facade, including the relief ...

1 subject commemorated
Canon Mortlock

Canon Mortlock

EC2, Foster Lane, church courtyard

Ipernity informs that this was set up as a memorial of Canon Mortlock, a head carved in 1936, long before his death in 1967, by Epstein.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy

Novelist and poet, best known for his novels set in rural 'Wessex' such as Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Far from the Madding Crowd. Born Upper Bockhampton, Dorset. Before turning to writing full-t...

Person, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous

3 memorials
Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Composer. Born at the vicarage in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. Entered the Royal College of Music in 1890, where he studied alongside Hubert Parry. He went on to study in Berlin and Paris. Under t...

Person, Music / songs, France, Germany

2 memorials
Béla Bartók

Béla Bartók

SW7, Sydney Place, 7

Plaque unveiled by David Mellor and Felix Aprahamian.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator