Bust

Grosvenor Hotel - head 07 - Queen Victoria

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 subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Grosvenor Hotel - head 07 - Queen Victoria

Subjects commemorated i

Queen Victoria

Reigned: 1837-1901, 64 years. Born Kensington Palace. Daughter of Edward, Duk...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Grosvenor Hotel - head 07 - Queen Victoria

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

193 Fleet Street - 7 - Bologna

193 Fleet Street - 7 - Bologna

EC4, Fleet Street, 193

Building erected in 1883 by George Attenborough for his jewellery and pawn-broking business, Attenborough and Sons. Architects: Archer an...

1 subject commemorated
Louisa Brandreth Aldrich-Blake

Louisa Brandreth Aldrich-Blake

WC1, Tavistock Square Gardens

There are actually 2 busts (identical we think): one facing into the square and one facing out on the traffic.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
Robert Peel - Embankment

Robert Peel - Embankment

SW1, Victoria Embankment, New Scotland Yard

The Peelian principles summarise the ideas that Sir Robert Peel developed to define an ethical police force. The approach expressed in th...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Spencer Perceval bust - Pitzhangar

Spencer Perceval bust - Pitzhangar

W5, Mattock Lane, Pitzhanger Manor

Unusually neither of the memorials is visible in our photo of the location, but we hope you agree that the house is worthy of a picture f...

1 subject commemorated
King George V - Bexleyheath bust

King George V - Bexleyheath bust

DA6, Bexleyheath Market Place

The original temporary plaster bust was unveiled at the tower's opening ceremony in 1912, but during the 1930s it started to disintegrate...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

William Vincent

William Vincent

Schoolar and theologian. Born Limehouse. Educated at Westminster School. Headmaster of Westminster School 1788-1802. Dean of Westminster 1803-15. Responsible for enclosing what is now Vincent Squar...

Person, Benefactor, Education, Religion

1 memorial
Firefighters Memorial Trust

Firefighters Memorial Trust

Originally established as 'The Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust Fund’ in a Deed dated 21st March 1991, it sought to commemorate the lives of those members of the Fire Service who were killed ...

Group, Emergency Services, History

1 memorial
Pembroke Park

Pembroke Park

HA4, Ellis Close

Pembroke Park Pembroke Park takes its name from the World War II base HMS Pembroke V. From 1943 to 1945 it was an outstation of the Gover...

3 subjects commemorated, 3 creators
Sidney Godley

Sidney Godley

Soldier. Born Sidney Frank Godley in East Grinstead, West Sussex. Fought with the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. He was awarded the first Victoria Cross of WW1, and was also the first private sold...

Person, Armed Forces, Belgium

2 memorials
National Secular Society

National Secular Society

Campaign promoting secularism and the separation of church and state. Founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866. Member of Humanists International.

Group, Religion

1 memorial