Bust

Grosvenor Hotel - head 14

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 14

Also at this site i

Nearby Memorials

Cunningham bust

Cunningham bust

WC2, Trafalgar Square

Unveiled by Prince Philip in 1967. Inside the bust there is a ½ pint Guinness bottle and a note written by Belsky. The Guinness was, it i...

1 subject commemorated, 3 creators
Caxton Hall - head 8 - unidentified

Caxton Hall - head 8 - unidentified

SW1, Caxton Street, 10, Caxton Hall

The foundation stone is low down at the right hand side of the building. Above each of the two statues is a bust, both of the Greek god v...

Charles I bust at St Margarets

Charles I bust at St Margarets

SW1, St Margaret Street, St Margarets Church

This is one of a pair, See Charles I beheaded for more information. IanVisits pours cold water on the myth that nearby Cromwell's eyes a...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
William Hogarth bust

William Hogarth bust

WC2, Leicester Square

There used to be a plaque to Hogarth somewhere in Leicester Square. Londonist found this lost plaque. All four of the Leicester Square b...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

193 Fleet Street - 5 - Michelangelo

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