Midland Hotel (Morecambe)
Encyclopedia
The Midland Hotel is a famous Streamline Moderne
building in Morecambe
, in Lancashire
, England
. It was built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS), in 1933, to the designs of architect Oliver Hill
, with sculpture by Eric Gill
. It is a Grade II* listed building. The hotel has been completely restored by Urban Splash
with architects Union North
, Northwest Regional Development Agency
and Lancaster
City Council.
in Morecambe that was built in 1848 by the "little" North Western Railway and had been renamed the Midland Hotel in 1871 when the Midland Railway
took over the North Western Railway; and a supplementary hotel at Heysham
, called the Heysham Towers, which was converted from a private house in 1896. The Heysham Towers was intended to serve railway steamer traffic from Heysham Harbour to Belfast
; but it was not a success and was sold in 1919.
In 1932, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS) bought land from Morecambe Corporation
to build the new 40-bedroom Midland Hotel to replace the old Midland Hotel. It opened in July 1933.
branch of Art Deco. Oliver Hill
designed a three storey curving building, with features such as a central circular tower containing the entrance and a spiral staircase, and a circular cafe at the north end. The front of the hotel also boasts two Art Deco seahorses, which can be viewed at close detail by access to the restored hotel's new rooftop terrace.
The hotel stands on the seafront with the convex side facing the sea, while the concave side faces the railway station - in homage to the railway company whose showcase hotel this was. Hill designed the hotel to complement the curve of the promenade, which also allowed guests to view spectacular panoramas of the north west coast.
. The navy used it until September 1947; paying £1,900 rent per year.
Upon Nationalisation
of the railways, ownership transferred on 1 January 1948 to the British Transport Commission
(BTC), coming under the control of the BTC's Railway Executive; however on the 1 July 1948, along with the other railway hotels, ownership was transferred to the BTC's Hotels Executive. It was sold by the Hotels Executive in 1952.
acted as architects to Urban Splash
for the refurbishment and expansion of the Midland hotel commencing in 2006. It opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2008.
In April 2009 Urban Splash announced a new partnership that would see English Lakes Hotels manage the Midland Hotel in Morecambe from 8 April 2009. Further developments on the nearby Central Promenade are planned by Urban Splash.
, starring David Suchet
, in 1989, most notably in the episode 'Double Sin'. During this episode the actual name of the hotel is referred to by one of the main characters of the detective series - Captain Hastings.
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
building in Morecambe
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
, in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS), in 1933, to the designs of architect Oliver Hill
Oliver Hill (architect)
Oliver Hill was an English architect, landscape architect, and garden designer. Oliver Hill was apprenticed to a builder and then to an architect. Oliver Hill's early garden designs were in the Arts and Crafts style but he turned towards modernism in the 1930s, favouring curved lines...
, with sculpture by Eric Gill
Eric Gill
Arthur Eric Rowton Gill was a British sculptor, typeface designer, stonecutter and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement...
. It is a Grade II* listed building. The hotel has been completely restored by Urban Splash
Urban Splash
Urban Splash is a British company which regenerates decaying industrial warehouses, mills, Victorian terraced houses and other buildings. These buildings have mainly been converted into housing...
with architects Union North
Union North
-Midland Hotel :The Midland Hotel is an example of Art Deco architecture in the UK. Union North acted as architects for the restoration and refurbishment of the hotel. The project was notable as being part of wider measures to regenerate Morecambe....
, Northwest Regional Development Agency
Northwest Regional Development Agency
The Northwest Regional Development Agency is the regional development agency for the North West England region and is a non-departmental public body.....
and Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
City Council.
Construction
The Midland Hotel was built to replace two earlier hotels: the North Western HotelNorth Western Hotel, Morecambe
The North Western Hotel in Morecambe, Lancashire, England, was built in 1847–48. It was designed by the Lancaster architects Paley and Austin for the "Little" North Western Railway. Including furnishings, it cost £4,795 . It was a two-storey building containing 40 bedrooms...
in Morecambe that was built in 1848 by the "little" North Western Railway and had been renamed the Midland Hotel in 1871 when the Midland Railway
Midland Railway
The Midland Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844 to 1922, when it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway....
took over the North Western Railway; and a supplementary hotel at Heysham
Heysham
Heysham is a large coastal village near Lancaster in the county of Lancashire, England. Overlooking Morecambe Bay, it is a ferry port with services to the Isle of Man and Ireland. Heysham is the site of two nuclear power stations which are landmarks visible from hills in the surrounding area...
, called the Heysham Towers, which was converted from a private house in 1896. The Heysham Towers was intended to serve railway steamer traffic from Heysham Harbour to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
; but it was not a success and was sold in 1919.
In 1932, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
(LMS) bought land from Morecambe Corporation
Morecambe
Morecambe is a resort town and civil parish within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. As of 2001 it has a resident population of 38,917. It faces into Morecambe Bay...
to build the new 40-bedroom Midland Hotel to replace the old Midland Hotel. It opened in July 1933.
The design
The building owes a lot to the Streamline ModerneStreamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
branch of Art Deco. Oliver Hill
Oliver Hill (architect)
Oliver Hill was an English architect, landscape architect, and garden designer. Oliver Hill was apprenticed to a builder and then to an architect. Oliver Hill's early garden designs were in the Arts and Crafts style but he turned towards modernism in the 1930s, favouring curved lines...
designed a three storey curving building, with features such as a central circular tower containing the entrance and a spiral staircase, and a circular cafe at the north end. The front of the hotel also boasts two Art Deco seahorses, which can be viewed at close detail by access to the restored hotel's new rooftop terrace.
The hotel stands on the seafront with the convex side facing the sea, while the concave side faces the railway station - in homage to the railway company whose showcase hotel this was. Hill designed the hotel to complement the curve of the promenade, which also allowed guests to view spectacular panoramas of the north west coast.
War time use and disposal
The Midland Hotel and Morecambe itself began to lose popularity and in September 1939 the hotel was requisitioned by the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The navy used it until September 1947; paying £1,900 rent per year.
Upon Nationalisation
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
of the railways, ownership transferred on 1 January 1948 to the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
(BTC), coming under the control of the BTC's Railway Executive; however on the 1 July 1948, along with the other railway hotels, ownership was transferred to the BTC's Hotels Executive. It was sold by the Hotels Executive in 1952.
A new lease of life
Union NorthUnion North
-Midland Hotel :The Midland Hotel is an example of Art Deco architecture in the UK. Union North acted as architects for the restoration and refurbishment of the hotel. The project was notable as being part of wider measures to regenerate Morecambe....
acted as architects to Urban Splash
Urban Splash
Urban Splash is a British company which regenerates decaying industrial warehouses, mills, Victorian terraced houses and other buildings. These buildings have mainly been converted into housing...
for the refurbishment and expansion of the Midland hotel commencing in 2006. It opened its doors to the public in the summer of 2008.
In April 2009 Urban Splash announced a new partnership that would see English Lakes Hotels manage the Midland Hotel in Morecambe from 8 April 2009. Further developments on the nearby Central Promenade are planned by Urban Splash.
Other history
It was used in filming episodes of the TV series PoirotAgatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
, starring David Suchet
David Suchet
David Suchet, CBE, is an English actor, known for his work on British television. He is recognised for his RTS- and BPG award-winning performance as Augustus Melmotte in the 2001 British TV mini-drama The Way We Live Now, alongside Matthew Macfadyen and Paloma Baeza, and a 1991 British Academy...
, in 1989, most notably in the episode 'Double Sin'. During this episode the actual name of the hotel is referred to by one of the main characters of the detective series - Captain Hastings.
External links
- The Midland Hotel Website
- Friends of the Midland Hotel site
- Information on the original Architect - Oliver Hill
- The Midland Hotel at Morecambe, October 2001, The Twentieth Century Society