London Hotels in 1900: The Cecil Hotel

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Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of London Hotels in Imperial London, published in 1901, with this look at the newly-rebuilt Cecil Hotel:

And now for the largest hotel in the world, the biggest because, although the Palace at San Francisco, and the Grand Union at Saratoga, afford more sleeping accommodation, the superficial area of the Cecil is greater.

Over three and a half acres is spread a network of rooms of a thoroughly labyrinthine character.

Some idea of this may be obtained from the fact that the passages are of the total length of 9000 feet, a distance very little short of two miles, and that there are fifteen staircases.

The highest of these staircases, which has 300 steps, is 150 feet, three-fourths the height of the Monument; while the whole fifteen, if placed one on the top of another, would rival Snowdon in height.

Another fact which shows the immense size of the place, is that there are no fewer than 1700 windows.

But perhaps the most striking of the figures relating to the building, is that the depth of its foundations is thirty-five feet, and the width of the trenches under the walls filled in with Portland cement is sixteen feet.

It has a frontage of about 300 feet to the Thames Embankment, and about the same to the Strand, while the four blocks of buildings encompass a central court and flower-garden.

Throughout its interior many coloured and costly marble and polished granite are used in profusion.

Corridors are lined with hand-wrought tapestry and decorated in Pompeian style; and everywhere the useful combines with the ornamental, from the vast range of cool wine-cellars in the basement, from the six separate lifts which work with lightning quickness, to the gaily-painted satin-wood furniture and silken hangings of the state bedchambers.

The public restaurant facing the Thames is magnificent.

Opposite the huge marble fireplace is the platform for the orchestra, and above the high mantelpiece stares the golden escutcheon of arms of the proud and ancient house of Cecil.

The walls are handsomely panelled in American walnut, containing full-length portraits in oils of Queen Elizabeth I; Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Sir Walter Raleigh; Sir Francis Drake; William Cecil, Lord Burleigh; and Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury.

Both the ordinary drawing-room and the ladies' drawing-room are handsomely furnished, the latter especially; all the chairs and tables are copies of Empire patterns - dark. mahogany and chased ormolu - upholstered in cut velvet on a satin ground; and the walls are panelled with amber satin, embroidered, and set off with ball-fringe of silk.

The fireplace, of white Sicilian marble, is exquisitely carved with an allegory of the four seasons, and the general aspect of lightness and grace is helped on by a judicious use of pale blue and gilding.

To get into the easy-chairs - large and roomy, and covered in Spanish stamped leather - is simple enough; but they are difficult, by reason of their too much easiness, to get out of without a struggle and a sigh.

There are several kitchens, each with its separate batterie de cuisine, stores in plenty, pantries and larders here, there, and everywhere, steam-engines for working the electric light, and a large yard and entrance, far away from the guest-chambers, for receiving supplies.

The views from its terraces and balconies are open, and as picturesque as can be found anywhere in London, and manifestly the Cecil has been the subject of an immense outlay of capital.

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