172 - Looking out from York city walls a little south-west from yesterdays view is another fascinating piece of Victorian architecture. By the 1870's railway congestion at York's terminus station inside the city walls led to the construction of a massive new through station outside the walls, opening in 1877. Immediately north east of it a huge new hotel was built, and this is our subject for today.
A five-storey building of yellow Scarborough brick, the Royal Station Hotel was completed in 1878, a year after the new station opened. It featured elegant, high-ceilinged banqueting rooms and 100 large bedrooms for anyone who could afford 14 shillings (70 pence) a night.
Since then it has been further extended and new facilities added. It has been renamed the Royal York Hotel, reflecting that it is no longer in railway ownership. Today it has 167 bedrooms, 15 conference rooms, a restaurant, bar, gymnasium and swimming pool, and there is even a big wheel in the grounds (see http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-05-26)
Thank you Hanson - it's interesting working out how to share the place where you live with others. This project has certainly made me look at York with fresh eyes!
Thank you Louise. Sadly, there is a touch of faded glory to the interior. I was at a wedding reception there earlier in the year, so I had a chance to have a look round and was quite disappointed with it.
Thank you for the link Bruni, it's interesting to compare the two Royal York hotels. I think that if we could combine the exterior of the one here, with the interior of the one there, we could have a really wonderful hotel!
Thank you Bob - again, although I took some shots there when I was at a wedding reception earlier this year, they show lots of the guests and little of the building, so I have to disappoint you for now. If a chance does come up for me to take some interior shots of either hotel, I will do so.
...and we have one here in Ottawa as well! I've never been inside, walked by it many times, and always wondered what it looked like from the inside. Ours overlooks the Rideau River...longest outdoor skating rink:) I was more impressed by the fine looking gentlemen who open the door for you at the entrance way though:)
Thank you Tony, glad you are enjoying the tour!
Thank you Hanson - it's interesting working out how to share the place where you live with others. This project has certainly made me look at York with fresh eyes!
here is a link to see or read about ours http://www.fairmont.com/royal-york-toronto/?cmpid=google_ryh_search-branded_branded-e&OVMTC=Exact&site=&creative=10682891820&OVKEY=royal%20york%20hotel%20toronto&url_id=16709578&adpos=1t1&s_kwcid=TC|1025556|royal%20york%20hotel%20toronto||S|e|10682891820&gclid=CLncwsSOgbICFYk-MgodnX4AYg
Thank you Louise. Sadly, there is a touch of faded glory to the interior. I was at a wedding reception there earlier in the year, so I had a chance to have a look round and was quite disappointed with it.
Thank you for the link Bruni, it's interesting to compare the two Royal York hotels. I think that if we could combine the exterior of the one here, with the interior of the one there, we could have a really wonderful hotel!
Thank you Bob - again, although I took some shots there when I was at a wedding reception earlier this year, they show lots of the guests and little of the building, so I have to disappoint you for now. If a chance does come up for me to take some interior shots of either hotel, I will do so.
OK lets get started! - am I moving the exterior here over there or are you bringing the interior from there over here? lol!
Thank you Jason, glad you are enjoying the tour!
Thank you Marie - the tour continues...
Thank you Junan - there is a close-up shot of the wheel and info about it at http://365project.org/if1/365/2012-05-26
Thank you Brian, it is an impressive building!
Thank you Tanja, glad you like it!
Thank you Roslyn - the tour continues...
Thank you Howard, glad you like it!
Thank you Caren, glad you are still enjoying the tour!
I've just had a look on Google to see what the Ottawa version of the Royal York looks like - and I'm very impressed!