The hotel, designed by architects Perry & Reed, was constructed between 1890-1896 and was the largest in Europe when it opened. In 1917 the hotel was requisitioned for the war effort, and was used as the first headquarters of the RAF. The photograph is one of a set taken for J Barker and Company Limited, which show the rooms empty of furniture.
This is part of the Series: HBL01/01 Series Of Photographic Negatives And Prints; within the Collection: HBL01 The Bedford Lemere Collection
Source: Historic England Archive
Photographer: Boucher, Adolphe Augustus: Bedford Lemere And Company
Photographer: Lemere, Henry Bedford: Bedford Lemere And Company
Early 20th Century Hotel