Palatine Hotel, Victoria Street, Manchester

The PALATINE HOTEL, about to be erected at Hunt's Bank, upon the site formerly occupied by the College Inn and adjoining property. It is, we learn, to be a handsome and capacious structure, having a frontage upon Hunt's Bank of nearly forty yards, and a large returned front vis a vis with the new station, now being built by the Manchester and Leeds and Manchester and Liverpool Railway Companies, at the junction of their railways at Hunt's Bank. The proprietor of the new hotel (Robert Gill, Esq), we understand, proposes to spare no expense in order to make it an establishment of the first class, and to insure its furnishing accommodations of a character not unusually met with out of the metropolis. The exterior is to be constructed entirely of stone, and judging from what we have seen of the preparations, it will form an important addition to our list of public buildings. The architectural character of the Palatine Hotel is a composition from the early Italian or Romanesque, and it will possess some features not common in this neighbourhood. It is to be erected by Mr. David Bellhouse, from designs by Messrs I and J P Holden, architects, and under their direction and superintendence. [Manchester Times 29 July 1843 page 4]

PALATINE HOTEL - Near the Hunts-bank railway station we notice a new hotel, called the Palatine, which is worthy of mention, as well for external design as for the admirable adaptation of the internal arrangements to purposes to which the building is devoted. Messrs Holden are the architects and they have certainly made the most of the ground with which they had to deal. A novelty in this edifice is the main staircase opposite the entrance; the whole of stairs and landings (with the exception of the mahogany hand rail) is of iron; each step (riser and tread included) is in one piece of cast-iron, which is attached to a wall-plate, and depends therefrom. The whole has a remarkably light and elegant appearance, and is an instance of the good effect which may be gained a judicious use of the material. In the event of a staircase of this construction would be invaluable, as it would afford a means of escape to the inmates which would not be liable to destruction. The total cost the building was about £7,000. [Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal September 1845 page 292-293]

PALATINE HOTEL, near the Liverpool and Leeds Joint Station, Hunt's Bank, Manchester. The Advertiser will be ready to receive TENDERS for the WHOLE or any PART of the separate works of the above building. Persons tendering for the whole are requested to state whether and for what sum they are willing to perform any of the works separately. The advertiser does not pledge himself to accept the lowest tender. Specifications and plans will be ready for inspection at the Engineer's Office, Hunt's Bank on and after the 8th of May. All Tenders must be sent in sealed to the above office, on or before the 27th of May, addressed  “Tenders for the Palatine Hotel."  Manchester, April 28th, 1843 [Manchester Courier 29 April 1843 page 5]

TO STONE MASONS and BUILDERS. PALATINE HOTEL, near the Liverpool and Leeds Joint Station, Hunt’s Bank, Manchester. The Advertiser will be ready TENDERS for the WHOLE or any PART of the separate works of the above building. Persons tendering for the whole are requested to state whether and for what sum they are willing to perform any of the works separately. The Advertiser does not pledge himself to accept the lowest tender. Specifications and Plans will be ready for inspection at the Engineer's Office, Hunt's Bank, on and after the 8th May. All Tenders must be sent in sealed to the above office, on or before the 3rd of June, addressed Tenders for the Palatine Hotel." The Hotel to be built of Parpoint Wallstones. Manchester. 28th April, 1843. {Manchester Courier 6 May 1843 page 1]

Reference    David R Bellhouse David Bellhouse & Sons, Manchester; Chapter 3
Reference    Manchester Times 29 July 1843 page 4
Reference    Manchester Courier 29 April 1843 page 5
Reference    Manchester Courier 6 May 1843 page 1
Reference    Civil Engineer and Architect’s Journal September 1845 page 292-293