222 Marylebone Road

[SargeNpton]

Between 1984-87 I worked at the British Railways Board HQ building known as 222 Marylebone Road, which was original the Great Central Hotel. Just before it was turned back into a hotel, I took these pictures of two of the stained-glass windows in one of the staircases.

They show the coats of arms of Barnsley and Leeds.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Lovely. We must have just missed each other! Passed those many times - never used the lifts at a younger age.

The Great Central Railway served Barnsley (Court House) and Leeds (Central) stations.

 

[kevconnor]

They are excellent, thank you for sharing.

 

[WesternLancer]

Between 1984-87 I worked at the British Railways Board HQ building known as 222 Marylebone Road, which was original the Great Central Hotel. Just before it was turned back into a hotel, I took these pictures of two of the stained-glass windows in one of the staircases.

They show the coats of arms of Barnsley and Leeds.
View attachment 186118

Assume and hope they are still there?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Assume and hope they are still there?

They certainly were a few years ago; generally

 

[WesternLancer]

They certainly were a few years ago; generally

Thanks. I assume it’s a listed building so hopefully features like that are an important part of the listed status.

 

[Davester50]

The Cally in Edinburgh still has some nice stained glass windows of the cities served seen in the picture below, of Dumfries, Carlisle, Annan and Wigtown.

 

[WesternLancer]

The Cally in Edinburgh still has some nice stained glass windows of the cities served seen in the picture below, of Dumfries, Carlisle, Annan and Wigtown.
View attachment 186142

Again very nice to see.

 

[The exile]

The Cally in Edinburgh still has some nice stained glass windows of the cities served seen in the picture below, of Dumfries, Carlisle, Annan and Wigtown.
View attachment 186142

Rather provocative towards the G&SWR, surely!

 

[Davester50]

Rather provocative towards the G&SWR, surely!

There were quite a few others, so not solely a raspberry at them!
I did take the others, but by the time we staggered back up the stairs from the reception, the pictures I had taken weren't exactly, err, steady...
I can make out Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling, Inverness, Perth, Oban, Paisley, Kilmarnock, Lanark and Ayr, along with the home nations.
It did say they were listed, and used to be in the Platform area.

 

[The exile]

There were quite a few others, so not solely a raspberry at them!
I did take the others, but by the time we staggered back up the stairs from the reception, the pictures I had taken weren't exactly, err, steady...
I can make out Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Stirling, Inverness, Perth, Oban, Paisley, Kilmarnock, Lanark and Ayr, along with the home nations.
It did say they were listed, and used to be in the Platform area.

That makes a lot more sense!

 

[John Webb]

Thanks. I assume it’s a listed building so hopefully features like that are an important part of the listed status.

The listing of 222 Marylebone Road is at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1222686?section=official-list-entry

It is Grade II listed. A number of windows are mentioned for their various shapes, but the stained glass in them isn't mentioned.

 

[WesternLancer]

The listing of 222 Marylebone Road is at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1222686?section=official-list-entry

It is Grade II listed. A number of windows are mentioned for their various shapes, but the stained glass in them isn't mentioned.

Gosh. Thats regrettable. It always helps if specific features are mentioned in the listing entry.

 

[45Fox]

Just as a point of historical interest, I'm sure that I read once that the Great Central Hotel was never owned by the GCR, that it was built around the time the London Extension opened and the owners named it because of it's proximity to Marylebone station. I must admit, I'm not sure how true that is though. They're great pictures nonetheless, as are the ones in the Caley hotel, thanks to you both for posting them.

 

[John Webb]

Just as a point of historical interest, I'm sure that I read once that the Great Central Hotel was never owned by the GCR, that it was built around the time the London Extension opened and the owners named it because of it's proximity to Marylebone station. I must admit, I'm not sure how true that is though. They're great pictures nonetheless, as are the ones in the Caley hotel, thanks to you both for posting them.

According to Alan A Jackson's book "London Termini" (2nd Ed, David and Charles, 1985) The responsibility for the hotel was ".....gladly handed to other parties." due to the lack of money following the cost of extending the GCR to London. So it stood on GCR land but presumably wasn't actually owned by them. So there was a direct connection between the name of the hotel and the GCR.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Between 1984-87 I worked at the British Railways Board HQ building known as 222 Marylebone Road, which was original the Great Central Hotel. Just before it was turned back into a hotel, I took these pictures of two of the stained-glass windows in one of the staircases.

They are rather fine, thanks for sharing. An old boss spent his last few years working there, and a few of his old mates (including yours truly) were invited to his retirement p-up in various local (to Marylebone) establishments, but as far as I recall it didn't include a guided tour of 222, not for us mere Divisional people at any rate!

 

[Sun Chariot]

Between 1984-87 I worked at the British Railways Board HQ building known as 222 Marylebone Road, which was original the Great Central Hotel. Just before it was turned back into a hotel, I took these pictures of two of the stained-glass windows in one of the staircases.

They show the coats of arms of Barnsley and Leeds.
View attachment 186118

How wonderful. I know it better as The Landmark Hotel and, 1998 to 2002, I enjoyed several lunches sitting its basement brasserie. I had cream tea in the Winter Garden: sumptuous natural light and grand piano. I can't recall if the GC stained glass was present.
1998 to 2008, I worked at 242-246 Marylebone Road - it's the building which borders Harewood Avenue and the main road. Its Art Deco exterior outshone a "late 20th century utilitarian look" inside. It was better known as Woolies' head office.
Marylebone station fresh-ground coffee barrow was a much needed ally during office hours; and the former Metropolitan Railway ballroom - fabulously restored in Wetherspoons pub guise - by Baker Street station, was my after-hours ally!

 

[Rescars]

Great shots! At the other end of the GC, back in BTH days, the Royal Victoria Hotel in Sheffield had a Great Central conference room, generously decorated with the GCR coat of arms and device. I wonder how much has survived.

When it came to repurposed hotels, whilst 222 was very grand, some would claim that it was outclassed by The Midland Grand (aka St Pancras Chambers)!

 

[mailbyrail]

The Hotel Great Central at Marylebone was owned by Frederick Hotels which was formed in July 1899. The chain was created by Frederick Gordon who built up what was probably the first great worldwide hotel empire. It was purchased by the LNER in 1947 for use as offices.

 

[CarltonA]

I assume Dr B himself had his office there during his tenure as chairman of BRB.

As well as Woolworths, British Home Stores had their HQ nearby.

 

[Sun Chariot]

I assume Dr B himself had his office there during his tenure as chairman of BRB.

As well as Woolworths, British Home Stores had their HQ nearby.

Indeed, BHS's head office was the other side of Marylebone Road and a couple of hundred yards east.
Pub loyalties distinctly different - we Woolies lot decamped behind Marylebone station to The Hobgoblin, a Wychwood owned pub. BHS lot generally frequented Thornbury Castle, around the corner from their office.
The Hob was the better pub (!); sadly - just like Woolies and BHS - long gone

 

[citycat]

Between 1984-87 I worked at the British Railways Board HQ building known as 222 Marylebone Road, which was original the Great Central Hotel. Just before it was turned back into a hotel, I took these pictures of two of the stained-glass windows in one of the staircases.

They show the coats of arms of Barnsley and Leeds.
View attachment 186118

My dad worked at 222. His office was under the office of the then Charman of BR, Sir Peter Parker. He could often hear him shouting at someone when something wasn’t going right on the network.

Was the subsidised staff restaurant still running when you were there? I would sometimes come to 222 in the school holidays and my dad would buy me lunch in the restaurant. Happy Days !

 

[Harpo]

Was the subsidised staff restaurant still running when you were there? I would sometimes come to 222 in the school holidays and my dad would buy me lunch in the restaurant. Happy Days !

A colleague in the know took me to the ‘canteen’ at the BRB, as we knew it. I believe there were separate facilities for seniors.

 

[Leyland Bus]

I assume Dr B himself had his office there during his tenure as chairman of BRB.

As well as Woolworths, British Home Stores had their HQ nearby.

British Leyland's HQ was also nearby in the former Castrol House (then Leyland House) at 204.

 

[Wagonshop]

I assume Dr B himself had his office there during his tenure as chairman of BRB.

As well as Woolworths, British Home Stores had their HQ nearby.

Worked in 222 in the .1980’s used to go into
Woolworths for lunch a few times, my boss seemed to know whenever there was a leaving do going on also BHS just used to walk in, worked in CWA at front of 222 used to talk to Peter Parker very nice chap

 

[Route115?]

I didn't work in 222 much but visited it on Company business on various occasions in the 80s (you could get in with the standard BR ID card in those days). I remember the canteen being ok - I understand that the subsidy was about 40% - I don't know if the premises came free. I heard that there were around five Officers Messes then depending on one's grade - it was like that in those days. I wasn't eligible for any being a trainee.

Euston House had a good canteen which I was able to use as even though I was at an office in Kings X then on Euston station until Bob Reid (the 1st) changed the rules and you needed a pass just for Euston House. Later when, I believe, the part of the organisation which I worked for was willing to pay their part of the subsidy I got a pass with a different colour background which indicating that whilst I didn't actually work in the building but was allowed in. Incidently of the BR Annual Reports shows a picture of Bob Reid eating with staff in the canteen showing how democratic everything was (if you worked in the building).

I would love to know where there are still staff canteens - I used to use the one on Paddington Stn but like Euston and most others it is no more.

 

[SargeNpton]

My dad worked at 222. His office was under the office of the then Charman of BR, Sir Peter Parker. He could often hear him shouting at someone when something wasn’t going right on the network.

Was the subsidised staff restaurant still running when you were there? I would sometimes come to 222 in the school holidays and my dad would buy me lunch in the restaurant. Happy Days !

The staff canteen lasted until the building was vacated in 1987.

 

[Helvellyn]

I think the only way a canteen/cafe would exist today is if a TOC has rented offices in a larger building with an onsite catering facility (likely third party).

 

[Dr Hoo]

Nothing to do with delightful heritage stained glass windows or similarly worthy stuff but I will share a recollection from my time in 222:

There were regular blood donation sessions held somewhere in the basement I think. (Remember a very gloomy room.). The lady who canvassed people to donate was a certain Miss Leach. One of my colleagues had the surname of Stone.

In an era when office ‘banter’ was more acceptable we thought it hilarious that a ‘leech’ was trying to get blood from a ‘stone’.

(I should probably get out more.)

 

[WAB]

I would love to know where there are still staff canteens - I used to use the one on Paddington Stn but like Euston and most others it is no more.

I think some of the major Network Rail offices have canteens? Maybe Manchester? But definitely not widespread at all. It's a pity, really, because there are still large concentrations of railway staff in specific cities, and the city centres don't have as many good, cheap lunch options as they used to. Try getting a decent lunch for a reasonable price near the West Offices in York!