Palace Hotel, Birkdale
| Birkdale Palace Hotel | |
|---|---|
 Merseyside
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Hydropathic Spa & Hotel |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Location | Southport |
| Address | Oxford Road, Birkdale |
| Coordinates | 53°38′16″N 3°01′32″W / 53.637721°N 3.02565°W |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Renovated | 1881 |
| Demolished | 1969 |
| Cost | £60,000 |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | 400ft Long |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Brick |
| Floor count | Five |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Mangnall |
The Birkdale Palace Hotel was a luxury hotel located in the Lancashire coastal resort of Birkdale, Southport, on the north-west coast of England. It was opened in 1866 and demolished in 1969. During the Second World War it was a rehabilitation centre for US airmen, and in the last two years of its existence was used as a film location. It was notorious as a haunted hotel.
Developed by the Southport Hotel Company (funded mainly by Manchester merchants), the Birkdale Palace Hotel was built on a 20-acre (8.1 ha) site at the end of Weld Road, fronting the Birkdale shore. The 200 ft (61 m) long luxurious hotel opened in 1866 at a cost of £60,000 and was a very grandiose building, having magnificent reception rooms and 75 bedrooms.
A long-standing rumour was that the hotel had been built the wrong way round, so instead of the hotel front facing out to sea, it in fact faced inland. It was also said that the architect, William Mangnall then committed suicide by jumping off the roof of the building. There have been stories of how the architect's ghost was heard to travel up and down in the lifts and was heard walking along the second floor stone floors whilst the building was being demolished. Unfortunately for lovers of ghost stories, recent research has revealed that there is no evidence that the hotel was built the wrong way round and William Mangnall actually died of consumption at Lord Street, Southport, two years after the hotel was opened.
In 1881 the hotel was completely refurbished and the grounds were reduced to 5 acres (2.0 ha), as the hotel had previously gone into liquidation, because it was not accessible by road or tram. The Southport & Cheshire Lines Extension Railway (SCLER) opened Birkdale Palace railway station adjacent to the hotel in 1884. A variety of baths were installed, a pipe built to draw in salt water from the sea and a lift installed to all floors. It re-opened with over 60 staff, as a hydropathic establishment to rival the very successful Smedley Hydro. Later, electric lighting was installed, produced by a steam driven generator. By 1910 the hotel was for sale due to financial difficulties.
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