The evolution of wallpaper interior design schemes in a commercial setting: the interiors of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel (Midland Grand Hotel), London 1870s–1980s

Abstract

The refurbishment of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel (formerly the Midland Grand Hotel) provided a unique opportunity to investigate the interior design history of this iconic London landmark. During the refurbishment, wallpapers were uncovered from the initial decorative schemes of the hotel in the 1870s and from later interior design schemes until the building’s closure in the 1980s. This article demonstrates how the CoBRA (Conservation-based Research and Analysis) methodology can be applied to increase our understanding of the history of interiors. The conservation process adds a new perspective to the historiography of the papered interior and its significance in the interior design process. By combining archival research with access to the original wallpapers during the retrieval and subsequent conservation process, it has been possible to construct an account of this commercial building’s decorative schemes. Many of the earliest wallpapers were supplied by Jeffrey and Co., a London firm that worked with William Morris and other prominent designers. The wallpapers illustrate how the approach to the interior design of this building evolved over time, moving away from the Gothic Revival style of interior.