HOTEL LANCASTER

The Building Which Today Houses The Hotel Lancaster Was Orignally Built In 1889 As A Town House In The Style Of The Ancienne Regime For Monsieur Santiago Drake Del Castillo A Spaniard Nobleman Who Had Aquired The Land Ten Years Earlier From The Prince And Princess Of Hennin. The House Remained In The Castillo Family Until 1925 When It Was Sold To A Swiss Gentleman Monsieur Emile Wolf. The Property At This Stage Comprised Of Four Flats One On Each Floor But Monsieur Wolf Decided To Commence The Process Of Enlargement And Transformation Which Was To Create The Hotel Lancaster. As Part Of The Works Four More Loors Were Added To The Building Between . However Wold Was At Pains To Ensure That The Old Met With The New To Form A Seamless Whole A Philosophy Which Has Been Maintained In The Recent Hotel Refurbishment. During The Period Of Conversion Completed In 1930 Wolf And His Housekeeper The Daughter Of An Antique Deealer Scoured The Auction Houses Of Paris For Furniture Antique Clocks Paintings Chadeliers Lamps Tapestries Crystal And Porcelain To Furnish The Hotel. The Furniture That They Assembled Remains At The Hotel And Now Forms The Core Of An Extensive And Continuousl Eevolving Collection. The Wealth Of Louis Xv And Louis Xvi Furniture Adds An Intimatable Parisian Chic To The Rooms Though It Has Been Said Many Of The Pieces Are High Quality 19th Century Copies Now Collected In Their Own Right. A Typical Example Is Found With The Louis Xvi Style Bureau A Cylindre Which Is Decorated With Marquetry Music Trophes In Palissander Olve And Lemon Wood. Although English In Origin The Desk Was Made To Appeal To The Victorian Interest In Pre revolutionary France. The Chiming Of Numerous Antique Clocks Floats Through The Lancaster. Particularily Appealing Examples Contained Within The Hotels Collection Are Ormolu mounted Bright Green Rococo Clock. Another Equally Aesthetic Timepiece Dates From The Years When Napoleon Was Consul Its Motifs Of Plam Leaves Lotus Flowers Gilt bronze Sphinxes Were Inspired By Napoleons Egyptian Campaigns Which Unleashed A Flurry Of Pharoic Decoration. A Rococo Boulle Clock By Ifenne Sits On A Bracket In The Grand Salong Opposite A 19th Century Canal Scene By Felic Ziem. A Courtyard Forms The Centre Of The Lancaster. The Result Is A Hotel Steeped In History Where Each Room Takes On Individual Idenity. This Luxurious Elegance And Comfort, Attention To Detail And Impeccable Standard Of Service Has Led The Hotel To Become A Particular Favourite With Royalty, Society And Leading Figures From Government And The Arts. The Lancasters Past Clientele Has Ranged From Noel Coward To King Umberto Of Italy To Marlene Dietrich Greta Garbo Sir Alec Guiness And John Huston. It Is A Rarity To Find A Hotel Today That Provides The Latest Modern Conveniences And Comfort For Its Clientele But Keeps A Strong Respect For Tradition And Maintenance Of Its Antiquities. With An Extensive Restoration Just Completed Of All Pieces During Which Advise Was Sought From 18th And 19th Century Specialists The Lancaster Assured Its Historical Treasures Will Be Protected.