Hi, continuing the off-topic search for the Portland Hotel which may be of interest to some people other than me and Lasse, today I had a look in the London telephone directory for 1920. In fact, there are 2 directories for that year, issued in April and October, which I suppose reflects the rate at which people were getting wired.
The Portland Hotel is listed directly under His Grace the Duke of Portland, who probably owns the freeholds in that part of London, and was, as expected, on Great Portland Street, W1. Unfortunately the directory doesn't list the building number. So although we've narrowed it down, we haven't found it yet. Great Portland Street is very close to my office, so I walked the length of the street today on the off chance that some trace would remain. The architecture of the street is predominantly Edwardian and late Victorian, but there is a significant number of post-war buildings so it's quite possible that the original building no longer exists. The candidate that seems most likely to me of the existing buildings, is on the corner of Gt. Portland St. and Clipstone St. It has a distinctly hotel-like entrance, and looks as though it could easily have been a hotel. It is a pleasant half-hour stroll downhill via Regent's Street, Piccadilly and St. James's St. to St. James's Palace for any diplomat attending a League of Nations meeting. However, I have no evidence that this is the building. I may go in and ask, but the chances of the receptionist knowing anything are small. The telephone number is Gerrard 600. My mobile phone is unable to get a connection. Maybe the Gerrard St. exchange isn't digital. But I have a functional old Belgian Bakelite telephone, so perhaps that'll work <g>. Tally-ho, Jeeves! Bob - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
