The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
STAR AND GARTER INN.
Famous English HOstelry Ruined by
the Motor Car.


the Motor Car.
From the London Daily Telegraph.
Bucks and dandies were as much al
home on Richmond HIn as IN Piccadnly
or St James street. while actresses re-
garded a dinner at the Star and Garter
as a votive offering OF infinite recon-
nnendation. Even maiden aunts. con
scious though they may have been that
they were perhaps not doing quite the
correct thing in taking their nieces 70
dine at the Star and Garter were yet
disposed 10 congratulate themselves on
their courage. They could at least plead
that the place was under very 6istin-
guished patronage The directors OF the
Bank OF England, for example made K
their habit 10 dine there. and no more
staid or solemn people could be wished
for Some OF the great city companies.
also. have been known 10 give the go-by
TO their own chefs and their own cellars
and 20 drive down 20 Richmond 70 enjoy
its views. and 10 sample some OF the
noted brands for which the hotel vaults
were held IN repute. Above all, perhaps,
the Sunday dinners were the thing. On
one Sunday IN July Is5I. no fewer than
SO dinners were served al the Star and
Garter. This. OF course. would be about
the time OF the great exhibition. but the
average number OF Sunday dinners at
this period was as high as 2oo,
In its later days the Star and Garter
has probably not been able 10 sustain
these statistics. and this although IN 1854
the house came under the control Of a
limited liability company. which proceeded
10 erect a costly extension, parkwards
with stately dining-roOm TO connect the
two buildings Some six years later the
older part OF the hotel was destroyed BY
FIRE. but a spacious pavilion, ballroom,
and bsnqueting hall rose up three or four
years later. the extension building being
thencefOrth reserved for residents The
extension itself was. however. DESTROYED
by hre in ISSS. and from its ashes there
sprang up IN the following year the pres
ent handsome pile Of buildings II took.
in short, just 80 years 20 effect the trans
formation from what was little more than
a wooden shed 20 the imposing palace
which now stands on Richmond HHi.
PoXimity 70 LOndOn-the star and Gar
ter IS only eight miles away. and the
drive runs through Richmond Park-has
always been one OF the attractions OF
this Richmond hosiery. Second only. In
fact, 20 its unrtyaled situation has been
its accessibility. But the motor habit. II
may be assumed. has not helped it 81
these recent years. A drive 70 Richmond
by coach or carriage represented Just a
sufficient distance for comfort and con
venience- To-day the motor car takes
people further afeld, doubtless 20 the
gain OF hostelries much more remote from
town But. whatever the changes OF 10
comotion or OF fashion, the Star and Gar
ter. with its command OF one OF the most
admired landscapes in England and its
position on the very verge of one OF the
most beautiful OF the royal parks. boasts
assets or which any passing phase or pub
lie fancy should be pOwerIeSs to deprive
t. At any rate, the folks who bid for.
paid for. and carried away yesterday that
which heretofore had formed part OF the
equipment Of this suburban Mecca. were
IN no sense laboring under the impression
that they had acquired relics from a for
gotten shrine. What they rolled away
down the hill was to them Just OId-time
furniture. and nothing more.