Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-09-01
HISTORIC HOSTELRY
ON river THAMES is
GIVEN AS HOSPITAL
Famous Star and Garter Pur-
chased BY Real Estate Man Of
Great Britain and Decided to
Red Cross.

LONDON. Aug 31-The Star and
Garter Hotel at Richmond on the
Thames, which has just been pur-
chased by the real estate men Of
Great Britain and presented to the
Queen as Red Cross Hospital for
disabled officers, is probably the most
famous hotel in England
For something over $50 years there
has been a hosiery of this name on
the brow of Richmond Hill, present
ing the finest view of the winding riv-
er that is obtainable anywhere with
.n a days Quincy of London. The
view from the windows Of the Star
and Garter has inspired poetry from
Wordsworth TO Maurice as a picture
which
Bursts in a food of glory on the
view.
Still brigat still varied and for
ever new
An auctioueer's advertisement print
ed 1870 years ago described the proper.
| ty as follows These truly desira.
BILE and valuable premises, the Star
and Garter on Richmond Hill. the fav.
orite spot for centuries past of prime
/ es and the admiration and resort OF
the first nobility and taste i'm Europe
repleJe with every requisite conyeu
fence for the reception of an ranks in
the public line, possessing the most
extensive and delightful views of the
/ Thames, the whole forming one OF
the most enchanting pictures in
Great Britain"
one of the notable occasions of the
big hotel was a breakfast served OF
June 10, 1914 at which were present
the Prince Regent of England, IN,
Emperor of Russia. the Duchess o.
| Oldnbure. and the King of Prussia
with his sons and nephews. The com
pany which also included Generals
Butcher and Platon had jourucye,
out from London by coach.
! Queen Victoria was a frequent visi
tor to the hotel particularly duriu.
/ the esrlier years of her regime, am,
there were few of her royal contem
poraries who did not at one time o.
another partake of its hospitalit.
/ during the decade preceding the fir,
in 1870, which destroyed the create
part OF the luxurious building
| Within two years 10 was rebuilt il
! even more magnificent fashion an,
for the next few years was at the re
NTH of popular favor King Edward
| while Prince Of Wales, was often seel
there. The cook was excellent, thD
! wines unimpeachable, and the cos
heavy enough to keep away the mob
! Given a fine pair of horses, it was
delightful drive just the right dis
lance from Hyde Park Corner, tn,
center of fashionable London, on
fine summer evening Not only wer
the smartest of private dinners givel
| there, but the great City Compane
. held their banquets i'm the spacious
pavilion, and statesmen and celebri
ties of every degree met beneath it,
Ir0of
But with the dawning of the pres
lent century the attractions of In,
| Star and Garter waned. It is the con
yentional thing to say that the cominl
of the automobile killed lbs popularity
lOther causes contributed The road
instead of running through pleasan
open country, was rapidly becoming
an artery of heavy omnibus and tram
! car traffic. The era Of the fashiona
BILE restaurant i'm town had begun
and it was no longer necessary to g,
so far aheld for a good luncheon o.
dinner Ten years ago, the hote
closed IT'S doors. There have sine
been rumors from time to time as {,
lreOpenine IL as a palatial boarding.
! house or rebuilding it into a block o
luxurious flats, but none of the plan
lcame 20 maturity
In its new use as a permanent hos
pital for officers, it will preserve TO
a work of natianal usefulness a site o
lrare beauty The hotel is almost com
Ipletely surrounded by park lands
which have been gradually acquire,
by the London County Council t,
lgiye the public easy access to tn,
banks of the Thames