The Midland was
built by the London, Midland and Scottish
Railway in the "Streamline Moderne" style of Art
Deco. The building curves gracefully away from
Morecambe Bay. It has three storeys and a
central circular tower containing the entrance
and a spiral staircase. At the top of the
stair tower, looking out towards Marine Road, is
a pair of seahorses created by Eric Gill.
By the time World War II was declared the
hotel was already experiencing difficult
times. In 1939 the Royal Navy
requisitioned the building. After the
war things didn't improve and as Morecambe
declined as a tourist venue the hotel
languished. In 1998 the Midland closed
and it sat unoccupied and in an increasing
state of decline for a number of years.
It was bought by a developer but after they
went into receivership in 2002 it began to
look as if demolition was going to be the
buildings future.
However, Urban Splash stepped in and
commissioned the architectural practice of
Union North to refurbish the building.
Work started in 2006 and two years later the
Midland Hotel opened again for business
looking spectacular. Today it is
operated by the English Lakes Hotels company.
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