MonoMonday: Ancient Buildings. Grosvenor

I have to agree with TMLHereAndThere most of our old buildings are either gone or Aucklandfied so they look nothing like they should. Not a lot of information to be found on the Grosvenor as it is a working Hotel and all I can find is prices. I did find a little more.The D.B. Grosvenor Hotel, 26 Cains Tce, is situated on corner of Cain's Terrace and Beswick Street directly across the street from the Royal Hotel. The Grosvenor Hotel was sold to Christchurch-based Pollardio Holdings. The company took over the business on October 1 2007. "They are committed to maintaining the heritage and the glory of the Grosvenor Hotel for another 125 years."  The foundation stone was laid in 1875.   Timaru Herald, 6 September 1875, Page 3
New Hotel. —The plans have just been drawn of a hotel for Mr John Meikle, which will be one of the finest, if not the finest building in the town, both as regards size and appearance. Mr Meikle has resolved upon the enterprise in consequence of his conviction of the want of a first-class family hotel have, similar to those in the large cities of the colony. The plans have been drawn by Mr F. J. Wilson. The site of the building is a corner section fronting on Beswick-street and Cains-terrace —the opposite corner to that, on which The Royal Hotel is situated. The building will be two-storied, and the material of which it is to be composed is to be brick with cement dressings and cornices, the roof, to be of iron. The area the building will cover, is 80 feet by 62 feet, and the height of the walls will be25 feet. There will be two fronts—the main one facing Cain's-terrace being 80 foot long, and the other facing Beswick street being 60 feet there will be a verandah and balcony above it, situated in the recess between the two wings of the building. The balcony and verandah will be 35 feet m length. The main entrance will be under the verandah, and the other front entrances comprise a doorway at the angle of the streets, and two others in Beswick-street. Inside of the main entrance is a hall 30 feet by 9 feet, with a geometrical staircase in the western end. In the portion of the house to the south of the hall on the ground floor to be a commercial room 15ft by 13 feet, a show room 30 feet by 20 feet, a pantry 10 feet by 10 feet, a china and plate closet 10 feet by 6 feet, a kitchen 20 feet by 20 feet with five feet range and water supply apparatus, and two servants' bedrooms 10 feet by 8 feet each. On the north side of the hall there is to be a bar parlor 15 feet by 13 feet, a small parlor 13 feet by 10 feet; a bar 21 feet by 20 feet, and a billiard room 29 feet by 20 feet, to which there will be at entrance porch from Beswick-street. Between the two wings, at the back of the building, will be a verandah. On the upper floor of the building there will be a landing hall 24 feet by 7 feet leading to the balcony on the south side of this hall there will be a parlor 15 feet by 14 feet, a parlor 14 feet by 13 feet, a bedroom 12 feet by 12 feet, and eleven other bedrooms 9 feet 3 inches by 8 feet each, also a linen closet 8 feet by 6 feet. On the north side of the hall there will be a parlor 15 feet by, 14 feet, a private parlor 13 feet by 11 feet, a bedroom 12 feet by .0 feet, a bedroom 15 feet by 9 feet, seven bedrooms 9 feet 3 inches by 8 feet each, a bathroom 8 feet by 8 feet fitted up with water-apparatus, and a water closet 8 feet by 4 feet. To each of the parlors upstairs a double bedroom is attached, and from the front rooms five French casements open to the balcony. Altogether there will be 41 rooms m the building. Under the bar is a celler 21 feet by 20 feet. The building will be commenced shortly, and when finished will be an ornament to the town. When the Queen and Prince Philip stayed in Timaru they stayed at the Grosvenor.  This morning Marie and I went to see the Surgeon and we could not ask for better news In Marie's words. I just can't help getting emotional.