Sheffield’s new Victoria railway station opened on September 15th, 1851. Growing to act as a vital connection between cities such as Manchester and London. In the early period the station was under a large glass and iron roof with access to the station via Victoria Station Road.
In 1889 with the station being in regular use and seeing people come and go or using Sheffield as a stopping station, a hotel was opened to accommodate the new influx of temporary guests. The Royal Victoria Hotel was a luxurious hotel for the times and other station hotels such as Nottingham and Marylebone were modelled on its success and elegance.
Despite the railway station becoming fully closed by 1970, the hotel outlived its original means and became a successful standalone hotel in the city. Today it’s undergone many changes and is part of the Holiday Inn chain but despite being kitted out for the needs of modern hospitality, the building - inside and out - still retains many classic features.
The presence and aesthetic of the hotel building and nearby station was an alluring one for creatives in Sheffield. The area was featured in the music video for Cabaret Voltaire’s “Yashar” and Barbara herself captured the building in her work.
Daniel Dylan Wray
Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Steel, Street, Synth and Shutter exhibition was also made possible by many lovely crowdfunders and with support from Sensoria Festival.