Known now as the Palace Hotel this Manchester landmark is one of the first things you see as you exit the Oxford Road train station.

The ornate red building stands at the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street.

The building is Grade II listed.

Palace clock - Manchester

Originally built for the Refuge Assurance Company in 1890 with design by Alfred Waterhouse.  Alfred was also know for his design work on the  Town Hall in Manchester and the Natural History Museum in London.

The clock tower was part of the second phase of building and stands 217ft tall.  This phase of work, known as building Number 2, was designed by Paul, Alfred Waterhouses’ son.

The refuge continued to occupy building number 1 until 1989 when it was purchased by Principle Hotels.  Over the next few years the hotel spread in to buildings 2 and 3.

The hotel now offers over 250 rooms and is rated as 4 star.