Glasgow’s Central Hotel has a long and distinguished history – originally built in 1882 by Caledonian Railways alongside their Central Station, it had 420 beds for guests plus 170 beds for their servants – these were the days when the upper classes travelled in style! When the station was extended in 1906, the hotel was also extended.
The hotel received the first-ever long-distance television transmissions, transmitted to the hotel on the 24th of May 1927 by John Logie Baird. It played host to celebrities from Bob Hope and Charlton Heston to Roy Rogers (who booked a room for his horse, Trigger) and the Queen.
Sold by British Rail in the ’80s, it passed through various private companies before becoming a Quality Hotel – the company went bust earlier this year, but the hotel is now in new ownership and long-overdue refurbishment is beginning.
As an aside, I’d like to point out that I’m an atheist with not a supernatural bone in my body. Any study of the history of the hotel comes up with lots of ghost stories as you’d expect, but I did see a couple of rather strange things, as you’ll see. I’m certain that there are logical explanations, they’re just very odd.
This is the first strange thing – walls of one room covered with pages cut from a book. And not a Bible – it’s a dictionary…
The hotel looks down on the glass roof of the station:
Another odd thing: Some online stories talk about a room where “blood ran down the walls”. Yeah, right. This room, though, was strange – something had definitely been running down the walls. It had run down very evenly from top to bottom, on every wall. It looked perhaps like smoke or very thick tobacco staining that had then been sprayed with water – or, yes, dried blood. There was no sign of fire on the bare floorboards, no signs of damp, and the corridor outside and all neighbouring rooms were normal.
The third strange thing: Off a small attic room is a closet under the eaves – only 4 feet high. It has been carefully lined with very sharp razor blades pushed quite firmly into the wall:
Something cheerier:
The room of razorblades is utterly crackers, as is the dictionary wallpaper. Only difference is I would love some dictionary wallpaper.
Lovely site by the way.
Thanks – turned out it was part of an art installation in the late ’90s. That’s the reason for all the odd rooms…
I worked there in the late 90s when the art installation was in place. I’d hardy go up to the upper floors, such an strange place very spooky
Going here tomorrow to do a fashion shoot…wonder if the razor blades are still there !!!
I hope so 😉
Wow, how bizarre. Mate of mine who works in the hotel ,told me about the razor room .Iwas a bit sceptical, not that it didn’t exist , but the scale of attic and number of razors. Apparently the company that runs the hotel are trying to buy/ lease the top floors and convert them .Maybe the razor room is on its way out , shame , Ihope they leave this strange room alone
It was an art installation as part of the 1999 festival of architecture.
DI once worked in hotel 1974 its a spooky place .once up in the attic bad karma could not get out got lost staff looking for hours for me .I Would not back for anything …
I worked there also late 70s
louis freeman orchestra and guest entertainers country cousins played here
The elevator only went to floor five and then you would need to access the remaining two floors by stairs restricted to staff only. I worked there as Night Porter and then Night Auditor from 2003_07.
Stayed here on a business trip for a couple of days in the mid 90’s .Felt I was chased into my room. Seemed liked yards of corridors similar to the hotel in the Shining movie. .Shadow of man walked around my room. Staff were very quiet when I asked if the hotel was haunted. Lift ended up going to a13th floor but only 12 floors listed. Was advised a chef had committed suicide by throwing himself down the stair well after a relationship breakdown.Never forgot my stay.
I worked there in 2007, lived in one of the rooms on 8th floor which was closed for customers. I have been waken up by strange noises and once saw a shadow of a man in yellow raincoat. Suicide of chef is true, and supposedly his spirit is still lurking round top floors in this hotel, as i was told by manager… only found out about haunting – after hearing strange noises after 12am + seeing shadow of a man in my room…. Was also taken to razor room by one of the staff when 7th floor was forbidden to enter, left the place and never looked back. Even thou its renovated now, i would not step inside this place…
Stevie Wonder and Supremes stayed here in 1964 – I got their autographs!
worked here in the early 70 s love seeing all the old pics Great memories
I worked in the basement gym around 1995. One evening I had to use the stairs to go up to the staff canteen as the lift was broken and I came across a door slightly open. Inside was the strangest room with voile curtains blowing in a breeze I couldn’t feel and beautiful old furniture covered in see though fabric. It was so out of place and I’d never seen it before. I asked about the room and no other staff members new what I was talking about and I was never able to find it again. I’m still spooked by it! I just can not explain it.