I can’t explain where this desire comes from, but there is something really appealing to me about staying in a London hotel that just might be haunted. 👻 I’m not saying that the Dixon Hotel is haunted, but it sure seems like a natural candidate. It served as the Magistrates Court and Police Station from 1905 to 2013 and its jail cells forced people to remain here against their will. Could these hallways still be roamed by the spirits of former prisoners?
My guess is it’s John Dixon Butler. The original architect of the building, they couldn’t find a portrait of him to hang in his honor so they chose something with a bouquet of flowers where his head ought to be instead. Could he be wandering, discombobulated, in search of his noggin? 🤷♂️
It was exhilarating to explore the quiet maze of frequently darkened staircases and hallways! I think I’m pretty good with directions, but when I found myself disoriented and quite unsure of my location within the hotel, I discovered an unfamiliar doorway that opened to the lobby very near where I began. Where had I just traveled? I’d tell you if I could. What I can tell you is that there were many occasions when I gazed through the peephole in our door late at night to try and catch a glimpse of something. 👀
If you visit be sure to search for the wall displaying a copy of every jail cell key utilized here in the past, the chandelier that features handcuffs (I counted 64 of them), the benches with original prisoner carvings, examples of actual mugshots, the former courtrooms that are now a bar and a conference room, the narrow back staircase where defendants were escorted from the courtroom to one of 20 jail cells, the “Met Police” logo in the tile flooring, the 2 jail cells that have been preserved, and the portraits of 3 famous former residents of SE1 (who were not defendants).
It seems fitting to me that @marriott included this property in their Autograph Collection.
And that’s…Henry’s Take.
Photo Credits: Dixon Associates Krisztian and Sandor
The Dixon
211 Tooley Street
London, England
+44 20 3959 2900
www.marriott.com
