03/09/2026
LOOK WHAT WE FOUND… 👀
Today, while changing some of the carpet at The Royal, we uncovered a little piece of history that has been hidden beneath our feet.
Underneath was this beautiful old geometric tiled floor, complete with hexagonal tiles and an intricate border in red, cream, black and buff.
We knew our building had stories to tell, but it’s quite something to physically uncover one. ❤️
The Royal first opened its doors in 1810, making it Weston-super-Mare’s first resort hotel. The building was then substantially enlarged and refurbished during the mid-1800s, with major works taking place around 1849–1851.
Geometric tiled floors like this became particularly fashionable during the Victorian period, so we’re currently trying to learn more about exactly when ours was laid. We don’t want to put an exact date on it until we know for certain, but there’s every possibility this floor has been beneath the feet of Royal Hotel guests for well over 100 years.
Just imagine how many people have walked across these tiles…
Guests arriving by horse-drawn carriage, Victorian holidaymakers visiting the growing seaside resort, generations of staff, celebrations, dinners and dances, and now us, pulling back the carpet and discovering it all over again.
Sometimes history isn’t hanging on the wall. Sometimes it’s been underneath your feet the whole time. ❤️
