Grand stands
The large IRA bomb placed in the Grand Hotel in Brighton succeeded in killing four people. A small domestic gas
explosion in the Ronan Point tower block in 1968 killed five. This was because the pre-fabricated structure partially col- lapsed. In contrast, the massive masonry structure of the Grand largely withstood the blast and undoubtedly minimised the casualties. It may well be that the survival of Mr Thatcher's Government was due to `Victorian values', that 'is, the value of building solidly and well. The Grand Hotel is certainly not a very distinguished build- ing architecturally. Designed by John Whichcord, a future President of the RIBA, and built in 1862-64, it is in an eclectic Italian manner which, with its towers and balconies, seems so appropriate by the seaside. It cost £57,000 to build: money well spent. As the bombing of the last war also demonstrated, the resilience of soundly built Victorian sructures is an asset which, in recent years, we have been prodigal in destroying and replacing. Many modern concrete structures are not built so well, nor are they designed to last as long. If the bomb had gone off in the adjacent and horrible new conference centre, the casualities would undoubtedly have been much higher than they were. It is good to hear that the hotel's owners have promised that the Grand will be fully restored.
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