Quote Originally Posted by fortinian View Post
But WW... it isn't a proper French chateau, it's a hotel in a wet and windy nothern English city.
It was based on the style of French Château. The building opposite was based on a Greek building, but it also is not in Greece.

Advocating the removal of the 'ear muffs' is historical vandalism, altering Waterhouse's original design and to it I say "non!"
It is not vandalism. It will clearly improve the building. And do what the original designer wanted. It is only grade 2 listed and only from 1867. The ear muffs were a way to attempt to hide the stacks - not very successfully. It looks so much better without them - much more crisp. The earmuffs obscure the attractive spires -they must go. Also, the now needless stacks require maintenance and many have fallen.