Tavistock Hotel, London W.C.1., Room Key
Vintage: Between 1862-1969 

This could have been Virginia Woolf's room key, but not very likely since where she stayed was bombed in WWII, but you never know - see below.

Early History
The origins of the Tavistock Hotel can be traced back to 1787 when Mr. Harrison leased a portion of George Robins' property in Covent Garden. This part became the Tavistock Breakfast Rooms, which advertised "excellent soups of various kinds are served up with great neatness" in addition to tea and coffee.

Development and Expansion
Over time, the Tavistock Breakfast Rooms merged with the adjoining Piazza Tavern, both under Mr. Harrison's management, to form the Tavistock Hotel. Initially, the hotel did not serve dinners, and when it eventually did, the food was cooked at a neighboring bakery and brought in.

Notable Residents
One of the most famous residents of the site was Virginia Woolf and her husband Leonard, who lived at 52 Tavistock Square from 1924 to 19399. Their residence is commemorated by a blue plaque on the side of the current hotel building.

World War II and Reconstruction
During World War II, the terrace houses on the southern side of Tavistock Square, including the Woolfs' former residence, were badly damaged by bombing. After the war, these damaged buildings were demolished to make way for the new Tavistock Hotel.

Modern Tavistock Hotel
The current Tavistock Hotel building was constructed in 1951, becoming the first hotel built in London after World War II. It is a large, red brick structure that occupies the entire southern part of Tavistock Square.

Today, the Tavistock Hotel stands as a testament to the area's resilience and transformation, blending its rich history with modern hospitality.

Transition to Hotel Keys
1862: Hotels began using metal keys attached to metal key plates with the hotel’s name on it.

Before the 1970s: These metal plates were replaced with plastic plates.

1970s: The introduction of punch card keys marked a significant shift, allowing for 4.2 billion unique combinations due to their 32 holes.