The First Class Reading and Writing Room was located on A Deck, aft of the Grand Staircase and forward of the First Class Lounge. This room was originally intended to be a ladies retreat following dinner, similar to a drawing room.
Titanic[]
Purpose[]
As the title indicates, the Reading and Writing Room was a leisurely space on A-Deck for relaxation, reading, and writing home to family and friends. The room was on the Port side of the long corridor which connected the Grand Staircase to the Lounge and was generally a female domain. Although men could also use the room, few to none of them did. It was divided into two zones with a spacious main area and a smaller seating alcove off to the right separated by a porticoed doorway with oeil-de-boeuf windows. Like the Lounge, the room was raised above the Boat Deck, allowing for 11 ft. high windows and an enhanced feeling of spaciousness.
Decorated in a refined Georgian decorative order and painted white, the room featured delicate plaster work combined with sleek paneling, fluted columns, and a white marble fireplace. Potted palms on tall stands were placed in the corners of the room, while shaded sconces and beaded crystal chandeliers provided soft lighting. Comfortable silk-upholstered settees and chairs in shades of yellow and blue were grouped around tables and writing desks for convenience. The windows were lined with pink silk curtains and looked out onto the Promenade Deck, allowing ample sunlight to flood the room. The popularity of this space had proved disappointing aboard the Olympic, and Thomas Andrews had plans to convert part of the room on the Titanic into further passenger quarters.
The room was open from 8am to 11:30pm same as the First Class Lounge next door. It was a room painted in white and the tall windows had pink curtains to add to the feminine ambiance. Books could be borrowed from the Lounge and writing desks were provided for the use of writing letters to home or to send postcards. All post was posted at Cherbourg, France and Queenstown, Ireland. There was a postbox in the First-Class Lounge next to the doors entering the Lounge. The room was warmed by a coal-imitation fireplace.
During Titanic's maiden voyage, it was discovered that the room wasn't used a lot after dinner, because most ladies just remained at their tables. Thomas Andrews, designer of the ship, planned to reduce its size and include a few more First Class staterooms in this area. He proposed this to Bruce Ismay on April 12th.
Wreck[]
The Reading and Writing Room was caught in the sloping decks due to its vicinity near the breakup point. The alcove was still forward of the bend. As of 2012, the entire roof over that alcove has completely corroded away. The rest of the room and the fireplace were ravaged as the deck below and above gave way in the break-up.
Other Harland & Wolff Ships[]
RMS Olympic[]
On Olympic, this room was similar to Titanic's. Later on, the alcove of this room was removed and filled in with cabins. However, the alcove's raised roof remained on the deck above despite the removal of the alcove.
RMS/HMHS Britannic[]
On Britannic, the alcove was removed and filled in with cabins.
Gallery[]
