AMAZING hand-painted wall murals dating from the late 19th century have been discovered on the staircase of a Bournemouth hotel.

The murals, the work of celebrated 19th-century artist John Thomas, were uncovered by contract decorators refurbishing a staircase to a function suite at the De Vere Royal Bath Hotel.

The original oil-painted floral and trellis designs, with detailed images depicting birds, were uncovered beneath layers of wallpaper.

The staircase once led to a library.

It is hoped to get funding to restore the murals to their full glory.

The exciting find was reported to Royal Bath Hotel general manager, Duncan Fisher who alerted Shaun Garner, museums' officer at the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.

Artist Thomas, who hailed from Manchester, was employed for many years as a resident artist by Sir Merton Russell-Cotes.

The staircase painting is thought to have been carried out around 1890.

Shaun has managed to locate several albums containing black and white photographs of the hotel prior to the many refurbishments undertaken since World War Two.

The albums contained many photographs of walls with similar designs found on the stairs but, disappointingly, no photographs of the stairs from that period.

The photographs are thought to have been taken for insurance valuation purposes in the 1920s.

Shaun explained: "John Thomas was employed as a resident artist by Russell-Cotes, a very grand and unusual position, and the quality of work seen on the stairway walls makes this almost certainly his own work.

"We know from articles written at the time Thomas spent many years decorating the walls and ceilings of all the public rooms and many of the main bedrooms."

The Royal Bath Hotel opened in Bournemouth in 1838 and is one of the town's finest listed buildings.

It contains many noteworthy architectural and decorative features including a chivalric relief frieze - a rare national survival.

The hotel has a strong connection with neighbouring Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum as the hotel was originally the home of Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes who purchased it in 1876.

Hotel manager Duncan Fisher will take advice from the borough conservation officer about the preservation or renovation of the mural.

He said: "We need to know if it is practical to fund a full renovation to the walls and display the art to our guests and conference visitors.

"I understand that while much of the damage caused by decorating over the years is not repairable, it could still be possible to make the staircase a feature for generations to come."