The Oldest "Surviving" Purpose-Built Music Hall
...was the Clarence Music Hall, above the main entrance to Greenwich Market. Built in 1832, it was included as the equivalent of today's "entertainment complexes" that seem to have to be included in new public developments, when Sir Joseph Kay redesigned the area. Its entrance was at Number 7a and the main room spanned the archway. It was traditionally linked with The Admiral Hardy, but sadly that's about all I can find out about it so far.
A 1991 book by Darrell Spurgeon says it was, at the time he was writing, mooted to be a museum, but it would seem that that money started talking and it became the "Time Bar" and, now, of course, "Inc" with those Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen designs and the erotic wallpaper.
I haven't been in there since I found a fly in my very expensive cocktail and the waitress merely giggled and walked away.
But back to the Music Hall. I find it absolutely astonishing that in no book I own or anywhere on the Internet can I find anything more about this lost palace of entertainment. When Darrell Spurgeon was writing it was an empty room and the gallery was already enclosed but it seems that like so many other things in Greenwich's history, Clarence Music Hall has been forgotten.
Rebecca agrees - she writes:
I'm interested in the Admiral Hardy and the old music hall - as to what sort of music they'd have put on there and also any direct links to history of the market, which goes into more depth than just skimming over - which seems to be the case on the net.
The Phantom continues:
I am horribly busy at the moment, so I don't have time just yet to look into these, but I'm posting this in case anyone else knows any more. I know there are some historic-sleuths out there who might like to get their teeth into this one.
My suggestions for places to go on this would be The Heritage Centre at Woolwich (a lovely, lovely facility, but such a faff to get to I don't get to it nearly as much as I'd like)and The Theatre Museum - yes I know it's closed but they're moving to the V&A and they have a research department. If no one gets to it before I'm less busy, I'll go myself - but it's in Olympia and I just don't have time just now. In the meanwhile, a suggested reading list can be found here
For more general information about the market, see first here then - sorry - it's a trot back to the Heritage Centre in the depths of Woolwich...
http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/HistoryAndHeritage/HeritageCentre/
A 1991 book by Darrell Spurgeon says it was, at the time he was writing, mooted to be a museum, but it would seem that that money started talking and it became the "Time Bar" and, now, of course, "Inc" with those Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen designs and the erotic wallpaper.
I haven't been in there since I found a fly in my very expensive cocktail and the waitress merely giggled and walked away.
But back to the Music Hall. I find it absolutely astonishing that in no book I own or anywhere on the Internet can I find anything more about this lost palace of entertainment. When Darrell Spurgeon was writing it was an empty room and the gallery was already enclosed but it seems that like so many other things in Greenwich's history, Clarence Music Hall has been forgotten.
Rebecca agrees - she writes:
I'm interested in the Admiral Hardy and the old music hall - as to what sort of music they'd have put on there and also any direct links to history of the market, which goes into more depth than just skimming over - which seems to be the case on the net.
The Phantom continues:
I am horribly busy at the moment, so I don't have time just yet to look into these, but I'm posting this in case anyone else knows any more. I know there are some historic-sleuths out there who might like to get their teeth into this one.
My suggestions for places to go on this would be The Heritage Centre at Woolwich (a lovely, lovely facility, but such a faff to get to I don't get to it nearly as much as I'd like)and The Theatre Museum - yes I know it's closed but they're moving to the V&A and they have a research department. If no one gets to it before I'm less busy, I'll go myself - but it's in Olympia and I just don't have time just now. In the meanwhile, a suggested reading list can be found here
For more general information about the market, see first here then - sorry - it's a trot back to the Heritage Centre in the depths of Woolwich...
http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/HistoryAndHeritage/HeritageCentre/
Labels: Art, Mostly-Accurate History
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:34
2 Comments:
Nevermind the flies - I can't stand being in that place now. The Time Bar was an amazing venue. The atmosphere on Sunday evenings with the live band was incredible. Along with chaning exhibtions on the walls and all the original old features, I couldn't fault the place. As for how it is now I struggle to find the words. Those plasma screens. Arrgh. Vandalism.
Anyway, on the history note, I once read it had some part to play in the making of 2001:A Space Odessy. I think some of the post production may have been done there. Can't remember where I read that though.
Andy
I too was going to mention those Sunday nights in Time. I am convinced that was the best Sunday night out in London at the time.
The female vocalist (Andrea?)went on to do bigger things, but I often wonder what happened to the keyboard player (he used to play in The Trafalgar too). He was excellent.
A couple of the barmen went on to buy the old bank in Deptford and turned it in to Live Bar....
For a while INC was great, the only place in Greenwich you could get good food, cocktails and have a bit of a dance.
I pop in occasionally now and generally manage to have a reasonable night... and I'd rather have a reasonable night in Greenwich than one in central London (and not pay the £35-40 cab fare!)
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