Library Code:- UKC/POS/LDN RHE
Alternative names of this theatre
Seven Tankards and Punch Bowl Public House, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
National Hall/National Schoolrooms, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Weston's Music Hall, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Royal Music Hall,High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Royal Holborn Empire, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Holborn Empire, High Holborn, Holborn, London, England
Names Connected to this theatre
manager : Weston, Edward, Mr.
manager : Sweasey, John Samuel, Mr.
manager : Holland, William, Mr.
manager : Purkiss, William Thomas, Mr.
manager : Adams, Samuel, Mr.
manager : Tyler, Spencer William Thomas, Mr.
manager : Hollingshead, John, Mr., (manager of the Gaiety Theatre from 1868)
manager : Brill, John , Mr.
manager : Lundy, Harry, Mr.
manager : Gibbons, Walter, Mr.
manager : Gulliver, Charles, Mr.
architect : Finch Hill, W., Mr.
architect : Paraire, Edward Lewis, Mr.
architect : Lander and Bedells
architect : Matcham, Frank, Mr., 1854 - 1920
In the 1850s Edward Weston transformed the Holborn National Schools into a Music Hall which opened in 1857, bearing his name. In 1868 it was renamed the Royal Music Hall.
Later names include the Royal Holborn Empire, and the Royal Holborn Theatre of Varieties. William Thomas Purkiss and Samuel Adams managed the theatre from 1886 to 1890. The architects Lander and Bedells worked on the building from 1887-1897.
In 1906 the auditorium was developed by Frank Matcham at a cost of £30,000. By 1921 it was known as the Holborn Empire. The last surviving variety hall in the West End it was closed by bombing in 1941 but wasn't demolished until 1961.
Related Material
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/westons.htm
Please contact Mrs. S. Crabtree, Special Collections Librarian for details of access to the collections (S.A.Crabtree@kent.ac.uk)
(Last updated 24th June 2004)