Post by Admin on Jan 22, 2008 18:08:46 GMT
In an article from 2 Nov 1968's Keighley News ~ an article shows that Britannia Hall built in 1850 was sited in its position in the hope that one day a road from Low Street to Halifax Rd would be built. It goes on to say that it has taken over a 100 years for their far sighted imagination to become fact.
This early attempt to anticipate town planning was made by members of the New Britannia Lodge of Oddfellows. They bought the land, previously a church burial ground, on the assumption that the land would increse in value with the building of the thoroughfare.
The halls fortunes diminished though the years, and today (remember this is 1968) it is used as a fruit and potato warehouse and a sports and social club and a bookie
When the hall was finished the committee decided to use it for public entertainment.
No records remains of the type of entertainment held inthe early days.
One of the first tenants was the Keighley Thespian Society, who used the hall to stage Shakespearian productions and other miscellaneous plays.
Before the Hall was built the Thespian Society had to perform in a barn, now demolished, which later became Murray's Stable, and later Laycock's Leather Warehouse.
In 1861 Mr S Pickuls, proprietor of the "Royal Alhambra"another theatre in Market Street, hired the hall to stage productions "on a scale hitherto not attemped in Keighley" The production included Catherine Howard, Soldiers Progress and Miser of Hanging Ditch.
After Mr Puckuls, the hall was let to a Mr Bainton, who also produced plays in the hall which became known as "Baintons Theatre"
The hall was not always used for such serious matter, however. In 1864 it was let to Mr John Rhodes as a music hall. Unfortunately there are no records of anyone who appeared there during Mr Rhodes tenancy.
In the late 1860's Mr ABrham Kershaw took over the lease and introduced the variety theatre to Keighley. The variety theatre was in its infancy in those days and many performers who later rose to stardom passed through Keighley. It is believed that both Dan Leno and Vesta Tiley appeared in the Britannia Hall.
In 1885, the hall was let to the Salvation Army as their Citadel. Previously the "Army" had occupied premises in Queen STreet on the site of the later Hippodrome. The hall was to remain as the Citadel until the Salvation Army erected their own Citadel on Cook Lane in 1922.
After being extensively renovated in 1927, the hall was again let for public entertainments. It was used for dances up to a during the war, and many Keighley people will remember such names as the "Swing Trio"
Great things was planned for the Britannia Hall when Market Street was extended. Now Worth Way has brought that extension, but unfortunately a little too late. The glories that were to be the Brittania Hall's are now like Dan Leno and Vesta Tilley......of a byegone age - just ghosts of the past.
I know someone asked about the Britannia Hall ~ perhaps this will help them.
This early attempt to anticipate town planning was made by members of the New Britannia Lodge of Oddfellows. They bought the land, previously a church burial ground, on the assumption that the land would increse in value with the building of the thoroughfare.
The halls fortunes diminished though the years, and today (remember this is 1968) it is used as a fruit and potato warehouse and a sports and social club and a bookie
When the hall was finished the committee decided to use it for public entertainment.
No records remains of the type of entertainment held inthe early days.
One of the first tenants was the Keighley Thespian Society, who used the hall to stage Shakespearian productions and other miscellaneous plays.
Before the Hall was built the Thespian Society had to perform in a barn, now demolished, which later became Murray's Stable, and later Laycock's Leather Warehouse.
In 1861 Mr S Pickuls, proprietor of the "Royal Alhambra"another theatre in Market Street, hired the hall to stage productions "on a scale hitherto not attemped in Keighley" The production included Catherine Howard, Soldiers Progress and Miser of Hanging Ditch.
After Mr Puckuls, the hall was let to a Mr Bainton, who also produced plays in the hall which became known as "Baintons Theatre"
The hall was not always used for such serious matter, however. In 1864 it was let to Mr John Rhodes as a music hall. Unfortunately there are no records of anyone who appeared there during Mr Rhodes tenancy.
In the late 1860's Mr ABrham Kershaw took over the lease and introduced the variety theatre to Keighley. The variety theatre was in its infancy in those days and many performers who later rose to stardom passed through Keighley. It is believed that both Dan Leno and Vesta Tiley appeared in the Britannia Hall.
In 1885, the hall was let to the Salvation Army as their Citadel. Previously the "Army" had occupied premises in Queen STreet on the site of the later Hippodrome. The hall was to remain as the Citadel until the Salvation Army erected their own Citadel on Cook Lane in 1922.
After being extensively renovated in 1927, the hall was again let for public entertainments. It was used for dances up to a during the war, and many Keighley people will remember such names as the "Swing Trio"
Great things was planned for the Britannia Hall when Market Street was extended. Now Worth Way has brought that extension, but unfortunately a little too late. The glories that were to be the Brittania Hall's are now like Dan Leno and Vesta Tilley......of a byegone age - just ghosts of the past.
I know someone asked about the Britannia Hall ~ perhaps this will help them.
