Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1871- (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
100 linear metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Following the 1851 Great Exhibition (May 1-Oct 15 1851), the Commissioners of the Exhibition spent the bulk of the profits together with money from the government to buy the Kensington Gore Estate, in South Kensington, which lay opposite the Exhibition's location in Hyde Park. Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, proposed that a permanent series of facilities be built on the site for the enlightenment of the public including a 'music hall' . Progress on the scheme was slow and sadly in 1861 Prince Albert died without having seen his ideas come to fruition. The following year, Sir Henry Cole was given H.M. Queen Victoria's blessing to build the music hall if built in conjunction with a memorial to Albert. Sir Henry Cole directed the project and Captain Francis Fowke's drew up the Hall's designs, but unfortunately died in December 1865 leaving the design work to Colonel Henry Scott R.E. In 1867 the Commissioners granted the lease of 999 years on the site of the Hall at an annual rental of one shilling. To fund the Hall's construction private investors could buy seats at 100 pounds each - two of the first buyers were Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. In April Queen Victoria signed the Royal Charter under which the Hall operates and Lucas Brothers began building the foundations of the Hall. In April Queen Victoria laid the Hall's foundation stone and declared the building would from then on be known as the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences. The Hall's official opening ceremony was on 29 March 1871, at which the Hall's aim was described as, to be the 'finest in Europe for seeing, hearing and convenience', which its still aims to be today.
The list of famous performers, sports people, and world figures who have appeared at the Royal Albert Hall since it opened in 1871 is unrivalled. Wagner, Verdi and Elgar conducted the first UK performance of their own works on its concert platform, Rachmaninov played his own compositions and nearly every major classical solo artist and leading orchestra has performed at the Hall. The list of popular music artists includes Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Oscar Peterson, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Sting and Elton John and from a younger generation Adele, Jay Z, Kaiser Chiefs and the Killers. Sports men and women from a wide array of disciplines including boxing legend Mohammed Ali, tennis player John McEnroe and Sumo grand champions have entertained the Hall's audiences. Among leading world figures who have spoken at the Hall are Her Majesty The Queen, Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton. The Hall hosts several annual events including Cirque du Soleil, Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, the Royal Bristish Legion Festival of Remembrance, English National Ballet and the Henry Wood Promenade concerts every summer.
Repository
Archival history
GB 2000 RAH EV 1871- Collection level 100 linear metres Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences
Following the 1851 Great Exhibition (May 1-Oct 15 1851), the Commissioners of the Exhibition spent the bulk of the profits together with money from the government to buy the Kensington Gore Estate, in South Kensington, which lay opposite the Exhibition's location in Hyde Park. Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, proposed that a permanent series of facilities be built on the site for the enlightenment of the public including a 'music hall' . Progress on the scheme was slow and sadly in 1861 Prince Albert died without having seen his ideas come to fruition. The following year, Sir Henry Cole was given H.M. Queen Victoria's blessing to build the music hall if built in conjunction with a memorial to Albert. Sir Henry Cole directed the project and Captain Francis Fowke's drew up the Hall's designs, but unfortunately died in December 1865 leaving the design work to Colonel Henry Scott R.E. In 1867 the Commissioners granted the lease of 999 years on the site of the Hall at an annual rental of one shilling. To fund the Hall's construction private investors could buy seats at 100 pounds each - two of the first buyers were Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales. In April Queen Victoria signed the Royal Charter under which the Hall operates and Lucas Brothers began building the foundations of the Hall. In April Queen Victoria laid the Hall's foundation stone and declared the building would from then on be known as the Royal Albert Hall of Arts and Sciences. The Hall's official opening ceremony was on 29 March 1871, at which the Hall's aim was described as, to be the 'finest in Europe for seeing, hearing and convenience', which its still aims to be today.
The list of famous performers, sports people, and world figures who have appeared at the Royal Albert Hall since it opened in 1871 is unrivalled. Wagner, Verdi and Elgar conducted the first UK performance of their own works on its concert platform, Rachmaninov played his own compositions and nearly every major classical solo artist and leading orchestra has performed at the Hall. The list of popular music artists includes Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Oscar Peterson, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Sting and Elton John and from a younger generation Adele, Jay Z, Kaiser Chiefs and the Killers. Sports men and women from a wide array of disciplines including boxing legend Mohammed Ali, tennis player John McEnroe and Sumo grand champions have entertained the Hall's audiences. Among leading world figures who have spoken at the Hall are Her Majesty The Queen, Sir Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and former President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton. The Hall hosts several annual events including Cirque du Soleil, Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, the Royal Bristish Legion Festival of Remembrance, English National Ballet and the Henry Wood Promenade concerts every summer.
Royal Albert Hall
Programmes (20,000+), posters, tickets and handbills, event records, props and souvenirs.
3 linear metres expected annually
The collection is uncatalogued
The collection is available to the public by appointment only
Reproduction is at the discretion of the Archivist and in accordance with Copyright and Data Protection legislation
English
Finding aids exist for the collection
London Metropolitan Archives holds The Royal Choral Society archives (GB 0074 LMA/4058), which began its life as the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society, and was formed towards the end of 1871. In 1888 Queen Victoria became patron of the society, allowing it to change its name to the Royal Choral Society. During the 1920's and 1930's the Royal Choral Society became famous for its performances of Coleridge-Taylor's 'Hiawatha', performed in the Royal Albert Hall. Records include; LMA/4058/A: Administration; LMA/4058/B: Finance; LMA/4058/C: Legal papers; LMA/4058/D: Concert files; LMA/4058/E: Hiawatha; LMA/4058/F: Friends; LMA/4058/G: Photographs; LMA/4058/H: Music; LMA/4058/I: Printed Material; LMA/4058/J: Printing Blocks; LMA/4058/K: Recordings; LMA/4058/L: Programmes; LMA/4058/M: Ephemera; LMA/4058/N: Historical papers; LMA/4058/O: Artifacts.
The Royal College of Music (GB 1249) holds various early events programmes.
February 2012
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Royal Albert Hall
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Programmes (20,000+), posters, tickets and handbills, event records, props and souvenirs.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
3 linear metres expected annually
System of arrangement
The collection is uncatalogued
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
The collection is available to the public by appointment only
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction is at the discretion of the Archivist and in accordance with Copyright and Data Protection legislation
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Finding aids exist for the collection
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
London Metropolitan Archives holds The Royal Choral Society archives (GB 0074 LMA/4058), which began its life as the Royal Albert Hall Choral Society, and was formed towards the end of 1871. In 1888 Queen Victoria became patron of the society, allowing it to change its name to the Royal Choral Society. During the 1920's and 1930's the Royal Choral Society became famous for its performances of Coleridge-Taylor's 'Hiawatha', performed in the Royal Albert Hall. Records include; LMA/4058/A: Administration; LMA/4058/B: Finance; LMA/4058/C: Legal papers; LMA/4058/D: Concert files; LMA/4058/E: Hiawatha; LMA/4058/F: Friends; LMA/4058/G: Photographs; LMA/4058/H: Music; LMA/4058/I: Printed Material; LMA/4058/J: Printing Blocks; LMA/4058/K: Recordings; LMA/4058/L: Programmes; LMA/4058/M: Ephemera; LMA/4058/N: Historical papers; LMA/4058/O: Artifacts.
The Royal College of Music (GB 1249) holds various early events programmes.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English