Albert Hall, Nottingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albert Hall |
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The Albert Hall from Wellington Circus
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| General information | |
| Type | Concert hall |
| Architectural style | Baroque Revival |
| Classification | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated: | 12 July 1972 |
| Reference #: | 1270608 |
| Location | Nottingham, England, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°57′15.91″N 1°9′23.02″W / 52.9544194°N 1.1563944°W |
| Completed | 1908 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Albert Edward Lambert |
The Albert Hall is a large building in Nottingham, England. It is a popular place for concerts, shows, and meetings. People come here to enjoy music, attend special events, and hold important gatherings.
Contents
A Look Back: The Albert Hall's Story
How the First Albert Hall Began
The very first Albert Hall started being built in 1873. It was meant to be a place for the Temperance movement in Nottingham. This movement encouraged people to avoid alcohol.
A local architect named Watson Fothergill designed the building. It was opened on September 26, 1876, by the Mayor of Nottingham, even though it wasn't quite finished yet.
Challenges and Changes for the Hall
When it was finished, the building cost about £15,000. This was a lot of money back then! It became the biggest concert hall in Nottingham. It was also used for important political meetings.
However, the hall often had money problems. In 1901, it was sold for £8,450 to a group of local business people. They reopened it in September 1902 as a Wesleyan Methodist mission.
The Fire and a New Beginning
Even with money troubles, the mission's work grew stronger. But then, on April 22, 1906, a big fire swept through the building. The Methodists realized they didn't have enough insurance to cover the damage.
A well-known local Methodist, Albert Edward Lambert, was asked to create a new plan. He had also worked on the Nottingham Midland Station. His new Albert Hall Methodist Mission was built to look like an Edwardian theatre or music hall. Just like the old temperance halls, it hosted concerts and other events.
Opening the New Albert Hall
The new Albert Hall was officially opened on September 15, 1910. Lady Florence Boot, whose husband Jesse Boot founded the Boots pharmacy chain, did the honors. The new building cost £40,000.
The Hall continued to be used as a Methodist mission. It remained Nottingham's largest concert venue until 1982. At that time, the church group joined with another local church.
Modern Updates and Use
Nottingham City Council bought the Albert Hall in 1987. They started a big renovation project. A new floor was added in the main hall to create a separate ground floor area.
The building was also connected to the Nottingham Playhouse next door. This made it a multi-purpose center. The work was finished in 1988. On February 23, 1989, Diana, Princess of Wales visited to celebrate the refurbishment.
Since July 1990, a company called Albert Hall Nottingham Ltd has managed the building. They use it as a place for business meetings, banquets, and entertainment.
What Happens at the Albert Hall Today?
The Albert Hall is a busy place! It has the Great Hall and 10 other meeting rooms of different sizes. It hosts many local and national conferences. It also continues to be used by local orchestras, schools, and volunteer groups for their events.
Famous Events at the Albert Hall
Many important and exciting events have happened at the Albert Hall over the years. Here are a few:
- The current Albert Hall was officially opened in March 1909.
- Part of the building was used as a hospital for wounded soldiers in 1916.
- The Labour Party held its yearly conference here on January 23, 1918.
- Famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin played a concert on November 21, 1934.
- Composer and pianist Rachmaninoff performed on March 21, 1938.
- Benjamin Britten conducted the London Philharmonic Orchestra on January 12, 1945.
- The famous band The Rolling Stones performed on March 2, 1964.
- Jethro Tull played a concert on September 24, 1970.
- T.REX performed on October 9, 1970.
- Black Sabbath played on their "Paranoid" Tour on January 19, 1971.
- Tangerine Dream performed on November 8, 1976.
- Diana, Princess of Wales visited on February 23, 1989, to mark the building's big update.
- Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spoke at a rally on June 12, 1989.
- Prime Minister John Major spoke at a Conservative Party (UK) conference on March 17, 1992.
- Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke at a Boots UK conference on July 26, 2006.
- Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his government met here on November 20, 2009.
The Albert Hall Organ
The Albert Hall has a very special organ. It was built in 1909 by J.J. Binns. It cost £4,500 and was a gift to Nottingham from Jesse Boot, 1st Baron Trent. It is known as the City Organ.
The beautiful wooden casing for the organ was made in the Boots shopfitting workshop in Nottingham. The detailed carvings were done by Fitchett & Woollacott.
Restoring the Organ
In 1993, the organ was fully restored by Harrison & Harrison. This project was led and paid for by the "Binns Organ Company," a local group formed just for this purpose.
The organ is so important that it has been given a Grade 1 listing by the British Institute of Organ Studies. This means it is an organ of outstanding historical and musical importance, and it is still mostly in its original condition.
Who Played the Organ?
Some of the people who played the organ at the Albert Hall include:
- Bernard Johnson (1909 – 1934)
- Lawrence Gordon Thorp (1934 – later)
See also
- Listed buildings in Nottingham (Radford and Park ward)
