Southampton Guildhall facts for kids
Exterior at night
|
|
 O2 Guildhall Southampton
Location in Southampton
|
|
| Former names | Southampton Guildhall (1937-2013) |
|---|---|
| Address | W Marlands Rd Southampton SO14 7LP England |
| Location | Civic Centre |
| Coordinates | 50°54′29″N 1°24′22″W / 50.908154°N 1.406003°W |
| Owner | Southampton City Council (operated by Live Nation UK) |
| Capacity | 1,749 |
| Opened | 13 February 1937 |
The O2 Guildhall Southampton is a large building in Southampton, England. It's a special place where many different events happen. It's part of the Civic Centre, which is a group of important public buildings.
Inside the Guildhall, there are three main areas for events. These include the main Guildhall hall, the Solent Suite, and a lecture theatre.
Contents
What is the O2 Guildhall Southampton?
The O2 Guildhall Southampton is a famous music and event venue. It's known for hosting concerts, shows, and other big gatherings. It's a key part of Southampton's cultural life.
History of the Guildhall
When was the Guildhall built?
The Guildhall was designed with a grand entrance. It has a large porch with six tall columns. This design was made to match the other buildings in the Civic Centre. A person called the Earl of Derby officially opened the Guildhall on 13 February 1937.
The main hall inside is very big. It is about 43.5 meters (143 feet) long, 21.6 meters (71 feet) wide, and 11.6 meters (38 feet) high.
The Amazing Organ
The Guildhall has a special musical instrument called a pipe organ. It was built by a famous organ maker named John Compton. This organ was put in just before the building opened.
What makes it unique is that it has two different control panels. One is for playing classical music, and the other is for theatre music. Both panels use the same set of pipes. These pipes are hidden above the stage area. With about 4,000 pipes, it was the biggest organ Compton ever made!
The Guildhall during World War II
During World War II, the Guildhall was used for different purposes. In June 1940, it gave shelter to French soldiers. These soldiers had escaped from France during the Dunkirk evacuation.
In November 1940, Southampton was bombed during the Southampton Blitz. The Guildhall was hit by a bomb. This caused damage to the rooms behind the stage. Another bomb went into the basement and exploded. The building was also hit by many small fire bombs.
The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, visited the Guildhall in January 1941. He was touring the city to see the damage. In 1944, important military meetings were held here. These meetings were in preparation for the Normandy landings, a very important event in the war.
A Place for Music and Shows
In 1955, a new special floor was put in the main hall. This floor was designed to be springy, which is great for dancing and concerts. This change helped the Guildhall become a major place for music.
Many famous bands and singers have performed here. These include rock bands like The Rolling Stones in 1964. The Who played here in 1971. The famous singer-songwriter David Bowie performed in 1972 during his Ziggy Stardust Tour.
New Name for the Guildhall
On 7 October 2013, the Guildhall got a new name. It became the O2 Guildhall Southampton. This happened because of a partnership. Live Nation UK and O2 Telefónica joined together to operate the venue.
Images for kids
-
Exterior at night
