The Agricultural Hall (1862 - 1943)
Dates
- Existence: 1862 - 1943
- Usage: 1862 - 1884
- Usage: 1884 - 1943
Biography
The Agricultural Hall opened in 1862 in Islington, London. It was built by the Royal Smithfield Club to hold annual exhibitions of livestock, agricultural produce and agricultural implements. In 1884 it was renamed the Royal Agricultural Hall.
The Hall held the Royal Smithfield Club's Smithfield Show from its inception until 1938, when the show had grown so big that it had to be moved to Olympia. It was also the venue for the first ever Crufts dog show in 1891 and hosted the Royal Tournament from 1880 until it also became too large and had to be moved to Olympia in the early 20th century.
During the Second World War, the hall was requisitioned by the Government, and served as a parcel depot sorting office from 1943. After the war the Hall was abandoned for decades until businessman Sam Morris bought it in 1986 to convert it into a modern exhibition venue and conference centre called The Business Design Centre. The Business Design Centre continues operating today and it’s a Grade II listed building.
Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Handbills, c1786 - 1968
Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.
John Bramwell Taylor Collection
Posters, c1800 - 2011
A wide range of British and international circus and menagerie posters ranging from the 19th to the 21st century including Astley's Amphitheatre, Pablo Fanque, Polito, Bostock and Wombwell, Ducrow, Cooke, Hengler, Sanger, Smart, Gerry Cottle, Bertram Mills, Chipperfield's, Robert Brothers, Fossett, Blackpool Tower, Billy Russell, Belle Vue, Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, Austen Brothers and many more.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian Circus Posters, c1800 - 1930
Early circus and menagerie posters including Polito's menagerie, Astley's Amphitheatre and Pablo Fanque's, Sanger's, Powell's, Ducrow's, Cooke's and Hengler's circuses among others.