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 22 Collections and/or Records:
Agricultural Hall Poster, c1838 - 1842
Bill Barnes Collection
Programmes, posters and photographs mainly related to the Poole family's travelling Myriorama show.
Christmas Fair and Bazaar Programme, 27 December 1873
Mander's Huge Collection of Wild Beasts at Royal Agricultural Hall. Royal Agricultural Hall, Christmas Fair & Bazaar, Including Mander's Huge Collection of Wild Beasts. Printed by G. Tarrant and Co., (late Smith and Tarrant), 70 Liverpool Road, 4pp.
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
Crecraft’s Exhibition Handbill, c1874
The Original Mr and Mrs Tommy Dodd at the Agricultural Hall, London. “The King and Queen of the Lilliputians”. Printed by Alfred Ballard, Steam Printer, Cannon Street Road, E, London.
Exhibition and Entertainments Handbills, c1790 - 1939
Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances at a wide range of venues.
Great Christmas Fete Handbill, 1874 - 1875
Games, attractions, bazaars and sideshows at Royal Agricultural Hall, ‘the greatest combination of exhibitions ever brought together under one roof’, 4pp. Printed by G. Tarrant & Co., 70 Liverpool Road, Islington, N.
Handbills, c1786 - 1968
Handbills for travelling shows, fairs, exhibitions and performances in London.
John Bramwell Taylor Collection
Mohawk Minstrels Poster, 21 October 1885
Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. Annual Benefit, 20 Songs for the Occasion, Principal London Variety Artistes. Black type on white background. Printed by Aubert's Steam Printing Works, Maiden Lane, Strand.
Monographs, Articles, Manuscripts and Research Material, c1795 - 1999
Compilation of monographs, articles, manuscripts and a range of research material about circus companies and performers in the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world by various authors, the research was mainly compiled by Hal Thomas.
Posters, c1880 - 1899
Poster related to the Poole family film shows, Gompertz's diorama and other early cinema travelling shows and venues.
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.
Prof. Hamblett Handbill, 1908 - 1911
Expert Character Reader direct from the World's Fair at The Royal Agricultural Hall, London. A flyer with 64 personality points.
Programmes, c1800 - 2019
A collection of mainly British and international circus programmes and some variety and music hall programmes containing circus acts.
Programmes for Circuses at the New World's Fair, Royal Agricultural Hall, 1900 - 1939
Programmes for circuses at the new World's Fair, Royal Agricultural Hall including Billy Wilson's Circus, Carl Hagenbeck, Circus Krone and Althoff's Circus, containing monochrome and colour illustrations on the front covers, inside black and white photographs of perfomers and acts with some text and illustrations including the Naito Troupe, Alfred Court and The South China Troupe, programme and commercial advertising.
Richardson's Show Handbill, 1889
The Gipsy's Vengeance at Royal Agricultural Hall. A list of acts from which a variety will perform at each show.
Royal Agricultural Hall Islington Handbills, c1860 - 1889
Handbills for travelling shows, exhibitions and performances at Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington.
The Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth Monograph, c1900 - 1999
History and uses of the Hippodrome and the acts appearing in it, a well as details of George Gilbert's temporary circus building in Great Yarmouth and winter circus seasons at the Agricultural Hall, 1893-1954, Norwich by H.T.G. Tinkler, bound volume in brown leather and fabric covers with gold type on spine, approximately 300p.p. Typescript.
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.