Opened in 1893 designed by the architect Thomas Knightley. He is said to have used the bellies of dead mice as a guide for the shade of grey that he required (but see below). He aimed at, and according to many accounts, achieved, superb acoustics. He clad the walls of the auditorium so that it functioned "like the body of the violin – resonant". Destroyed by the Luftwaffe on 10 May 1941.
2024: Described on page 240 of J. B. Priestley's 1930 London-set novel Angel Pavement: "... with its bluey-green walls and gilded organ-pipes and lights shining through holes in the roof like fierce sunlight, its rows of little chairs and music stands, all ready for business. It was fine. He did not buy a programme - they were asking a shilling each for them, and a man must draw a line somewhere..."
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