“Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

The Albert Hall is a beautiful Victorian theatre in Llandrindod Wells in Powys, Wales. It was built in 1896 to designs by Owen Morris Roberts. The Building was Grade II listed on 30 September 1985.^[1]

It is a period Victorian building, built when Llandrindod boomed as a spa town, which has retained most of its original features. The early history of building and maintaining the Albert Hall was inextricably bound up with the Ithon Road Presbyterian Church, and it is a tribute to the labour of the small membership of the Church (approximately 100) who worked so splendidly to clear the costs.

In the 1890's the Church saw the need of a Hall to accommodate the visitors to hold Welsh services. There were 80-90,000 visitors coming to the town each year for spa treatment and rest, under about a dozen doctors. During the height of the summer season a large proportion were Welsh speaking. Previously these services had been held in the Assembly Hall in the High Street, but it had been taken over by the late Mr Tom Norton, who had set up business there. The Albert Hall was completed in 1896 at a cost of £1,600, plus the cost of furnishing it. The total was £2,000. The exterior was very much as we know it today, with the exception of the main doors, canopy and steps. The seating

capacity was 750, on movable chairs, all numbered. There was a very small stage, with tiers of steps at the back for choirs to assemble. The acoustics were very good. There was a small balcony at the back of the hall with wooden seats. The Church and the Albert Hall were structurally merged and one heating system was used for both buildings. The name Albert Hall was adopted from a suggestion by Mr Edward Jenkins (a member of the Church), who had recently come from the Gwalia Hotel, London, to be Managing Director of the Gwalia Hotel, Llandrindod Wells - now the Powys County Council Offices in Ithon Road.^[2]

The theatre is owned by the Community of Llandrindod Wells and is managed by a committee of dedicated volunteers and members of other organisations. In the present day, the theatre has a capacity of just over 400 and is available for hire at very modest fees.

The Albert Hall is hired by many users, including local amateur theatre group Llandrindod Wells Theatre Company, local Young Farmers groups and other local performance groups, clubs and schools, as well as touring productions and shows. The committee strive to bring an interesting and varied programme of users and productions to the town and the Albert Hall theatre may be hired by anyone for their own performance or show. As well as performances the Albert Hall can be hired as a theatre style conference venue.

As a registered charity, (Charity Number 524464^[3]) in order to open and function as a well maintained resource, the Albert Hall relies on the support of its community, users and volunteers and as such the management committee strive to put on fundraising events throughout the year, including a Talent Night in October and a Christmas Singalong in December. The theatre has also put on two of its own productions of well known musicals, The Addams Family in 2015 and Little Shop of Horrors in 2017. There is also a friends of the Albert Hall group, the AHFriends that contribute to the fundraising efforts of the committee.

References

1. ^https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300009057-albert-hall-llandrindod-wells#.XDzxbPZ2vcs|Albert Hall, Llandrindod Wells - Listing Status
2. ^http://thealberthall.co.uk/?page_id=129|A History Extract
3. ^http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithoutPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=524464&SubsidiaryNumber=0|Charity Number 524464

External links