Comments on: At The Royalty Theatre, Wellclose Sq https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/ In the midst of life I woke to find myself living in an old house beside Brick Lane in the East End of London Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:46:08 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: Peter Holford https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/#comment-1121493 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 13:46:08 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=151211#comment-1121493 By chance I’ve come to this several weeks later by a different route. Researching my family history I found out that my 1st cousin 3 times removed was the builder of the theatre that collapsed in 1828. His name was George Pound and he gave testimony to the enquiry. The gist of the argument was that the brickwork was of the highest standard (he was bound to say that) but that the 100 ton iron roof was installed before the brickwork was completely set. That in itself was possibly surmountable but it seems that they started installing fittings that were secured to the roof and hauled up.

George had invested 50% of the capital – a huge amount which was the legacy of his father, George Richard Pound, who had built properties across the East End and north London. Unsurprisingly George jnr was declared bankrupt shortly afterwards.

]]> By: Shawdian https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/#comment-1115220 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 12:14:08 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=151211#comment-1115220 Known as the ‘Illegitimate Theatre’ what a farce would make for an excellent play itself. Credit to him for trying, but as my Shaw would tell you, The Chamberlain’s of Theatre were real old sticks in the mud with strict laws as tough as old John Palmer himself. It is quite fitting he went on to die on stage, just like many of our wonderful Comedians such as Tommy Cooper as he performed and Leonard Rossiter as he waited to take his call, and many others who followed in the tradional Comedians footsteps. I suppose you could say ‘it is they who got the last laugh’.

]]> By: Valerie-Jael https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/#comment-1114833 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 15:30:08 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=151211#comment-1114833 The theatre burnt down in 1826 after a fire, presumably caused because the gas lights on the stage had not been properly extinguished. Nice article today, Valerie

]]> By: Richard Pascoe https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/#comment-1114826 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 12:50:43 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=151211#comment-1114826 As Caroline asked , what brought the house down ? Well closed after that !
Interesting as usual , well done !

]]> By: Caroline Bottomley https://spitalfieldslife.com/2016/11/04/at-the-royalty-theatre-wellclose-sq/#comment-1114787 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:10:47 +0000 http://spitalfieldslife.com/?p=151211#comment-1114787 Great stories.
What brought about the the awful and tremendous fall of the Brunswick Theatre?

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