No 71 -  Victoria Hall, Hanley

The Victoria Hall dates from 1888, and was the brainchild of the Borough Surveyor, J. Lobely. Built in local red brick and terracotta, the classical Grade II Listed venue originally held 2,800 people, and has, over the years been the scene of numerous concerts, wrestling contests, boxing matches, and many rock gigs. I can personally testify to the hall’s legendary acoustics, having witnessed two of the city’s great gigs of modern times there: Primal Scream in 1994 and Suede in 1995.

By the mid 1990s though, the building, along with its parent town, had become tired and run-down and in need of some serious attention. The City Council identified the Victoria Hall – which although in need of a revamp was still operating successfully as a touring venue – as the potential catalyst of a cultural resurgence. A planned revamp of the Victoria Hall, along with plans for a new theatre through the conversion of a stunning Art Deco cinema, and a raft of public realm improvements, formed the City Council’s ‘Cultural Quarter’ initiative. Levitt Bernstein were selected as architects for the scheme and produced a stunning adaptation and extension of this great building, providing first class new facilities. The new Victoria Hall opened its doors in 1998, and has since been able to exceed all of its visitor targets.

The Victoria Hall extension is considered by many to be a nationally important example of how to extend an historic building without resorting to pastiche, and is certainly the most important architectural work in Stoke-on-Trent for many years; unashamedly modern, yet traditional too in the way materials common to the area are utilised, though with a contemporary twist. The principle behind this approach to extending a building is not new, and the Victoria Hall extension follows a trend that was started by the Georgian extension of the timber-framed Ford Green Hall many years ago.

David Proudlove

The foundation stone was laid in August, 1887, and the Hall officially opened on October 4th, 1888. The opening ceremony appears to have been one of those grand and prolonged occasions the Victorians loved, starting in the Sessional Court with Councillor Charlesworth presenting the key to the Hall to his Worship, the Mayor. This was followed by a procession to the Victoria Hall where an invited audience took part in a ceremony consisting of the National Anthem, 17 speeches, and four organ pieces. Next day, there was a "grand organ recital" by A. L. Peace, organist of Glasgow Cathedral, and, on the Saturday, another organ recital, billed as "People's Popular Night", and performed by J. Kendrick Pyne, organist of Manchester Cathedral.

On October 11th, the first North Staffordshire Musical Festival, a charity concert in aid of the North Staffs. Infirmary, and the Haywood, Leek, and Longton Cottage Hospitals, was held. The Hall was absolutely packed, the arena, balcony and gallery crowded, and in the stalls people were standing right up to the doors. Occupying the platform, which had been decorated with exotic plants, was the band, surrounding Dr. Heap, the conductor. Behind them rose rank after rank of ladies dressed in white, then the more sombre evening dress of the male vocalists, and, finally, the great organ, glittering with colour and gold.

The organ, one of the best known features of the Hall, was built by the Huddersfield firm of Conacher and presented by George Meakin. In 1922, it was rebuilt by Henry Willis, the greatest British organ-builder of his time, who was also responsible for the organs at Liverpool and Westminster Cathedrals.

The superb acoustics of the Hall are another great asset, and have not only served the needs of our fine local choirs but also attracted artists of international repute. Among many famous names are Joachim, Busoni, Madame Patti, McCormack, Gigli, Tauber and Robeson. Well-known composers of the day were commissioned to write works especially for the festivals; in 1896, Elgar's "King Olaf' received its first performance here.'

Neville Malkin 5th May 1976