| AdminHistory | The site on which Wilton's Music Hall stands, once accommodated a network of buildings in Graces Alley, including the Prince of Denmark public house. John Wilton bought the premises in 1850 and rebuilt the music hall in 1859. It was an unrivalled success, as it accorded with Wilton's aim to provide West End glamour and entertainment for local working people.
Wilton died in 1880. Later, the Wesleyan Methodist-inspired East End Mission purchased the former music hall and named it the Mahogany Bar Mission, in keeping with the building's original features (1). The Mission enlivened local proceedings by running a soup Kitchen during the Dockers' Strike in 1889and permitting union meetings in the original Mahogany Bar (2). As one of the Mission stations, 'soup and bread had been given to mothers representing from 2,000-3,000 souls' (3). The Mission held Sunday School anniversaries on the premises. One speaker urged scholars 'to always stand firm in the path of duty' (4). Another emphasised 'the great need for religious training in the young' (5). The Mission became a focal point during the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, and for people bombed out of their homes during WW2.
Between the Mission's closure in 1956 and the mid-1960s, the premises was used as a rag warehouse. The London County Council drew up plans to demolish and redevelop the site (6) and this kickstarted a long and arduous campaign, during which the building was conveyed to a trust (7). The building was awarded Listed Status in the 1970s. Eventually, the disused space attracted artists and film makers, and reopened for live performances in 1997.
A major consideration became the protection of the remaining original street patterns and the buildings therein, including the old Wilton's (8). An unsuccessful application for lottery funding in 2011 suggested an uncertain future, while witnessing a resurgence of campaigning vigour. In 2015, Heritage Lottery funding enabled an extensive restoration programme. Consequently, Wilton's fortunes revived, as a thriving arts and heritage venue.
Sources of information
1. 'The Mahogany Bar Mission' in mymethodisthistory.org.uk
2. 'Wilton's Music Hall - The East End Mission aka The Old Mahogany Bar Mission' in methodistheritage.org.uk
3. 'The Position As The Surrey Commercial Docks': p.5/6 in London Daily News, Saturday 7th September 1889
4/5. 'Sunday School Anniversary at the Mahogany Bar': p.7/8 in East London Observer, Saturday 17th February 1912.
(References 3-5: British Newspaper Archive)
6. Wilton's Music Hall Archive in vam.ac.uk
7. '2, Graces Alley - part of Wilton's Music Hall: Rescue from demolition and renewal schemes 1960s-1980s' in surveyoflondon.org (7th December 2018)
8. - 'Wilton's Music Hall Conservation Area Character Appraisal ' (LBTH), 4th November 2009
arthurlloyd.co.uk/wiltons
wiltons.org.uk |
| CustodialHistory | Originally catalogued as L. 9413 (class 795.1) |