Popped out Friday night to Wilton's, London's' oldest surviving grand music hall, for birthday drinks at the bar with one of the architects overseeing its renovation. Tasked with updating the facilities whilst preserving the decaying faded grandeur of the peeling painted woodwork and crumbling plaster, his job will entail assessing which bits of rot are "charming", and therefore worthy of preservation, and which are not.
I persuaded the buildings manager to sneak me into the theatre to get a closer look after hours at its stunning interior and lucked onto a preview of the items due to go on sale the next day for their big clear out prior to renovation work starting.
I sort of seemed to have ended up buying a seven foot wide lit sign....
Originally part of the "LIVE AT WILTONS" sign that hung above their stage, the "WILTONS" bit remains in the bar, but, for a princely sum, I've grabbed the "LIVE AT" bit....
Originally part of the "LIVE AT WILTONS" sign that hung above their stage, the "WILTONS" bit remains in the bar, but, for a princely sum, I've grabbed the "LIVE AT" bit....
I'm not entirely sure why I've grabbbed it....
It's not making a whole lot of sense right now, but I suppose with more live events predicted to take place at Glebe, after the success of our Pop Up Theatre nights last year, I think I'm sure to find a use for it.
Now admire these shots of crumbly elegance.
(Photos by Alix Bateman, except for this one by Mike Twigg of the sign originally in situ)
It's not making a whole lot of sense right now, but I suppose with more live events predicted to take place at Glebe, after the success of our Pop Up Theatre nights last year, I think I'm sure to find a use for it.
Now admire these shots of crumbly elegance.
(Photos by Alix Bateman, except for this one by Mike Twigg of the sign originally in situ)