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The site of the Gaiety Theatre from the 1800s to the present day.
Above - The Original Gaiety Theatre, Strand, London, formerly the Strand Musick Hall - From 'The Sphere' 1950.
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Above - The original Gaiety Theatre was demolished in 1903 and here the foundations are being laid in 1901, only a few tens of yards from the original theatre, for the building of the New Gaiety Theatre which would open in 1903 - 'Black & White Budget' September 28th 1901
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Above - The new Gaiety Theatre, Aldwych, which opened in 1903.
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Above - The Illustrated London News in 1957 reports on the building soon to replace the 2nd Gaiety Theatre which closed in 1939 and was demolished in 1957. Click to Enlarge - See also Marconi House. |
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Above - The English Electric Company building which replaced the 2nd Gaiety Theatre. In 2003 the building was owned by Citibank. Photo M.L. 03. See also Marconi House. |
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Above - The English Electric Company building which replaced the 2nd Gaiety Theatre. In 2003 the building was owned by Citibank. Photo ML 05. See also Marconi House.
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Above - The Citibank building being demolished to make way for
a new hotel in 2005 You may notice that some of the Plane Trees planted when the new Aldwych road scheme and Gaiety Theatre were first constructed in 1903 are still there in 2005, over a hundred years later.
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Above - The Citibank building almost completely demolished, in January 2006 - Photo ML 06. See also Marconi House.
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Above - The Citibank building is completely demolished and Ariel House / Marconi House is mostly gutted. The former kitchens of the Gaiety Restaurant can be seen at ground level directly opposite the camera - December 2006 - Photo ML - Site access kindly granted by Lee Horsley, project manager for the demolition/temporary works/facade retention scheme at the former Citibank / Marconi House. Behind the Citibank building, built on the site of the 2nd Gaiety Theatre, was the Gaiety Restaurant. The restaurant was not successful and closed down in 1908. The building afterwards became the headquarters of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company and was known as Marconi House; later it became the headquarters of the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it was renamed Ariel House. This part of the site is currently gutted leaving only the retaining walls in place. |
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Above - Remains of the Gaiety Restaurant Kitchens in December 2006 - Photo ML - Site access kindly granted by Lee Horsley, project manager for the demolition/temporary works/facade retention scheme at the former Citibank/Marconi House. Behind the Citibank building, built on the site of the 2nd Gaiety Theatre, was the Gaiety Restaurant. The restaurant was not successful and closed down in 1908. The building afterwards became the headquarters of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company and was known as Marconi House; later it became the headquarters of the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it was renamed Ariel House. This part of the site is currently gutted leaving only the retaining walls in place. |
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Above - Remains of the Gaiety Restaurant Kitchens in December 2006 - Photo ML - Site access kindly granted by Lee Horsley, project manager for the demolition/temporary works/facade retention scheme at the former Citibank/Marconi House. Behind the Citibank building, built on the site of the 2nd Gaiety Theatre, was the Gaiety Restaurant. The restaurant was not successful and closed down in 1908. The building afterwards became the headquarters of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company and was known as Marconi House; later it became the headquarters of the Ministry of Civil Aviation when it was renamed Ariel House. This part of the site is currently gutted leaving only the retaining walls in place.
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Above - The original entrance to Marconi House can be seen on the left of the site as the Citibank building has finished being demolished and Ariel House / Marconi House are gutted leaving only the retaining walls, in December 2006 - Photo ML 06 - Site access kindly granted by Lee Horsley, project manager for the demolition/temporary works/facade retention scheme at the former Citibank/Marconi House.. The remains of a Public House were found in an archaeological dig below the site shown here, where several interesting items were found including beer taps. The public House predates the Gaiety Theatre, the Museum of London and English Heritage were on site during the excavation.
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Above - The Citibank building is completely demolished and Ariel House / Marconi House is mostly gutted, only the retaining walls remaining in December 2006 - Photo ML - Site access kindly granted by Lee Horsley, project manager for the demolition/temporary works/facade retention scheme at the former Citibank/Marconi House. |
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Above - The Citibank building is completely demolished and only the retaining walls of Marconi House / Ariel House, formerly the Gaiety Restaurant, remaining in December 2006 - Photo ML 06. Work on the demolition of the site was completed on the 22nd of December 2006 when building began on the new Hotel, see images below. |
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Above - The first section of the new hotel, built
on the site of the Gaiety Theatre,
rises from the ground in April 2007 |
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Above - The Silken Hotel being constructed on the former site of the Gaiety Theatre and Marconi House in November 2007 - Photo M. L. 2007. |
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Above - The Silken Hotel being constructed on the former site of the Gaiety Theatre and Marconi House in November 2007 - Photo M. L. 2007. |
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Above - The Silken Hotel being constructed on the former site of the Gaiety Theatre and Marconi House from the roof of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in April 2008 - Photo M. L. 2008. |
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Above - Artist's impression of the Silken Hotel,
which is currently being built on the former site of the Gaiety
Theatre and Marconi
House - Courtesy Foster
and Partners. The first UK venture for the Spanish Silken Hotel Group is located on a prominent site at the intersection of the Strand and the Aldwych. This premium position will be an appropriate address for their new flagship five-star hotel. The project will deliver a bold contemporary vision within this richly historic location, by combining the restoration of the listed facade of Marconi House, with a new Portland Stone building and an entirely restructured interior. The scheme comprises restaurants, bars, a rooftop terrace with spectacular views across Central London, a 170 bedroom hotel and 90 apartments. The proposals have been developed with sensitivity to the Strand Conservation area and in close consultation with Westminster Planners. Retaining the Grade II listed facade to the rear, Portland Stone has been used for the new elements, to remain in keeping with the original Aldwych masterplan. The concept was to create a seamless relationship between the existing building and the contemporary additions. The hotel is contained within the new facade, which corresponds in height, scale and material palette to the adjacent apartment accommodation within the earlier listed masonry facade. Inside, a dramatic eleven-storey atrium will create a focus for the collective activities of the hotel. Text and image Courtesy Foster and Partners. |
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