Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 11.djvu/324

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NOTES AND QUERIES. no s. XL APRILS, im

The unfortunate Imperial Theatre has gone from among London's places of amuse- ment, for in February tenders were invited by Messrs. Trollope " for the equipment, including fireproof curtain, seating accom- modation, draperies of the royal boxes, furniture, and effects." The building itself was dismantled, and on Wednesday, 5 Feb- ruary, Mr. H. C. Trollope offered at auction " Naboth's Vineyard " and " the last section of the Aquarium site," as he described the area of 23,740 feet of freehold land, upon a portion of which this theatre stood. It is currently reported that Mrs. Langtry (Lady de Bathe) expended 50,000/. on the theatre. The vacant land was first put up for sale, the opening bid being one of 50,OOOZ. This was carried by 5,OOOZ. bids to 75,OOOZ., and when 19,5001. was reached competition flagged, and eventually the auctioneer made a bid of 85,OOOZ. on behalf of the vendors. The Imperial Theatre, " with its area of about 12,000 square feet," was then sub- mitted separately, but no offer was forth- coming, so the property remained unsold. In the first week of August the demolition of the theatre was begun, and its brief but chequered career came to an end by the close of September. The fabric was care- iully taken down section by section and piece by piece, with a view to its erection on another site, " about twelve miles away."

In Great Chapel Street, and extending round into Dacre Street, was progressing all through the year the framework of a building ior flats with shops under. The system of construction comes from America, and has been well taken to in this country. It is known as the " reinforced concrete and steel frame system," and it is claimed for it that it is very durable, and has extraordinary fire-resisting qualities and high rigidity. This building is stated to be one of the first big works of the kind in London, so its progress will be watched with great interest. It has taken the whole of the year to get the frame together, the work being carried out by Messrs. Redpath & Brown as con- structional engineers.

Some extensive works are in progress at the St. James's Park Railway Station, where a portion of the roof has been removed for the purpose of putting a building over that part of the station for increased office accom- modation. There are also minor works being carried out on the ground level of the Broadway.

In Queen Anne's Gate some considerable changes are taking place. About the end of August a portion of No. 34 was pulled down.

This did not belong to the house originally, but was added by one of its occupiers, and did not extend to the whole height of the house. It is the intention of Sir Edward P. Tennant to rebuild it to the full height. Among the notable residents in this house was Mr. George Willoughby Hemans, C.E., who was churchwarden of St. Margaret's in 1863-4, and filled the office most success- fully (the house was then known as 13, Queen Square). In more recent days among its occupants have been Sir Vesey and Lady Hamilton, Sir Richard Richards, and Mr. and Mrs. Goldmann, this lady being Agnes, daughter of Mr. Speaker (now Vis- count) Peel.

On the other side of the narrow roadway leading to Bird Cage Walk were two imposing houses of red brick and Portland stone, of good design and appearance. The demoli- tion of these houses was started about October, and was progressing apace at the end of the year. They, too, have had some notable residents. In the one known as 36, Queen Anne's Gate, have resided Mr. and Mrs. Wylie ; Mr. George Palmer (of Reading), at one time M.P. ; and Sir J. Eldon Gorst. In No. 38 resided the late Sir Charles Foster and his son, Sir Walter Foster. Afterwards the late Sir Clinton Dawkins lived in this fine mansion in this quiet, old-world locality. He was at one time Under-Secretary for Finance in Egypt, and Financial Member of the Council of the Viceroy of India. At this house, too, stayed Lord Milner on the occasion of his first visit to this country at the close of the war in South Africa. The whole of this site will, in the near future, be occupied by the palatial edifice which Mr. J. D. Rockefeller proposes to build here as the London home of the Anglo-American Oil Co. When the structure is completed the head-quarters of the company will be removed from Billiter Street. In The Toiler of 18 November there appeared a small sketch of the sump- tuous home of the company. One public advantage will be that the roadway leading into the park at this point will be widened. The whole of the site of these two houses as well as the gardens will be built upon.

New Wellington House in Buckingham Gate has been completed, at least so far as the structure is concerned, but much remains to be done internally. With refer- ence to the building formerly occupied by the Fire Brigade at Howick Place, it still stands as it did twelve months ago. It will ultimately be adapted to Post Office re- quirements, but seemingly there is no hurry