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Egyptian Hall

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Venue Type & Location

Exhibition Hall

Overview

  • Address: The Egyptian Hall stood on the south side of Piccadilly, opposite Burlington House (now 170-173 Piccadilly). For a current map, Click Here. For historical maps showing the venue (in addition to those excerpted at right), Click Here and Here.

  • Alternate Names: The London Museum, The Egyptian Museum, Bullock’s Museum (pre-1819). Not to be confused with the Egyptian Hall, Mansion House, which, according to John Weale, was the “municipal residence of the Lord Mayor of London” (505)

  • Performance Space Description: Several authors have penned rich and extensive descriptions of the Hall (See, for example, Curl 262, Timbs 266, Elmes 157 and the Georgian Index website). Many of these focus largely on the exotic, “Egyptian” design of the building’s exterior, which was modeled on the temple of Tentyra and adorned with large sculptures of Isis and Osiris (see image above). Curl and Sheppard, however, also describe the fanciful and none-too-accurate interior designed by J.B. Papworth in 1819. Sheppard, for instance, suggests that Papworth’s work displayed little “regard for archaeological truth”, basing this claim on the evidence provided by an early engraving of the space (reproduced at British History Online). This image, he says, “shows the 'great room' as a large and lofty hall of conventional form, with a narrow gallery against the walls, its front supported by single and paired columns. The flat ceiling was surrounded by a cove and divided by ribs into three compartments, oblongs flanking a square out of which rose a circular lantern-light. Egyptian details, however, were applied in a nonsensical way. The small columns supporting the gallery were raised on tapered pedestals and had bulbous shafts, banded with lotus-ornament and hieroglyphs, with Hathor-heads projecting below the lotus capitals. The gallery, which cut across the monumental doorways in each end wall, had a railing formed of serpents holding chains, and in the lantern-light clerestory were glazed panels set in the outline of birds and papyrus-buds, between Osiris pillars and below a ceiling decorated with the signs of the Zodiac. The whole effect must have anticipated, in a startling way, the foyers of several 'Egyptian' cinemas built during the 1920's” (ibid).

  • Typical Fare: In 1850, Peter Cunningham described the Egyptian Hall as the place where “the novel and temporary exhibitions of the London season are generally to be seen” (quoted in the Victorian Dictionary Online). Likewise, John Timbs labels the venue “a sort of Ark of Exhibitions”, and notes that “curiosities” ranging from panoramas, paintings and models, to animals, ‘exotic’ peoples, and mechanical contraptions (such as “The Eureka, a machine for composing hexameter latin verses”) were displayed at the venue between 1842 and 1852. (266-8). Some sources suggest that the venue was also used for lectures.

    • Performance History

  • The building which would become the Egyptian Hall was erected in 1812 to house William Bullock’s museum. It was built according to plans by P.F. Robinson, at a cost of 16,000 pounds.

  • The venue remained home to Bullock’s museum until 1819, at which point it was converted into an exhibition hall. The new interior that accompanied this transition was designed by J.B. Papworth.

  • c. 1870, the venue became known as a home for popular conjuring entertainments, particularly those of Maskelyne and Cooke.

  • By 1905, however, the building had been demolished. It was eventually replaced with an office block. (Georgian Index Site, Egyptian Hall Page).

  • For a more thorough history of the venue, see Sheppard (reproduced at British History Online).

    Please see the 'Bibliographic Sources' link at right for a complete listing of materials (both primary and secondary) from which the above information was compiled.

    Beth Marquis

    • Troupes at Egyptian Hall

    Film Affiliated people Film Type # of event(s)
    African Aborigines Exhibition Possible African Aborigines
    Bosjesmans Exhibition Definite Bosjesmans
    Catlin & Museum/Lecture Troupe Exhibition Definite Catlin & Museum/Lecture Troupe
    Ioway Indians Catlin, George Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Corsair, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Ta-Pa-Ta-Me, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Koon-Za-Ya-Me , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Oke-We-Me , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Ruton-We-Me , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Ruton-Ye-We-Ma , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Jeffrey, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Wa-Ta-We-Bu-Ka-Na , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Wa-Tan-Ye , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Shon-Ta-Yi-Ga , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians No-Ho-Mun-Ya, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Wash-Ka-Mon-Ya , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Se-Non-Ty-Yah , Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Neu-Mon-Ya, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Ioway Indians Mew-Hu-She-Kaw, Exhibition Definite Ioway Indians
    Joe-o-sot, the Sank Chief Joe-o-sot, Exhibition Definite Joe-o-sot, the Sank Chief
    Lantum Serenaders Stainer, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Laurain, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Adwin, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Marley, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    Lantum Serenaders Dryce, Minstrel Definite Lantum Serenaders
    No Troupe Definite No Troupe
    Ojibbeway Indians Ah-Que-We-Zaints, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Cadotte, Sarah Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Rankin, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Nib-Neab-E-Qua, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Nib-Bet-Nu-Qua, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Was-A-Ab-E-Neu-Qua, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Sah-Ma, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Gish-Ee-Gosh-E-Be, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians We-Nish-Ka W-Ee-Be, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    Ojibbeway Indians Pat-Au-Na-Quot-A-Wee-Be, Exhibition Definite Ojibbeway Indians
    South African Aborigines Exhibition Definite South African Aborigines
    Two Boshiesmen Children Boshiesman Child (Male), Exhibition Definite Two Boshiesmen Children
    Two Boshiesmen Children Boshiesman Child (Female), Exhibition Definite Two Boshiesmen Children
    Tyler, J.S. Tyler, J.S. Lecture Definite Tyler, J.S.
    Wild Man of the Prairies Exhibition Definite Wild Man of the Prairies

    Events at Egyptian Hall

    Event Date Venue Location Film
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ioway Indians
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Variety - London, London (city-county) Joe-o-sot, the Sank Chief
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Catlin & Museum/Lecture Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Ojibbeway Indians
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Wild Man of the Prairies
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) African Aborigines
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) South African Aborigines
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Two Boshiesmen Children
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) No Troupe
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Minstrel Show - London, London (city-county) Lantum Serenaders
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Tyler, J.S.
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans
    Exhibition - London, London (city-county) Bosjesmans

    Bibliographic Sources

    View a list of abbreviations.

    • Era (London) October 12, 1851: 14: 1.
    • Leipsic: Karl Baedeker, 1885
    • London: Jones & Co., 1828
    • Abingdon: Routledge, 2005
    • London: David Bogue, 1855
    • (Under Entertainment - Theatre & Shows - Theatres & Venues - Egyptian Hall)
    • (Under London's Lost Theatres & Music Halls - Egyptian Hall)
    • London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1870
    • Number 38 ("Piccadilly South Side").
    • London: H.G. Bohn, 1854
    • London: H.G. Clarke & Co., 1851
      p270.