I looked at this Nov 2008 and kept my eye open since but there is not much about it.
The picture above is taken from the "Illustrated London News" in 1865, I have lost my hi-res copy and only have a small blurry copy at the moment.
Here is a mention of the club ...
I looked at this Nov 2008 and kept my eye open since but there is not much about it.
The picture above is taken from the "Illustrated London News" in 1865, I have lost my hires copy and only have a small blurry copy at the moment.
Here is a mention of the club ...
Sep 1865 Birkenhead Working Men's Total Abstinence Society
It will be seen by our advertising page that a meeting will be held tonight in the Birkenhead Workmen's Hall, at eight o'clock when B Darbyshire, Esq, J.P. will preside and the Rev. R. B. Lindie, M.A., Rev D.T.Barry, B.A., Rev. Campbell Fair, M. Mocatta, Esq., and A.H.Cowie Esq. will take part in it.
It may have been the same building as Queens Hall (later Queens Ballroom) on the corner of Claughton Road and Kendal Street.
This is a picture of the building which was the Queen's hall, this picture was taken in the 1960s, almost 20 years after the Queen's, by then a cinema closed.
The building is VERY similar to the engraving of the Workmen's Hall.
The foundation stone for Birkenhead’s Workman’s Hall was laid by Mr John Laird on the 16th May 1864. The building was formally opened on 3rd August 1865. The idea, and much of the money for building the hall, came from the working men of Birkenhead, with assistance from Mr Laird. The building was to provide education and entertainment for the working men, it served breakfast lunch and tea at a nominal cost and hoped to provide an alternative to the many pubs in the area in the evening.
The building was large and imposing, providing all the comforts of the clubs frequented by the “upper classes”. There was a main hall measuring 38 feet by 21 feet; a smoking room which was also used for chess, draughts, bagatelle and other games, the same size as the main hall; two club rooms; a lecture theatre; a bar; kitchens and accommodation for the caretaker. On the upper floor was a large, well lighted and ventilated room intended for concerts, public meetings etc. It had seating for about 1,000 people.
The building faced onto Claughton road with a side elevation to Kendal street. The building was in the Italian style, the architect being Mr James Fisher. Mr Thomas Lund of Tranmere was the builder.
The source of the information for the above is the Liverpool Mercury for 4th August 1865, however in their book, The Silver Screens of Wirral, P A Carson and C R Garner give the opening date of the Queen’s Hall as 21st January 1862, but the address is the same (Corner of Claughton Road and Kendal Street).
Thanks for that. Have found Queens Hall on my old map of Birkenhead. You are right it is the same building. Found reference to it on this website. http://www.old-liverpool.co.uk/TheatresGore1900.html the address is given as 19 and 21 Claughton Road.
This is interesting too. http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:MX86Qb7o5PQJ:www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/bmh/BMH-fatimacates.htm+queen%27s+hall,+birkenhead&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk It is about early Islam converts in the UK.
went there a few times in the 60s when it was the Transport Club You used to go in from the back where there was a track/lane bordering a field surrounded by iron railings in Oliver Street opposite Allinsons/now Beatties Not far from the back entance was Campbells Gym where Les McAteer used to train as a lad Notice in Uptons pic BOTTOM RI
I remember the conway arms pub as a kid it used to have a re-volving door on the corner of the pub i have been round that door a few times i cant remember anywere eles with that kind of door in Birkenhead
The Woodside Hotel used to have a revolving door on the bar that later became Rinty Monaghan's. It was there in the early maybe late seventies but had been replaced by the eighties. It was famous as men (or women ) wishing to show aggression would charge in or out of it, the noise attracting everyone's attention. Maybe that was why they got rid of it?
