Building    From 3/5/1951 

Royal Festival Hall

Categories: Dance, Music / songs

A 2,700-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre. The first post-war building to be protected with a Grade 1 Listing, in 1981.

The project was led by London County Council's then chief architect, Robert Matthew, with a young team of talented designers including Leslie Martin, who was eventually to lead the project.

Built on the site of the former Lion Brewery, the foundation stone was laid in 1949 and the building was officially opened on 3 May 1951.

A London Inheritance has a splendid post about the construction of the RFH, with lots of historic photos.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Royal Festival Hall

Commemorated ati

Clement Attlee - Royal Festival Hall

This film shows what looks like a time capsule being buried, and Attlee layin...

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Other Subjects

Jessie Matthews, OBE

Jessie Matthews, OBE

Actor, singer and dancer. Born into a large family in Berwick Street.  Made her name in theatre and in the 30's was Britain's favourite musical film star.  Post-war her career flagged but in 1963 s...

Person, Cinema, Dance, Music / songs, Theatre, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Leonide Massine

Leonide Massine

Born Moscow. Ballet dancer and choreographer. Principle choreographer of Diaghilev's Ballet Russes. Appeared in films The Red Shoes (1948) and The Tales of Hoffman (1952). Died in Cologne.

Person, Dance, Russia

1 memorial
Tamara Karsavina

Tamara Karsavina

Ballerina. Born in St Petersburg, Russia. Leading ballerina with Sergey Diaghilev's Ballets Russes from its beginning in 1909 until 1922, often paired with Nijinsky. Married British diplomat  Henry...

Person, Dance, Russia

1 memorial
Lydia Lopokova

Lydia Lopokova

Ballerina famous during the early 20th century. Born in Russian as Lidiya Vasilyevna Lopukhova. Trained at the Imperial Ballet School. Toured with the Ballets Russes in 1910, and rejoined them in 1...

Person, Dance, Russia

1 memorial
Darcey Bussell

Darcey Bussell

Ballerina. Dame Darcey Andrea Bussell, DBE was born Marnie Mercedes Darcey Pemberton Crittle in London. Spent some time in Australia as a child. Aged 20 became a principle dancer at the Royal Balle...

Person, Dance, Seriously Famous, Australia

2 memorials