Islington Palace

Islington Palace formed part of the Royal Agricultural Hall complex, now a design centre. The Palace has been confused with Berners Hall, (a room of no theatrical pretensions in the same complex) and with Islington Empire (whose façade survived until 1981). The Royal Agricultural Hall was built 1881/2 to the designs of Frederick Peck of Maidstone. The St Mary's Hall, later the Palace, was in existence by c.1869 and was licensed to hold 3000. It was an ideal hall for the famous Mohawk Minstrel Troupe, who occupied it continuously from 1876 to 1900. It then became a variety hall with occasional films until 1908, when it became a full-time cinema, called the Palace. In 1918 it was renamed the Blue Hall and in 1951 it was again renamed as the Gaumont. It was used for bingo from 1963 to 1975 and was demolished in 1985.

The entrance to the Palace from Upper Street was independent of the main RAH entrance but made little impact in its own right. As last seen, it was a rectangular hall with very restrained plaster ornament. Single balconies originally extended round three sides but later at rear only, the removal of the side balconies leaving the proscenium stage looking rather small and lonely. It was particularly interesting, even in its altered condition, as the last of the big London minstrel halls and possibly the last of its kind in Britain.