The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-21 00:00:00

THE QUEEN AT THE MANSION HOUSE.

As soon as the Queen had passed the Mansion
Bowe on her way to the East-end, a large company
assembled in the Egyptian Hall and the approaches
loading thereto at the invitation of the Lord Mayor.
The corridor and the vestibule were railed off, and
occupied by a number of ladies and gentlemen. The
aldermen and Common Council were in their robes,
while variety was lent to the scene by the
red uniforms of military officers and deputy
lieutenants. To enliven the period of wait-
ing, a selection of operatic music was per-
formed by the string band of the Royal Engineers,
under Herr J. R. Sawerthal. In the intervals, glees,
madrigals, and part-songs were sung by a choir, con-
sisting of Mr. James Brown, Mr. W. Coates, Mr.
Dalzell, and Mr. W. Hilton. Madame Clara Samuell
was the solo vocalist, and she sang selections from a
list of operatic airs. After several false alarms had
been given, and the audience had risen in expectation,
her Majesty eventually did arrive, but not until half-
past six, when the strains of "God save the Queen"
reached the ears of those inside the ball. Her
_

_
Majesty was met at the Walbrook entrance by the
Lord Mayor, and conducted up the stairs through the
vestibule to the Egyptian Hall, of which she made the
circuit. The Earl of Lathom was on her Majesty's
left, and the Vice Chamberlain on the right. These
officials performed the difficult task of %valking back-
wards and sideways in turning the various corners,
but, having had previous experience, came out of the
ordeal successfully. The Queen then paid a visit to
the drawing-room, where tea was served, and after
remaining for a few minutes, during which the Lady
Mayoress was presented to her Majesty, resumed her
return journey to Paddington. As the Queen entered
the carriage several large bouquets were handed in,
and she drove off amid great cheering from the
throngs assembled.
DESCRIPTION OF THE QUEEN'S HALL.

The Queen's Hall is the central feature of the
palace, and may be regarded as the nucleus around
which the other buildings included in the scheme
will be erected. This fact will account for the plain,
bare walls, quite devoid of pretension to architectural
beauty, which constitute all that can be seen of the
palace from the outside. As the plans are carried
into effect the present unprepossessing exterior will
be entirely hidden by a structure of a more graceful
and imposing character. The Queen's Hall is inter-
nally a very handsome and elaborately decorated
building. Its marble statues, painted glass, and
gilded balconies give it an air of splendour and mag-
nificence which is all the more striking for being
met witb in so unlovely a neighbourhood as
that of the East-end of London. The hall is

130 f 1. long, 75ft. broad, and 60ft high, the roof
being elliptical. It has three entrances, which
face the Mile End-road and are enclosed by a
temporary porch; and there are other doors for
egress provided at the east and west sides and at the
north end, so that it could be emptied in a very short
time. The orchestra recess is elliptical in form and
half-domed, the ceiling being divided by radiating,
vertical, and horizontal ribs, richly inlaid with panels
and mouldings. There will be accommodation for
about 140 performers in the orchestra. Mr. Dyer
Edwards has given a fine organ to the palace, but it
was considered better not to erect the organ while the
dust created by the workmen remained. On either
side of the hall there is a gallery, supported by iron
columns ornamented by handsome caryatides of
Grecian type. About 240 people are provided for in
the galleries, the seats of which are of polished oak,
panelled, and shaped to the form of the front of the
gallery, which is bowed out, for acoustic reasons,
between the supports.
The roof is divided into nine bays by very broad
ribs or principals, the under side being wrought into
panels of various forms, deeply moulded and richly
ornamented, the spaces between being similarly cof-
fered. The visible roof, or ceiling, thus formed is
supported by double columns, fluted on the upper
part. Between these are placed, in standing posture,
the statues, on carved pedestals, of 22 Queens—
namely, Esther of Persia, B.C. 518; Boadicea of
Britain, A.D. 61; Zenobia of Palmyra, A.D. 273; Helena
of Rome, A.D. 328; Clotilde of France, A.D. 511;
Bertha of Kent:A.D. 600; Osburga of England, A.D.
860; Matilda of Germany, A.D. 904-940; Margaret. of
Scotland, A.D. 1093; Maud of England, A.D. 1118;
Elizabeth of Hungary, A.D. 1297-1231 ; Blanche of
Castille, A.D. 1253; Eleanor of England, A.D.
1292; Philippa of England, A.D. 1813.1370;
gargaret of Denmark, A.D. 1380-1412; Margaret of
England, A.D. 1423.1482; Isabella of Castile, A.D. 1469-
1504: Anne of Brittany, A D.ibi4; Elizabeth of England,
A.D. 1534-1502; Anne of England. A.D. 1702; Maria
Theresa of Hungary, A.D. 1717-1780; and Louise of
Prussia, A.D. 1806. The floor of the ball is composed
of solid wood blocks, laid on fireproof concrete
arches, the space underneath the floor being utilised
for storage purposes. The lighting is entirely from
t he roof, the counter-lights in the ceiling being filled
with Painted glass. thq 9valahaped centre panels ot

which are adorned with the Prince of Wales's
Feathers, the Royal Arms, the Royal Monogram, the
Royal Arms of England, and the Arms of Australia,
Canada, India, Wales, and Scotland. The effect pro-
duced is that of a bright, sunny light, which is dif-
fused throughout the ball. The hall is heated by
means of hot water, the pipes for which pass in palleiri
underneath the floor, the warmth being admitted
through air gratings. Mr. E. R. Robson, F.S.A., is
the architect, and from his drawings and under his
superintendence the whole of the work has been
carried out. _ _ _ _ _

As time goes on the Queen's Hall will be surrounded
by the other structures which form a part of the
scheme of the People's Palace. The palace will have
its concert rooms, its art galleries, its gymnasiums, its
lecture and music rooms, its winter garden, its library,
its swimming baths, and its play rooms. The technical
and trades schools, given by the Drapers' Company,
the foundation stone of which was laid by the Queen
will be proceeded with at once. Until Sep-
tember, 1887, the use of the Queen's Hall has been
granted to the committee of the East London Indus-
tries Jubilee Exhibition. The purposes to which this
hall will be devoted are many and varied. Concerts,
entertainments, and organ recitals will be given in it.
It will also be used for public meetings on social ques-
tions, and as a general reading and social room. The
objects of the promoters of the People's Palace are, in
short, to provide facilities to the poorer classes for ob-
taining social intercourse, culture, and innocent amuse-
ment and recreation; and these, it is hoped, will result
from the establishment of a centre where all may
associate without restraint. There will be every
encouragement held out to those who are desirous of
mental, moral, or physical education and improve-
ment. Instruction in science and art and their
technical applications, in modern languages, and in
the use of tools will be begun at Michaelmas. Fifty
scholarships, sufficient in value to defray the class
fees, and tenable for three years, will be offered for
competition among scholars attending the publid
elementary schools before the summer vacation. By
degrees, also, the lecture rooms, the library, and the
music rooms will open up sources of intellectual
enjoyment which will doubtless prove in the highest
degree attractive to very many who have hitherto
had but little opportunity of obtaining amusement of
an elevating and refining character. Not the least
among the many good purposes which the People's
Palace will serve will be that of affording a place of
rest for those who either cannot or do not care to
avail themselves of its other advantages. It would indeed
appear that the wants of both old and young will be
amply provided for, and that, as far as the inhabit.
ants of East London are concerned, the People's
Palace will not fail to fulfil its purpose to beguile
"their tedious hours, and lighten every toil."