The ruins of the Pantheon: 14 January 1792
Ruins of the Pantheon after the terrible fire of 14 January 1792. Image property of Westminster City Archives
The Pantheon is a lost piece of London's social and architectural history. James Wyatt's spectacular building opened in 1772 on the southern side of Oxford Street, and soon became a favourite venue for masquerades and concerts amongst the gentry.
The Pantheon's fortunes dipped in the 1780s. Masquerades were on the wane, and the venue became known instead for its blockbuster exhibitions, such as Lunardi's hot air balloon.
Finally, in 1789, another business opportunity arose. The King's Theatre, Haymarket, was destroyed by fire, and the Pantheon made a successful bid to receive an opera performance licence. The winter season of 1790-1 went well, and the alterations to the building met with great acclaim, with The Times asserting that "this beautiful Theatre is now left without a rival".
Sadly, this good fortune was short-lived. It was on 14 January 1792, in only its second opera season, that the Pantheon suffered at devastating fire. Its beautiful interiors were gutted, as shown by this sketch by Rowlandson, above. The remaining masonry was left in a very poor state, and had to be demolished in early 1793.
Two more theatrical buildings were erected on the site; neither was terribly successful. In the 1830s a clean break was made, when a shopping bazaar opened there.
Today the site is occupied by a Marks & Spencer store, and is still known as 'Oxford Pantheon'
Image ref: Ashbridge 735.4 (Acc 1106)
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