A Date in History- Westminster Archives-15th January

Johnson's Pedestrian Hobby-horse Riding School, 1819. Image property ofWestminster City Archives

Haberdasher James Hetherington first introduced the top hat to London's high society on 15 January 1797. The top hat soon became an essential complement to the fashionable London gentleman's wardrobe. Here, London 'dandies' are shown sporting the hat at one of the newly fashionable bicycle riding schools in London

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A Date in History- Westminster Archives-14th January

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'

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A Date in History- Westminster Archives-13th January

'Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...' - Skating in Regent's Park, 1838

Advertisement for winter fashions of 1838 and 1839, by B Read & Co. Image property of Westminster City Archives

Saint Hilary's Feast Day, on 13 January, is commonly said to be the coldest day of the year. This folk belief may date back to the great frost of 1205, when the severe weather caused the Thames to ice over and even saw ale and bread freeze solid.

The cold weather does have its compensations however, as testified by the skaters in this view of Regent's Park. The people in the foreground are well dressed for the cold, modelling fashionable designs for the 1838-1839 season.

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A Date in History- Westminster Archives-12th January

The opening of the Astoria, 12 January 1927

The building of the Astoria had a chequered history. Originally a pickle warehouse on Charing Cross Road, it was transformed into a stylish entertainment complex, boasting a cinema and a grand ballroom that could accommodate over a thousand people. 

Changing fashions in entertainment had a profound impact on the Astoria over the years. As the taste for cinema waned, the 1970s saw the auditorium converted for theatrical performance. Later, in the 1980s, the Astoria became a nightclub and concert venue.

Both cinema and dance have since seen a revival, but sadly not in time to save the Astoria. The venue closed its doors for the last time in January 2009, and has since been demolished.

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A Date in History- Westminster Archives-11th January

Charing Cross station opened on 11 January 1864 by South East Railway. The frontage shown in this picture postcard was completed a year later, in 1865, and housed the Charing Cross Hotel. Its architect, Edward Middleton Barry, had already made a name for himself with his iconic designs for the Royal Opera House and Floral Hall in Covent Garden.

Although the facade of Charing Cross Station has changed little since the 1860s, the roof of the station was had to be completely rebuilt after it collapsed on 5 December 1905, resulting in several fatalities.

The new railway line across the Hungerford Bridge continues to count as one of the capital's main arteries, transporting millions of people into the heart of the West End each year.

Image ref: F137 Charing Cross Station (014)

More Information http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/libraries/archives/day-by-day/11jan/