Watercolour. 7¾ by 5¾ in. Lent by the Secretary of State for India.
66 THE DIRECTORS’ COURT-ROOM, EAST INDIA HOUSE.
Watercolour. 8¾ by 6 in.
Shows the two high chairs here exhibited. Lent by the Secretary of State for India.
67 [SADLER’S WELLS.] Plate XXVII.
Oil picture. 15 by 10¾ in.
Sadler’s Wells, between the New River Head and St. John Street Road, Islington, was so called from a spring of mineral water discovered there by a man named Sadler, who in 1683 opened a music-room connected with it. In course of time rope dancing, tumbling, pantomime, and other entertainments took place there. About 1790 it became a theatre, being still among fields. The New River flowed by, and water was introduced from it to a large tank beneath the floor of the stage—used for naval spectacles, etc.
Here in 1832 T. P. Cooke made his first appearance as William in “Black-Eyed Susan.” The theatre fell into disrepute, but was revived by Phelps who, 1844-62, made it “the home of the legitimate drama.” Closed for some years, it was rebuilt in 1879, and for a short time was under the management of Mrs. Bateman. This picture agrees with the view of the old house in Wilkinson’s “Londina Illustrata.”
By R. C. Andrews, 1792. Lent by the Hon. Lady Lyttelton.
68 [GREEN PARK, 1760.] Plate XXVIII.