Normansfield Hospital entertainment hall in Kingston Road
Normansfield Hospital entertainment hall in Kingston Road
Record No
161976
Title
Normansfield Hospital entertainment hall in Kingston Road
Description
Normansfield Hospital in Kingston Road, Teddington, was established by the pioneering Victorian physician Dr John Langdon Down (after whom Down Syndrome was named) and his wife Mary for the long-term residential care of patients with learning disabilities. In addition to woodwork and farming, patients also learned music and drama and this magnificent private theatre, designed by Rowland Plumbe, was built in the north wing in 1877. The hospital building was Grade II* listed in 1983; listing number 1065379, but the theatre/ entertainment hall is of a higher grade owing to its national importance as a rare example of a private Victorian theatre. Now beautifully restored and part of the Langdon Down Centre, it holds the largest collection of fully restored Victorian scenery in the UK. Its floral paintings are attributed to the artist Marianne North. In addition to some of the theatre's ornate detail, this picture shows an impressive display of floral wreaths, and lecterns can be seen on stage. It is uncertain what occasion the wreaths are commemorating; Dr Down died ten years before the photograph was allegedly taken, and Mary in 1901. Their ashes were subsequently brought together to the theatre for a final funeral service, but it unlikely to have happened in 1906.
Date of execution
1906
Section
London Metropolitan Archives
Collection
LCC Photograph Library
Medium
photograph
Catalogue No
SC_PHL_01_677_84_1219
London picture map location
Approximate
Subjects
Buy this image

You can obtain a high-quality print of this image to hang on you wall at home using the form below. The frame you see in the photographs is for illustrative purposes. We only sell the print or poster. You can also purchase a digital file and a usage licence from a wide range of options including editorial and academic uses and product sales.

We aim to process all orders within 5 working days.

Once you have selected your options, the total price will be displayed at the bottom of the page. This includes the cost of the print or digital file, and the cost of the usage licence you have selected (where applicable).

If your usage is not listed, please contact us.

Please note that all licences obtained from the London Picture Archive are subject to our Image Usage Licence Terms and Conditions. Please read the terms and conditions before proceeding with your purchase.

Required information
Media options

Please select your required print size or digital file format. If you require a larger print or file size please contact us.