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Since it was opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has amassed quite the collection of programmes, costumes, props and other ephemera, telling the story of one of the world's great concert halls.
There has been a problem though. Successive rooms used to house the archives have flooded. Now, the RAH has spent a cool £1 million on relocating its archives to a room that is secure, fire-proof, climate-controlled — and there's a new reading room, open to historians, researchers and members of the public by appointment. Tours of the archives will be able to take place for the first time.
Here, we dig into one or two of the treasures to be found within the archives — from the trumpet used at the RAH's opening ceremony, through to a broom and cushion used during a bout of sumo wrestling.
James Ainscough, Chief Executive of the Royal Albert Hall, said: "The archive contains priceless assets of national and international cultural significance, recording the history of the Hall and everyone that has appeared on its stage for over 150 years, and this project ensures the protection of these artefacts for future generations.
"This famous building has been a crucible of debate, a place of cultural and social transformation, and a prism through which to see a changing Britain. No other venue on earth has played host to the Suffragettes, Albert Einstein and Muhammed Ali, as well as Ella Fitzgerald, The Beatles and Adele. The archive brings these extraordinary events to life, allowing you to come closer to history."
The RAH is still missing a few things, however, and has launched an appeal in a bid to source items, including the trowel used to lay the building's first brick in November 1867, ephemera from Captain Scott's 1910 presentation on his expedition to the North Pole, and a programme from Janis Joplin's legendary 1969 show — her only headlining UK performance.
For more information on the Royal Albert Hall's archive and visiting it, contact the team
All images © Royal Albert Hall
