Photographer's note: 'The Salvation Army have occupied Regent Hall since 1882, According to the Salvation Army’s records the Regent hall or Rink, as it often continued to be called due to it's original purpose, was taken largely on the initiative of the ‘Army Mother’, Catherine Booth, who had begun missions and marches in the poorer parts of London’s West End to complement those in the East End. It was originally built as a skating rink. The Oxford Circus Rink was one of many short-lived products of a roller-skating craze that hit London in the 1870s. In March 1876 The Era announced: ‘Rinks are growing like mushrooms. Bazaars where people will no longer purchase toys and fancy articles, chapels when the congregations have departed, furniture warehouses long disused, livery stables and picture galleries yield to the fashion of the day, and are transformed into skating Rinks. No expense seems to have been spared for the Oxford Street enterprise, which was designed by Edward Paraire. The present frontage dates from 1959–60, when the previous building of 1876 was rebuilt along with its neighbours.'
This is part of the Volume: VF000354 Survey of London: Oxford Street; within the Series: EHC01/095 Survey of London; within the Collection: EHC01 English Heritage(EH):Archive
© Historic England Archive
Photographer: Redgrave, Christopher: Historic England
Salvation Army Hall
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