Limehouse Town Hall Bazaar

 I recently received an email about the Limehouse Town Hall Bazaar & thought I’d mention it here. If you do go along, be sure to have a beer in The Grapes, a beautiful old pub on the Thames.

Anyway, here is the press release:

If you are looking for something to do with your family or want to see what is happening with different community groups in the Tower Hamlets area, pop on down to Limehouse Town Hall on the 31st March.

To celebrate the completion of badly needed roof repairs, Limehouse Town Hall Consortium Trust are holding a bazaar in the grand hall of the Victorian building. Entry will be free.

It will be a rare chance for the public to get a good look at the interior of this beautiful classical building. The building, designed by A & C Harston, was opened in 1881, and is now being renovated and developed for community use.

Local community groups, such as Stitches in Time and Hackney & Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth, will be hosting various stalls and informal creative workshops will be taking place throughout the day.

Come join Jamie and Darren for some crafting at their ‘Sparks Themed Arts and Craft Spectacular Stall. Bring some money to take away some lovely plants at the East London Garden Society Stall or  sample some fine and tasty cakes.

We will have entertainment by both jazz singer Chantal Santos and folk singer/ songwriter Caroline Grannell plus a display of photography by local photographer Marian Spiers.

There will also be an opportunity to see what the plans are for the building, and to give the Trust your ideas for, and memories of, the place.

The hall was used as an entertainment venue for much of its early life. Musical performances were a draw for hundreds of local people, who packed the main hall and public gallery to capacity. Dance classes were held here in the 1890s, and cinematograph performances used to take place regularly.

The inspiration for this event, celebrating a key phase of the current renovation, came from bazaars that took place at the hall around the turn of the century. These were often held near Christmas, and incorporated side-shows, art exhibitions and stalls. The hall was a bustling hub for the local community, both for leisure and for their civic necessities, and the bazaar will continue this tradition.