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Friars trivia and odds and ends

 

Friars venues remembered

 

   

Phase One - New Friarage Hall, Walton Street

The first FA venue, discovered/suggested by Robin Pike. As you know, Friars was turfed out in July 1970 leading to a long nine month exile. The venue has since been rebuilt but David Stopps, by luck, took these photos just as the building was about to be demolished. Despite trying all avenues, we have not been able to source any exterior/interior shots of the venue when in use (performance at Friars pictures on this site excepted)

Photo: David Stopps

Pics of The Friarage Hall in 2010

Phase Two - Borough Assembly Hall, Market Square

This venue goes back a long way and was the hall where Ronnie Barker made his acting debut in 1948 and there is now a plaque there to commemorate his days in Rep when it was still the Market Theatre. It became The Grosvenor and hosted many top flight 1960s names. Friars used the venue twice in 1969 when it was under council control and renamed The Borough Assembly Hall and cheekily renamed the Friars Auditorium. The return in 1971 was full time until the hall closed when the Civic Centre was completed.

Pics of The Borough Assembly Hall in 2010

Photo: Geoff Tyrell

Photo: Mike O'Connor

Phase Three Maxwell Hall, Market Square

Friars stepped up a gear in September 1975 with the opening of the Civic Centre and the 1250 capacity Vale Hall (renamed to Maxwell Hall in 1977). Opportunities that would never have happened did - the return of Bowie, Genesis, Ian Hunter, Steve Harley, legendary Blondie, Clash, Ramones gigs and so many more. The decision was taken to close the Civic and replace it with the hugely controversial Waterside Theatre across the way. The building was demolished in 2011.

A full gallery of the Civic remembered in 2010

Photo: Mike O'Connor

Photo: Karl Vaughan

St Mary's Church, Aylesbury

Stone Parish Church, Stone, Aylesbury

Photo: Public domain

Queensway (Civic) Hall, Dunstable

A never to be forgotten venue, now an Asda supermarket. Friars presented Pink Floyd here in 1969.

Town Hall, Watford

Photo © Nigel Cox licenced for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

Corn Exchange, Bedford

Photo - public domain

Town Hall, High Wycombe

British Legion Hall, Princes Risborough

In Friars exile after Phase One, the waters were tested for using this as a venue and only one gig, Genesis, was presented after the local NIMBY campaign took hold.

Photo: Bucks Free Press

Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Venue used as part of Friars promoted Atomic Rooster tour 1971 and also presented Tom Paxton

photo © Adrian Welch/e-architect

Guildhall, Plymouth

Venue used as part of Friars promoted Atomic Rooster tour 1971

photo © The Devon Guide

Public Hall, Preston

Friars presented Incredible String Band at this venue.

Photo below from demolition in 1990

photo © The Lancashire Evening Post

Guildhall, Southampton

Venue used as part of Friars promoted Atomic Rooster tour 1971

photo - public domain

Albert Hall, Nottingham

Friars presented a Tom Paxton gig at this venue.

Photo - Theatres Online

Town Hall, Middlesbrough

Venue used as part of Friars promoted Atomic Rooster tour 1971

Photo © Mick Garratt licenced for reuse under Creative Commons Licence

City Hall, Newcastle

Venue used as part of Friars promoted Atomic Rooster tour 1971

Photo - public domain

Town Hall, Reading

Friars presented one Barclay James Harvest concert here.

Photo - public domain

Town Hall, Birmingham

Friars presented one Quintessence concert here.

Photo - public domain

 

 

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