Empire Theatre Leicester Square

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Uploaded on: June 2, 2024

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Stagg & Mantle – Empire Theatre

Photograph 1880 showing the grand Stagg & Mantle store built by Architect Ernest Henry Abbott 1859 – 1932 who was also Architect for Dickins & Jones extension at Regent Street and into Argyll Street in 1888. Like Stagg & Mantle also sold traditional linen items including lace, dresses, furs, umbrellas and a large variety of oriental giftware. On the extreme right of photograph of the Stagg & Mantle store a Portland stone arch can be seen, this being the entrance to Biffault’s Range Company of London & Paris. Biffault acquired this site in the early 1840’s being the top suppliers of large ranges, ovens and boilers for large kitchens in London and the Home Counties a great many of their newspaper advertisements featured a number of products produced from this Leicester Square address. 1883 was the year of great changes for Stagg & Mantle who purchased and demolished the Biffault premises extending again their premises now to adjoin the Empire Theatre. The new Empire Theatre was designed by architect Thomas Verity with 3000 seats opening on 17th April 1884.

Ron Knee