History

The Roundhouse was built in 1847 as a turntable engine shed for the London and Birmingham Railway at Chalk Farm (near Camden Town), in London, England. The architect was Robert B Dockray and the builder was Branson & Gwyther. 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A small turntable at the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA. In rail terminology, a turntable is a device used to turn railroad rolling stock. ... Motive Power Depot, usually abbreviated to mpd is the name given, in Britain to places where locomotives are stored when out of use. ... The London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) was an early railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed between 1833 and 1846 when it becam a constituent part of the London and North Western Railway. ... Chalk Farm is the name of a place in the London Borough of Camden. ... Camden Town is a place in the London Borough of Camden, England. ... full of cockneys. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ...

Steam locomotives of the time could not run well in reverse, and the turntable allowed engines to be turned round to point in the forward direction. The design also allowed engines to be kept under cover in a number of radial sidings within the shed. Scheme of steam locomotive. ...

Within 20 years locomotives became too large for the facilities to handle, and the Roundhouse underwent a number of changes of use. For years it was a gin store for the firm of W & A Gilbey Ltd until it was converted to a theatre in the late 1960s.

Arts venue

The Roundhouse became a well-known arts venue, starting in 1966 when the freehold was taken up by the new Greater London Council. Arms of the Greater London Council The Greater London Council (GLC) was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. ...

The Roundhouse (Under Construction in 2005)

On 15 October 1966 the Roundhouse hosted an event that featured Soft Machine and Pink Floyd to launch the underground paper International Times. At the time, The Roundhouse had stood unused since before World War II. Although it appeared to be a locomotive-turning shed it had never been used for that purpose. Its original purpose was to house the winding gear to pull the trains up hill from Euston Station and once steam power was strong enough, it became redundant. By 1966, it was grimy, derelict, and (certainly in October at the time of the IT launch gig) very cold. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2213 KB) Roundhouse - Camden File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2213 KB) Roundhouse - Camden File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in leap years). ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... The Soft Machine were a pioneering British psychedelic, progressive rock and jazz band from Canterbury, Kent, England, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band noted for psychedelic rock music, philosophical lyrics, classical rock compositions, sonic experimentation, innovative cover art, and elaborate live shows. ... The phrase underground press, especially underground newspapers (or simply underground papers) is, these days, most often used in reference to the alternative print media, independently published and distributed, associated with the countercultural movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... The International Times (IT) was an underground paper started in 1966 in the UK, based in central London. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Nazi Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Harry Truman Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead... A locomotive (from Latin loco motivus) is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train, and has no payload capacity of its own; its sole purpose is to move the train along the tracks. ... Euston station, also known as London Euston, is a major railway station to the north of central London and in the London Borough of Camden. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ...

In the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the Roundhouse became an important venue for UK Underground and music events under the banners of Middle Earth and Implosion, mainly hosted and arranged by the DJ Jeff Dexter. The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Incredible String Band and The Doors played at the Roundhouse. The Roundhouse had briefly hosted the UFO Club after its original venue was closed down due to police pressure and the imprisonment of founder John Hopkins. The bands Motörhead's debut performance took place here on July 20, 1975. It hosted the first UK appearance of The Ramones, in a show on July 4, 1976, that is often credited with kicking off the UK Punk Rock movement. Kraftwerk also played there in 1977 The Roundhouse has also been used for theatre and has had two periods of theatrical glory before its current re-opening- the first in the 1970's under the leadership of visionary producer Thelma Holt when experimental theatre productions by the Living Theatre "1776" and Peter Brook were among the highlights. The second was after its purchase by the Norman Trust [see below] when the unreconstructed venue opened for a two year period to raise awarness and funds for the redevelopment under the directorship of former BAC director Paul Blackman.Highlights included the National Theatre's "Oh What a Lovely War",dancer Michael Clarke's comeback performance , percussion extravaganza "Stomp",Ken Cambell's 24 hour long show "The Warp" all of which preceeded De La Guarda's "Villa Villa" which ran for a record breaking year at the venue becoming the longest ever running show there, ending when the venue closed for re-development work to commence. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... It has been suggested that UK Underground movement be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the rock band. ... David Bowie (born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer whose work spans more than four decades. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... For the bands 1969 self-titled debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album) Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, and are one of the most successful groups in popular music history. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Doors were an American rock band that formed in 1965 in Los Angeles. ... The UFO Club was a famous but shortlived club in London during the 1960s, venue of performances by many of the top bands of the day. ... For the British film and television writer of the same name, see John Hopkins (writer). ... Motörhead are a British heavy metal band formed in 1975 by bassist, singer and songwriter Lemmy Kilmister (real name Ian Kilmister) after his ejection from the iconic space-rock band Hawkwind. ... July 20 is the 201st day (202nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 164 days remaining. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... The Ramones (L-R, Johnny, Tommy, Joey, Dee Dee) on the cover of their debut self-titled album (1976), cementing their place at the dawn of the punk movement. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Kraftwerk (pronounced [], German for power station) is a German musical group which has made significant contributions to the development of experimental and electronic music. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... The Living Theatre is an American theatre company founded in 1947 and based in New York City. ... Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH CBE (born 21 March 1925) is a highly influential British theatrical producer and director. ...

In 1983 the GLC had passed the building to Camden and it closed as a venue. With the support of the Arts Council there were plans to develop the building and the site as a centre for Black artists but after spending £2m this project folded in 1990 amid allegations of corruption and mispent funds. The building lay empty until its purchase by the Norman Trust led by philanthropist and retired toy maker Torquil Norman who in 1998 set up the Roundhouse Trust to lead its redevelopment. The rennovated Roundhouse reopened on 1 June 2006 with a new show Fuerzabruta, from the makers of De La Guarda. 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

"The redeveloped Roundhouse will house up to 3300 people standing or up to 1700 seated. It will provide a highly flexible and adaptable performance space that will give artists and audiences opportunities and experiences they cannot find elsewhere. And it will accommodate a programme of work that reflects the excitement and diversity of 21st century culture. It will include a wide range of the performing arts including music, theatre, dance, circus and digital media and will include the Roundhouse Youth Arts. [1]

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The Roundhouse serves as the venue for the BBC's Electric Proms season of music in October 2006, and has also hosted award ceremonies such as the BT Digital Music Awards and the Vodafone Live Music Awards. This article is an overview article about the Crown chartered British Broadcasting Corporation formed in 1927. ... Electric Proms logo Electric Proms is a music festival held for the first time in London during October and November 2006. ... Look up October in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

• The Roundhouse Official web site, with information on forthcoming events, etc.
• Camden listed buildings
• Guardian article