21. Wilton’s Music Hall

Built in 1859 by John Wilton, this Victorian Music hall was intended to bring the glitzy and entertainment of the west end theatre to the hard working people of the east end. Nestled in Grace’s alley between Wapping and Whitechapel, the building has a faded charm and glamour from inside out that reverberates with echoes of past performances, voices, and stories. The building has a long history stretching from 1690 to the present day, beginning as an east end ale house the building then became a thriving music hall. Following a fire it later became a base for community methodist mission during the late victorian era when the east end became notorious for poverty and squallor. Bomb damage from the war left the music hall out of use for many years although it gained listing status in 1971. Over the next few decades the building remained derelict but many artists were attracted to use the space for its atmosphere of faded grandeur. Essential works took place to make the building safe but restoration works gain pace until the early 2000s when fundraising raised sufficient funds. The building opened again to the public in 2011 and gathered fame as a thriving arts and heritage venue.