Royal Albert Hall

Queen Victoria signs the Royal Charter under which the hall is operated. A 999-year lease on the site was acquired at one shilling (five pence) per year.

Foundation works begin.

Queen Victoria lays the foundation stone.

The first brick is laid by Mrs. Henry Cole.

Queen Victoria visits the construction site. Her comment: "it looks like the British Constitution".

A full-scale sound test shows a major acoustical problem: echoes, reverberations and even some blind spots. A calico velarium awning is hung beneath the dome to correct the acoustics. It stays in place until 1949.

Opening.

The awning is lowered to improve acoustics further. The state-of-the-art ventilation system breaks down and is not re-instated until 2002.

The hall is lit electrically for the first time. The lights were installed by Anglo-American British Electric Company.

The velarium is replaced by an aluminum canopy.

The von Trapp family of Austria sings at the hall. The family was the inspiration for Rodger's and Hammerstein's musical "The Sound of Music".

Fiberglass diffusers are installed in the roof.

The hall is refurbished inside and outside for its centenary.

The first sumo wrestling turnament ever held outside Japan in 1500 years is staged in Albert Hall.

A lottery grant is awarded for the Halls re-development.

The hall is closed for a full month to refurbish the stall seating.

Stephen Fry interviews J.K. Rowling in the hall. She reads extracts from the fourth novel in the series "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". The reading is webcast live and followed by 28 million viewers.

The newly constructed south porch is unveiled. It is part of the Building Development Programme. The porch includes a 60 000 piece mosaic, a 200 seast cafe & restaurant ('Cafe Consort') and a new box office.