Painting found in charity shop echoes forgotten history of Newbury and Speenhamland Theatre

A painting found in a charity shop recalls a forgotten era of Newbury’s rich cultural heritage.

The Corn Exchange and The Watermill theatre are household names today. But most people are unaware that Newbury once hosted other renowned theatres.

About a month ago, Newbury resident Allan Mercado bought a second-hand painting from 2nd Chances in the Kennet Shopping centre depicting the Newbury and Speenhamland Theatre in 1804, once perched between Oxford Road and Pelican Lane.

2nd Chances confirms the painting was donated to it by Document House.

But who painted it, when and its previous owners still remain a mystery.

The history of the theatre is far more colourful, however.

Built in 1802, townspeople of all classes flooded the Georgian playhouse in droves to see everything from lighthearted comedies to Shakespearean tragedies performed by some of the most eminent artists of 19th-century England.

But no physical evidence remains of the former theatre today.

The theatre went by several names including the Pelican Theatre, ‘The New Theatre’, Newbury and Speenhamland Theatre, or just Newbury Theatre.

All refer to the theatre owned by a Mr Gilder in Gilder’s Square.

Mr Thornton set up at least 22 theatre across the South as far apart as Plymouth and Brighton.

Locally, he established venues at Hungerford, Reading and Windsor.

The theatre was propelled to stardom thanks to the passing coaching trade, drawing locals and travellers from coaching inns like The Pelican, The Cross Keys, The Angel, The Bacon Arms and The Castle on Speen Hill.

Even the margrave Elizabeth Craven and her son Keppel Craven, of Benham Valence, visited on more than one occasion.

The theatre also benefitted from nearby entertainment such as the travelling circus held at the back of The Chequers Hotel.

But nothing good lasts forever. Mr Thornton retired in 1817 and died a year later. He is buried in Chelmsford.

Ownership of the theatre passed to his descendents.

The decline of the cloth trade after the Napoleonic Wars saw a reduced attendence in theatres nationwide and hit Newbury particuarly hard.

After a period of inactivity during the 1830s, the theatre reopened for a final hurrah in August 1843 under a Mr Holmes, a London actor.

It ceased operating by the 1840s and the building went on to serve a variety of functions as a cowshed, auction rooms in the Second World War and a warehouse.

The building and neighbouring cottages were demolished in 1976, finally drawing the curtain on the former theatre and its time entertaining the people of Newbury.