Business Design Centre

Last updated

Business Design Centre
Business Design Centre exterior.jpg
Business Design Centre
Former namesRoyal Agricultural Hall
LocationLondon, N1 0QH
Coordinates 51°32′08″N0°06′20″W / 51.535582°N 0.105688°W / 51.535582; -0.105688
Public transit Underground no-text.svg Angel
Underground no-text.svg Highbury & Islington
Underground no-text.svg King's Cross St. Pancras
OwnerFamily of Sam Morris
Designation Grade II listed
Executive suites13
Capacity 5,330
Field size6,000sqm
SurfaceCarpeted
Construction
Opened1862 (as Agricultural Hall), 1986 (as Business Design Centre)
ArchitectFrederick Peck
Website
www.businessdesigncentre.co.uk

The Business Design Centre is a Grade II listed building located between Upper Street and Liverpool Road in the district of Islington in London, England. It was opened in 1862, originally named the Agricultural Hall and from 1884 the Royal Agricultural Hall, for holding agricultural shows. It was the home of the Royal Smithfield Club's Smithfield Show from 1862 to 1938. [1] It hosted the Royal Tournament from its inauguration in 1880 until the event became too large for the venue and moved to Olympia in the early years of the 20th century. It hosted the first Crufts dog show in 1891.

Contents

During the Second World War, the hall was commandeered by the Government, and from 1943, following the destruction of Mount Pleasant sorting office in an air raid, the parcels depot was moved to the hall. The hall then remained unused and empty until it was converted to its present use as the Business Design Centre in 1986.

The "Aggie"

The Royal Agricultural Hall in 1861, seen from Liverpool Road, which is now the rear entrance to the Business Design Centre. Agricultural Hall Islington ILN 1861.jpg
The Royal Agricultural Hall in 1861, seen from Liverpool Road, which is now the rear entrance to the Business Design Centre.
A cattle show at the Royal Agricultural Hall in 1861. Agricultural Hall Cattle Show ILN 1861.jpg
A cattle show at the Royal Agricultural Hall in 1861.

According to the official Islington Libraries compilation,[ citation needed ] the Royal Agricultural Hall had its origins when in 1798 the Duke of Bedford, Sir Joseph Banks and other nobles and gentlemen decided to form the Smithfield Club, which would hold annual exhibitions of livestock, agricultural produce and agricultural implements. Following some 40 years of exhibiting, first in Smithfield at Wooton's Livery Stables near Smithfield Meat Market then at a site in the Barbican, the club moved in 1839 to premises in Baker Street. However it outgrew these and it was then proposed that the club erect a hall large enough to accommodate their annual display and also to be available for other shows. The foundation stone was laid in 1861 – although a large part of the building had already been completed, and held its first exhibition in 1862. [2]

When built it was one of the largest exhibition halls in the world.[ citation needed ] It was this building that was the original basis of the present hall, which has expanded on this site so that the main exhibition hall now covers 65,000 square feet (6,000 m2).[ citation needed ]

It hosted the Royal Tournament from its inauguration in 1880 until the event became too large for the venue and moved to Olympia in the early years of the 20th century. Sporting events included six-day cycle races – the first event being held at the Agricultural Hall in 1878. The Islington Gazette reported:

"A bicycle contest was commenced at the Agricultural Hall, on Monday last, for which £150 is offered in prizes for a six days' competition, the money to be allocated thus: £100 for the first man, £25 for the second, £15 for the third, and £10 for the fourth." [3]

It also hosted the first Crufts dog show in 1891. The Smithfield Show, later the Royal Smithfield Show ran here from the opening of the building in 1861 until it moved to Earls Court in 1949 needing extra space to allow the showing of agricultural machinery.

During the Second World War the hall was commandeered by the Government, and from 1943, following the destruction of Mount Pleasant sorting office in an air raid, the Parcels Depot was moved to the hall. [4]

Business Design Centre

Stained glass Business Design Centre, Islington 01.jpg
Stained glass
The Business Design Centre's restaurant Autumn Stampex 2019 04.jpg
The Business Design Centre's restaurant
Bust of Sam Morris, founder of the Business Design Centre Sam Morris bust Business Design Centre.jpg
Bust of Sam Morris, founder of the Business Design Centre

The hall then remained unused and empty until it was bought and converted to its present use as the Business Design Centre by Sam Morris [5] in 1986. As an exhibition venue and conference centre with showrooms and offices, it is home to over 100 businesses, including clothing retailer Barbour, electronics manufacturer Samsung, communications provider TSI Voice & Data, coffee maker Illy, and home furnishings manufacturer Oficina Inglesa.

In 2006, 2009, and 2010, Made in Brunel , a yearly design exhibition hosted by the engineering and design department at Brunel University was held here.[ citation needed ]

The centre is owned by the Morris family. [6]

Archival records

Islington Local History Centre holds the archive of the Royal Agricultural Hall Company Limited, which contains deeds and maintenance records, correspondence, ledgers, cash books, letting agreements and exhibition programmes. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islington</span> District of London, England

Islington is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy High Street, Upper Street, Essex Road, and Southgate Road to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunel University London</span> University in Uxbridge, London

Brunel University London is a public research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It was founded in 1966 and named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a Victorian engineer and pioneer of the Industrial Revolution. In June 1966, Brunel College of Advanced Technology was awarded a royal charter and became Brunel University; in 2014 the university formally adopted the name Brunel University London (BUL). The university is considered a British plate glass university. In October 2024, Brunel will join the federal University of London to become the federation's 18th member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Exhibition Centre</span> Exhibition and conference centre in Solihull near Birmingham, England

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is an exhibition centre located in Marston Green, England, near to Birmingham and Solihull. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kennel Club</span> The official kennel club of the United Kingdom

The Kennel Club (KC) is the official kennel club of the United Kingdom. It is the oldest recognised kennel club in the world. Its role is to oversee various canine activities including dog shows, dog agility and working trials. It also operates the national register of pedigree dogs in the United Kingdom and acts as a lobby group on issues involving dogs in the UK. To celebrate its 150th anniversary on 5 April 2023, King Charles III confirmed the club with a 'royal' prefix, however until the members of the KC have voted to change the trading title to include "Royal" it will remain the Kennel Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crufts</span> International canine event held annually in the UK

Crufts is an international dog show held annually in the United Kingdom, held since 1891, and organised by The Kennel Club. It is the largest show of its kind in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympia London</span> Exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, London

Olympia Events, formerly known as Olympia London and sometimes referred to as the Olympia Exhibition Centre, is an exhibition centre, event space and conference centre in West Kensington, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England. A range of international trade and consumer exhibitions, conferences and sporting events are staged at the venue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liverpool Road</span>

Liverpool Road is a street in Islington, North London. It covers a distance of 1+14 miles (2.0 km) between Islington High Street and Holloway Road, running roughly parallel to Upper Street through the area of Barnsbury. It contains several attractive terraces of Georgian houses and Victorian villas, many of which are listed buildings. There are a number of pubs, small businesses and restaurants along its route, as well as some secluded garden squares. The vast majority of the street is residential, with a bustling shopping and business area at the southern, Angel, end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Cruft (showman)</span> British dog showman and businessperson (1852 - 1938)

Charles Alfred Cruft was a British showman who founded the Crufts dog show. Charles first became involved with dogs when he began to work at Spratt's, a manufacturer of dog biscuits. He rose to the position of general manager, and whilst working for Spratt's in France he was invited to run his first dog show at the 1878 Exposition Universelle. After running dog shows in London for four years, he ran his first Cruft's dog show in 1891, and continued to run a further 45 shows until his death in 1938, as well as running two cat shows in 1894 and 1895. He was involved in a range of dog breed clubs, including that for Schipperkes, Pugs and Borzois. He and his wife upheld a story that they never owned a dog, and instead owned a cat, however Cruft admitted to owning at least one Saint Bernard in his memoirs, published posthumously.

The European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) was an annual trade show for the European video game industry which first ran in 1988, the last event being held in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earls Court Exhibition Centre</span> Venue in London, England

Earls Court Exhibition Centre was a major international exhibition and events venue in London, England. At its peak it is said to have generated a £2 billion turnover for the economy. It replaced exhibition and entertainment grounds, originally opened in 1887, with an art moderne structure built between 1935 and 1937 by specialist American architect C. Howard Crane. With the active support of London mayor Boris Johnson, in an attempt to create Europe's "largest regeneration scheme", its proposed heritage listing was refused after it was acquired by developers, who promptly in 2008 applied for and were granted a Certificate of Immunity from Listing by English Heritage, and its demolition was completed in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Street</span>

Upper Street is the main street of the Islington district of inner north London, and carries the A1 road. It begins at the junction of the A1 and Liverpool Road, continuing on from Islington High Street which runs from the crossroads at Pentonville Road and City Road and runs roughly northwards from outside the main entrance to Angel Underground station, then past the Business Design Centre, then splits at Islington Green, then past The Screen On The Green cinema, past Islington Town Hall, ending at Highbury & Islington tube station on Highbury Corner, where the A1 carries on as Holloway Road, part of the Great North Road.

The Royal Tournament was the world's largest military tattoo and pageant, held by the British Armed Forces annually between 1880 and 1999. The venue was originally the Royal Agricultural Hall and latterly the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. In its later years it also acted as a fundraising event for leading forces charities, such as The Royal British Legion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Royal</span> Annual animal show

The American Royal is a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and barbecue competition held each year in September – November at various sites in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The Future Farmers of America was founded during the annual Royal. The Kansas City Royals professional baseball team derived its name from the Royal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter Gardens, Blackpool</span> UK entertainment complex (opened 1878)

The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which includes a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, operated by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited on behalf of Blackpool Council, which purchased the property from Leisure Parcs Ltd as part of a £40 million deal in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Hobart Showground</span> Sports and show venue in Hobart, Tasmania

The Royal Hobart Showgrounds are the site of the Royal Hobart Show and many other smaller events including a market on the grounds every Sunday. The Royal Hobart Showground is located 10 km north of Hobart, between the junction to Brooker Highway/Goodwood Road and the Main Road in Glenorchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanley Cycle Show</span>

The Stanley Cycle Show or Stanley Show was an exhibition of bicycles and tricycles first mounted by the Stanley Cycling Club in 1878 at The Athenaeum in London's Camden Road. Britain's first series production cars were displayed at this show in November 1896. The 34th and last exhibition was held in the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington in November 1910. It was supplanted by the 1911 Olympia Motor Cycle Show and, a few weeks before that, Olympia's International Motor Exhibition.

Islington Mill is a six-storey Georgian mill building, located at 1 James Street, Ordsall, Salford, England. The name 'Islington Mill' is commonly used to refer to the wider collection of 19th and early 20th century buildings at this location, and to the Islington Mill Arts Club, which occupies those buildings.

The Smithfield Show, formerly the Smithfield Club Cattle Show and later the Royal Smithfield Show, was an annual British agricultural show, organised by the Royal Smithfield Club. It was founded in 1799 and was first held at Wootton's Livery Stables in Dolphin Yard, Smithfield, London. From 1862 until 1938 it was held at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, London. From 1949 it was held at the Earl's Court Exhibition Centre in Earl's Court, London. The last show was held there in 2004; it was the last major livestock show in London.

References

  1. "History". The Royal Smithfield Club. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  2. "History | About". Business Design Centre. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. Cited Woodland, Les, This Island Race, Mousehold Press, UK
  4. "Design and Build – Feature". Exhibition News. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  5. Andrea Shufflebotham. "Business Design Centre to give £50,000 to one lucky charity – News". Islington Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  6. "The Morris Charitable trust". The Morris Charitable trust. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. "Special Collections". Islington Local History Centre. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2013.