"Stanford Hall & Theatre (It's Secrets Revealed) "
June 2010 Meeting Report
Speaker - Pat Oldroyd
The June 2010 meeting of the Keyworth & District Local History Society was held in The Centenary Lounge, Keyworth, on Friday, June 4th. The guest speaker for the evening was Pat Oldroyd who gave a presentation entitled ‘Stanford Hall & Theatre (It’s secrets revealed)’. Around fifty-five members and guests were present to hear the talk.
Pat began the talk by presenting the audience with a question; “What do you give to your wife for her birthday knowing that she already has pretty-well everything that money can buy”? The answer for the person in question was a ‘colony’ of performing sea lions with a matching, purpose-built pool, a place to house them, and a caretaker to look after them. The person in question, who actually did buy his wife such a birthday present, was Sir Julian Cahn, entrepreneur, wealthy benefactor extraordinaire, and, needless to say, eccentric. Sir Julian was, at one time, the owner of Stanford Hall and Pat told us we would hear more of him later.
Our speaker, Pat Oldroyd, of Rempstone, had first-hand knowledge of what could be found at Stanford Hall having been employed there for many years. She began her career there in 1946 when she was employed as matron of staff and facilities during the period whilst the Co-operative Society used the building as a Training College. Her presentation was mainly centred on her own recollections from that period with additional snippets from her association with a surviving member of the Cahn family, (a granddaughter to Sir Julian Cahn), who had published a biography of her grandfather.
The original brick-built mansion was constructed for Charles Vere Dashwood between 1771 and 1774. Sir Julian Cahn purchased the house and its considerable estate in 1928 for £70,000. Sir Julian’s wealth was derived from several national, retail furnishing companies of the time such as Henry Barker, Smart & Brown. The Nottingham branch of that illustrious store is now occupied by Nottingham Central Library. Once he became the owner of the house and estate Sir Julian wasted no time before he began to make considerable alterations both inside, and outside, the house. This involved the construction of such things as a lavish Italianate cloister on the Southwest side and additional wings decorated with Ionic pilasters.
His fondness for the art of conjuring and ‘theatrical effect’ no doubt prompted his decision to construct an art-deco theatre on the East side of the main building. This theatre allowed him to put on public performances to as many as 325 persons. The theatre was lavishly decorated and extensively equipped throughout with such items as a genuine Wurlitzer organ, (which he imported from Paris at a cost of £20,000). The theatre boasted space for a 15-piece orchestra, though this could be enlarged to accommodate up to 75 musicians by removing the front two rows of seats). The theatre also had a projector room and an internal bar. The theatre developed into a thriving centre for the performing arts, frequently hosting both professional and amateur productions. Sadly though the theatre has fallen into disrepair and is now closed to the public for safety reasons. The building is Grade 1 listed and some renovation and restoration work has commenced. It is hoped that this work will lead to the re-opening of the theatre though when this is likely to happen is by no means clear.
Sir Julian Cahn had another great passion; he was an avid cricketer. It was not unknown for him to engage the services of celebrity players of the day to play in his own X1 on his own ground on Western Terrace, Loughborough Road. He also helped to refurbish Nottinghamshire CC’s ground at Trent Bridge. There was also a cricket pitch at Stanford Hall and the persons who participated in matches there were entertained in the grand style. Residential guests could avail themselves of the heated swimming pool there and other luxury leisure facilities. They could also amuse themselves by looking at the caged monkeys and exotic birds, dine in style or stroll through the well-tended gardens. No expense was spared whilst the wealthy and eccentric Sir Julian was mine host at the Hall.
Sadly all this came to an end with Sir Julian’s death at the age of 63. It seems that with the death of Sir Julian the family had insufficient income to continue running the estate and, in the late 1940’s, The Co-operative Society bought the property for £54,000. It appears that a large part of Sir Julian’s estate was taken up with Death Duties and the disposal of the contents of the house and menagerie. Thus came to an end one of the most lavish and opulent periods in the Hall’s history.
Mrs Oldroyd had a good selection of memorabilia relating to the Hall: these included news cuttings, photographs, oil paintings, and a cigar box which once adorned the bowling green. Amongst Mrs Oldroyd’s audience at this presentation were a few persons who had actually ‘trod the boards’ at Stanford hall’s illustrious theatre. All in all the audience were entertained to an interesting talk on a celebrated local property.