Viv
Here is a copy of the official picture of the opening of the first Triennial music Festival to be held at the Town Hall in 1834. Next is a drawing of the Company arriving outside the hall. Finally a painting of the Town Hall illuminated by moonlight and gaslight for Wendy, does it look as good as the modern illuminations?
Phil
Excellent painting and drawings Phil. The first drawing gives the impression it was jam packed with people. It was originally built to accommodate 3,000 people. Am I right in thinking the central lower level was for standing only? And the balconies all look like they could contain far more people in the 1830s than today. Here's the seating plan from the THSH site. My calculations make it capable of seating up to 1,051 today, just over a third of the original audience. Now very civilised seating.
https://www.thsh.co.uk/mmlib/includes/sendfile.php?id=272
One of the many changes made to the place was to create a crush hall in 1891. They certainly looked like they needed it! Viv.