Talk:Victoria Rooms, Bristol

Potential references
I'm not sure where it could be found, but there is a book called: A History of the Victoria Rooms, The University of Bristol by Little, B (undated). SmartSE (talk) 16:53, 5 January 2011 (UTC) (I found it here and there is an email address which might be useful if you want to track it down). SmartSE (talk) 16:54, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Indeed, I can't find it - it is missing from UWE library, also from Bristol Central Library. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:15, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * And it is missing from the University of Bristol library as well. Jezhotwells (talk) 08:01, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

Has more details on the relief carving, I can't quite work out how to incorporate it though. The link is a tad wrong, as it actually starts on page 130. SmartSE (talk) 17:42, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks I have incorporated that. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:45, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

Does a Pink Floyd performance warrant a mention? SmartSE (talk) 18:33, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Probably not, as many bands and theatre companies have performed there. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:15, 6 January 2011 (UTC) I have added them as the most notable.  I am sure I saw The Who there, but can't track down a reference. Jezhotwells (talk) 10:17, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

I'm not sure if this would pass as reliable, but it has details on the foundation stone being layed and the addition of the fountain outside. If we can't use it, we should probably look for sources which we can use, using this to guide searches. SmartSE (talk) 20:25, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * About Bristol is a good site, but as a personal web page not really good enough for GA status, IMHO. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:15, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * That's what I thought - not to worry though as I managed to find a ref for the foundation stone elsewhere. One thing we could really do with a ref for, but which I wasn't able to find, is for them being named after Queen Victoria. Considering the dates of the foundation stone being layed + the opening this is really obvious, but no one seems to explicitly state it. Do you think it is so obvious that it would fall under WP:BLUE? SmartSE (talk) 10:36, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Fixed, see History section. Jezhotwells (talk) 11:31, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Nice, all we need now is a reviewer. SmartSE (talk) 12:14, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I dropped Elekhh a note asking if they might have time to do the review in time for next week. SmartSE (talk) 15:50, 6 January 2011 (UTC)
 * I could take this fully on only from Monday, as I will have no internet access over the next days, which will leave three days to meet the deadline, if that's fine with you. Just had a very quick look, and it looks pretty good so far, so I think is doable considering the number of editors involved. As a preliminary comment, my main concern is 3(a) coverage:
 * The forecourt seems to have some history, with this image indicating that it was initially fenced. It would be good to know when it became publicly accessible (was it part of the 1912 remodelling or did it happen earlier). The 1849 engraving suggests that the sphinxes were in the same place as the lions are now, thus is likely that they were simply replaced with the lions. Would be good to know if so, and why. If there is enough material, and noting that it is separately heritage listed, the forecourt could eventually become a separate section.
 * Well the phtograph shows that the fencing was there, circs 1868/9. It was almost certainly removed as part of the great removal of iron railings that took place during World War II, but getting a RS on that seems nigh on impossible.
 * The location in the city could be worth expanding as well: it seems to have been located as a terminating vista to the approach from the city centre along Queen's Rd. Its location close to the University campus, might have also played a role in determining its current use.
 * Regarding historic uses, I found the Clifton Cinema would be worthwhile to be mentioned if verifiable.
 * The History of Bristol Amateur Operatic Society mentions the Victoria Rooms being turned into a cinema in 1921.&mdash; Rod talk 17:14, 7 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Hope this is of help. --Elekhh (talk) 00:35, 7 January 2011 (UTC)

Exploratory dates
I think (but not sure) so not changing it that the dates for the exploratory are wrong. Looking at this ref I think it went there in 87 & then moved to the Brunel building at British Empire and Commonwealth Museum Temple Meads in 1989 - which fits with my memories of taking kids to it soon after it moved.&mdash; Rod talk 18:05, 5 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Ah yes, I think you're right, it looks as if the idea started in the early 80s but there wasn't a full exhibition until '87. I'll change the article. SmartSE (talk) 18:32, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * Thanks for that, the Grauniad[sic] was wrong! Jezhotwells (talk) 02:17, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

Other possible content
Taking a look at Pages that link to "Victoria Rooms (Bristol)" I think we could add something on the artists that have performed at the venue or published recordings which have been made there - if thought relevant? However I found one that could go in as a quirky one (possible DYK hook if 5x expansion achieved) The lead character in Follow That Girl is named Victoria Rooms after the building!&mdash; Rod talk 20:51, 5 January 2011 (UTC)
 * That is interesting, but I tend to the feeling that a list of performers at the VR could never be exhaustive and might overwhelm the rest. Jezhotwells (talk) 02:18, 6 January 2011 (UTC) We would need to decide on which are the most notable. I would suggest no more than about a dozen major performers.  we have Jenny lInd and Dickens, there were suffragette meetings, the British association of Science etc.  Jezhotwells (talk) 02:47, 6 January 2011 (UTC)


 * Can't find any reliable sources for the name Victoria Rooms, might have just been in the original King street production. Jezhotwells (talk) 10:31, 10 January 2011 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Victoria Rooms, Bristol. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071122014723/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=380288 to http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=380288

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 18:21, 7 May 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Victoria Rooms, Bristol. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071108071854/http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=380289 to http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=380289

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 20:24, 12 May 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Victoria Rooms, Bristol. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20100904141028/http://www.apollo-magazine.com/news-and-comment/6233013/architecture-bring-back-the-railings.thtml to http://www.apollo-magazine.com/news-and-comment/6233013/architecture-bring-back-the-railings.thtml

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 14:35, 20 May 2017 (UTC)