public-house (the Commercial Tavern, 119, King’s Road) at the corner, which is still standing. {28b} [Picture: Admission Ticket, New Ranelagh, Pimlico, 1809] [‘Some Managerial Memories,’ by E. L. Blanchard in the _Theatre Annual_ for 1886, reprinted in Blanchard’s _Life_, i., p. 20 _f._; _Era Almanack_, 1870, p. 18; newspaper advertisements, etc.; _Bell’s Life_, May 3, 1840.] BATTY’S HIPPODROME AND SOYER’S SYMPOSIUM, KENSINGTON THE Great Exhibition of 1851 was indirectly responsible for the existence in Kensington of two short-lived institutions—a circus and a restaurant. They are rather outside our subject, but, as having something of an open-air character, may be briefly described. In the autumn of 1850 William Batty, a famous circus proprietor, acquired some land within five minutes’ walk of the new world-wonder, the ‘Crystal Palace,’ and erected thereon an elliptical-roofed pavilion which accommodated many thousands of spectators, and had a large arena open to the sky. The Royal Hippodrome was opened in May, 1851, with a French troupe brought over from the Hippodrome at Paris. The performances generally took place in the evening, and the lowest price of admission was sixpence. Two brass bands of a rather blatant character enlivened the proceedings. Favourite features of the entertainment were a Roman chariot race and a ‘triumphal race of the Roman Consuls,’ who were represented by the three brothers Debach, each guiding six horses. Why Roman Consuls should race is not explained, and probably did not matter. Another excitement of the evening was the Barbary Race of twelve unmounted horses, who dashed headlong to the goal with distended nostrils and eyes of fire. Other attractions were balloon ascents {30} and F. Debach’s journey on the Arienne Ball up and down a narrow inclined plank. The Hippodrome closed with the Exhibition, and only lived for one other season, in 1852. Subsequently, and in the sixties, it was used as a riding-school. The site lay nearly opposite the broad walk of Kensington Gardens, between part of Victoria Road and Victoria Walk and the present Palace Gate. De Vere Gardens mainly occupy the site. [Newspapers: _John Bull_, September, 1850, p. 582; _Theatrical Journal_, 1851; views of the Hippodrome in _Illustrated London News_ for 1851.] * * * * * The founder of the restaurant, of which, it was hoped, the Great Exhibition would make the fortune, was Alexis Soyer, the former chef of the Reform Club, one of the best-known cooks—though by no means the greatest—of the classic ages of dining. Soyer was a man of inventive genius and resource, but one who (as the author of the _Art of Dining_ dryly remarked) ‘was more likely to earn immortality by his soup-kitchen than by his soup.’ {31}