296 KINGSCLERE 



sance built in brick and stone ' from the designs of 

 Mr. Dollar, and hereunder it will be seen how the 

 building came to be erected. 



In a speech which he delivered as chairman of 

 the directors, John Porter said: 'I believe the 

 original idea of building a hall came from my wife. 

 We were discussing the want of such a building 

 when Dr. Maples called in, and suggested a limited 

 liability company. (So enthusiastic was the recep- 

 tion the idea met with that a company was at once 

 formed. The capital asked for was 760/. It was 

 immediately subscribed. It was then increased to 

 1000/.) The hall is for theatrical entertainments, 

 concerts, balls, and political meetings, be they Con- 

 servative or Liberal. We only draw the line at 

 atheists, Salvationists, and separationists (cheers, and 

 a voice " No Home Rulers ! "). By separationists 

 I mean those people who would lop off one by one 

 the vigorous branches of that grand old tree which 

 has taken centuries to grow into the British Empire, 

 and would leave old England a pitiful spectacle of 

 a decayed and withered stump, to be kicked and 

 cuffed by all the world, and with no spirit or energy 

 left to repel such an attack.' The trowel presented 

 to Miss Beach (daughter of Mr. W. W. Beach, 

 M.P.) by Dr. R. Maples to lay the foundation stone 

 was inscribed : ' Presented to Miss Beach by Dr. R. 

 Maples on the occasion of laying the Foundation 

 Stone of Kingsclere Albert Hall, June 14th, 1886.' 

 At the foundation banquet, the chairman, Dr. 

 Maples, said Mr. Porter was one of the mainstays 



