RichardB Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Thomas Youdan enjoyed a similarly dominant position in Sheffield to that of the Sharples family in Bolton. He opened the Casino in 1849 and converted it into the Surrey Music Hall in 1852. After the building was destroyed by fire in 1855 he converted the defunct Adelphi music hall, which he had bought up from a competitor in 1859 and had been usiing as a warehouse, into the Alexandra Music Hall. And in the 1870's he modernised the Alexanda and reopened it as the Sheffield Opera House. Youdan had more competition that the Sharples for Sheffield possessed a number of other music halls. These halls, however, were continually changing hands and none of their proprietors was in a position to challenge Youdan's prominent status. The Surrey, with its capacity of 4,000, was not only Sheffield's largest music hall, it was the city's largest public buiding - outstanding in every respect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmund Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 Thomas Youdan was born at Streetthorpe near Doncaster, on 19th May 1816, to an agricultural labouring family. When he arrived in Sheffield aged 18, he took a job with James Dixon's as a labourer, but learnt the trade and became a silver stamper, working many of the large silver manufacturers. He took a beerhouse in the Park and after a few years opened the "Spink's Nest" in Westbar, previously a pawnbroker's shop. As his business did well, he acquired the freehold of that place and also the property around it, which became the site of the Surrey Theatre. The Surrey had a ballroom, a theatre, a concert hall, a menagerie and other attractions. Most of the "wild beasts" for the menagerie came from the collection of the William Hunloke of Wingerworth Hall. The Surrey burnt down on the morning of 25th March 1865 and was never rebuilt. Mr Youdan lost almost £30,000 by this fire, and claimed that it had taken ten years off his life. He was at that time leasing a large warehouse in Blonk street, which he renovated and re-fitted, and then purchased the property outright, eventually being granted a theatrical license by the magistrates. Having made a great success of the new venture he retired in April 1874 and Mr Brittlebank, his manager of 25 years, took on the lease. Mr Youdan served as a Town Councillor (St Philip's ward) for six years from 1858 and was a guardian for the Sheffield Union. Thomas Youdan died at his home in Filey, Flotmanly House, aged 61, on 28th November 1876. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tozzin Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 I believe the Youdan Cup was donated by Tommy Youdan, recently re-discovered on the Antiques Roadshow. Tommy is the large gentleman in the centre with a tall top hat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 Thomas Youdan must have thought his theatres jinxed, one damaged by the Flood and the other destroyed by fire in a year. At least the Alexandra continued to entertain the locals after extensive repairs. s03852 25th March 1865. s11591. Fire damaged Surrey Theatre, Westbar. From Sheffield Illustrated Vol 2 page 54. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;s01620&pos=19&action=zoom&id=5422 Thomas Youdan and Theatre Company outside the fire damaged Surrey Theatre. 26th March 1865. s09222 The playbill from the night of the fire. https://www.picturesheffield.com/frontend.php?keywords=Ref_No_increment;EQUALS;y13034&pos=24&action=zoom&id=128627 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponytail Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 More information on Thomas Youdan, you could say, a bit of a character. https://www.totleyhistorygroup.org.uk/people-of-interest/thomas-youdan/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Youdan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tozzin Posted February 25, 2023 Share Posted February 25, 2023 What a life he had, I would have liked to experience Sheffield as it was when Tommy was around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syrup Posted February 26, 2023 Share Posted February 26, 2023 On 25/02/2023 at 12:17, tozzin said: I believe the Youdan Cup was donated by Tommy Youdan, recently re-discovered on the Antiques Roadshow. Tommy is the large gentleman in the centre with a tall top hat. According to this 1998 Birmingham Newspaper article it's been stored in a Bank Vault. Birmingham Daily Post 27 February 1998 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tozzin Posted February 26, 2023 Share Posted February 26, 2023 Martin, Hall and Co Ltd., Silversmiths, Electro Plate and Cutlery Manufacturers, Shrewsbury Works, 53 Broad Street, Park, Sheffield, c. 1900, this is the company responsible for the making of the Youdan Cup. The etching of inside the workshop shows Buffers at work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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