1890s Leisure in Ryde
The inhabitants of 19th century Ryde enjoyed entertainment…………… Bands played on the pier every evening. There were plays in the Theatre, concerts in the Town Hall, lectures and exhibitions in the Victoria Rooms and circuses on the Strand from the 1850s onwards. Local gentry also held balls and soirees in their homes – descriptions of which appeared in the local press the following week. Celebrities came from Paris and London to appear in Ryde – Mrs Jordan, Ellen Terry, Oscar Wilde, General Tom Thumb, The Christy Minstrels all appeared in Ryde following successful runs in London and over seas……..Ryde was the place to be after London, Paris, New York! Hairdressers and other businessmen also followed the same route. Return to Ryde Leisure page
