MarkKelleher

By MarkKelleher

Earl's Court, London

Earl's Court Exhibition Centre was, as it says, finished in 1937. Designed by Howard Crane, it's in Art Deco style.

The idea was to create the largest covered hall in Europe to rival nearby Olympia.

Both sites had been started by John Whitley. He ran shows from the Earl's Court site from 1887; the first one featured Buffalo Bill Cody. Whitley had also started the National Agricultual Hall Company that went on to create Olympia in 1886.

London's first giant ferris wheel, like the current London Eye, was built on the Earl's Court site in 1895 as part of the Empire of India Exhibition.

This was also the site for the volleyball in the London Olympics 2012, and it had hosted wrestling for the 1948 London Olympics.

There have been many events and concerts held here including Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, Kylie Minogue, Queen and Genesis, as well as dozens of exhibitions including The Motor Show, London Comic Con and The Ideal Home Exhibition.

The music concert on 7th June 2014 by Arcade Fire was the last ever concert, as a planning application has been approved to demolish Earl's Court and build shops and houses, and maybe a small exhibition centre. It will take 20 years to complete the new scheme.

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