The Theatrical Family Chapman

One of the scenes featured at the Time Trap Museum is the Theatre Royal in Grimsby, which is very strongly linked to one of the people we are currently researching, Joseph Chapman, who occupied Yarra House on Alexandra Road for nearly forty years.It was his father Nathan Chapman, or Nat to his friends, who was instrumental in the construction (and temporarily the destruction) of the Theatre Royal in 1864. In his book, the Rise of Grimsby Vol 1, Bob Lincoln writes,

“When Billy Wynn’s theatre was burnt down a syndicate consisting of Nat Chapman, “Big” Ellis, &c, decided to build one to be known as the Theatre Royal, where the Palace is. “Nicnacks” Chapman was the architect; “Neddy” Emerson, my uncle, the builder; Beels and Betts, the joiners, the former the father to Councillor Beels; Tom Loftus, the plumber, and Bob Lincoln senr., the painter. When nearing completion, it was blown down. Our painters were on the roof two hours before it occurred. This caused litigation, but it was eventually settled, and the Theatre re-built. Needless to say, all the rising generation had a good time there.”

Bob returns to the subject later on in the book:

“Another building of note erected was the Theatre Royal on the site of the present Palace Theatre, that portion where the Theatre proper is. That portion were the Buffet is was then a flour store kept by Cargill. A syndicate consisting principally of Nat. Chapman, Newmarket Hotel, and Big Ellis, the pioneer of the yellow boats, which traded then and I believe do now, under the superintendence of Mr Forge, principally for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, evidently did not intend spending too much of the all necessary, as the two leading Contracting Estimates were as follows:

Beels and Betts, Joiners .. £400

Edward Emerson, Bricklayer £395

Nic-Nacks Chapman was the Architect, and a fearful mess he made of it, as it completely collapsed when the roof was put on. Litigation followed, and although a youngster I well remember the circumstances. The aforesaid Emerson was my uncle, and father to one of the smartest men ever born in Grimsby. I allude to Jack Emerson, the Maplin Sands man, and like the latter, he was very determined. The aforesaid Syndicate thought they they could bluff him, and eventually the eventful day arrived when the civil action was to be tried at the Lincoln Assizes. When they arrived at the station, Nat Chapman in a jocular way said, “You had better give in, Ted.”

“Nay, Nat,” he said. “D-----d if I do. I’m prepared, if you are,” and, suiting the action to the word, produced some £1,700 from his pocket in notes, and said, “I have sold a block in the East Marsh for this job, and I’m prepared to sell another before I’m beat.”

This settled it. They never got to Lincoln. Instead of this they adjourned, terms were arranged and the Theatre was re-built forthwith.”

It opened to the public in January 1865.