Hello Carol, I did find reference to a Mr PREECE in "The Melody Lingers On",it appears that the Mr PREECE mentioned was the proprieter of several music halls. "At the Grapes(Southwark Bridge Road)the free and easy had developed into a very good standard of variety entertainment,becoming a hall in the early 'fortiesand called The Surrey Music Hall,it bore the title but not quite the style.In addition to its entertainment,it boasted a picture gallery which its proprieter,Richard PREECE,had purchased from a French instrumentalist named Phillipe,whom he had brought over as an attraction from Paris" "Eventually,The Surrey Gardens were opened with a building also called the Surrey Music Hall.The then manager of the original place of that name,a Mr PREECE,renamed his hallThe Winchester.It remained running as a genuine music hall until about 1878 when it was pulled down". Hope this is of some help to you, kind regards, Carole ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carol Preece" <docpreece@mindspring.com> To: <THEATRE-UK-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 7:12 AM Subject: Re: [THEATRE-UK] New Book > Dear Carole, I mistakenly typed "18th" instead of "19th" century for the > time period that the Preeces were active in the London/Southwark music > halls. Hope this helps you find them in your book. > > Carol A. Preece > >