DORCHESTER THEATRE

OUTSIDE HORSE WITH THE RED UMBRELLA, HIGH WEST STREET, DORCHESTER

THE next time you order a sandwich or a coffee at the Horse With the Red Umbrella, you might want to pause to think about he building's glorious past.

The building used to be the Loyalty Theatre and had links with renowned actor Edward Keane and Dorchester's famous literary son Thomas Hardy.

The Loyalty Theatre opened in 1828 and remained open until 1843. Its proprietor was Charles Curme.

Godwin’s Glass and China Stores took over the building and it was used as a warehouse store before it became the Horse with the Red Umbrella in 1970.

The name comes from the play The Horse with the Red Umbrella, which was apparently the last production staged at the Loyalty Theatre before it closed.