Boscombe Manor

Boscombe Manor was the home of Sir Percy Florence Shelley. Shelley built two private theatres at the property. The first was constructed in the garden. This gave way to the second, which was added to the main house. The shell of the theatre survives today and until the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 was operating as a community arts venue.

Shelley was interested in all aspects of theatre. He had a scene painting studio and is often listed as producing the scenery for the venue.

Shelley hosted a number of private theatrical events at the venue. These included:

• 1885, 28-30 January. Herbert Gardner's Time Will Tell in which Gardner performed the leading male role alongside the sketch An Amateur Pantomime Rehearsal by Cecil Clay, who was also in the cast. The music was under the authority of Shelley's friend Mr T. German Reed, famous for the German Reed Entertainments at St George's Hall in London.