1919 - The Temperance Hall – Our First Rehearsal Home

When Cirencester Band was founded in 1919 as the Comrades of the Great War Band, its first rehearsal home was the Temperance Hall in Thomas Street, Cirencester.

The newly formed band held practices there every Monday and Thursday evening. Many of the first instruments played by the returning servicemen were borrowed directly from their former army regiments.

The Temperance Hall itself already had a long history. Built in December 1846 by local Quaker and temperance reformer Christopher Bowly, it stood on the site of Thomas Masters’ former brewery. More than seventy years later, it became home to Cirencester’s new band.

The building was acquired by the Salvation Army in 1975 and, following renovations, opened as its local citadel.

For Cirencester Band, however, Thomas Street will always have an important place in our history as the location of our very first rehearsal room.