Ice Hockey at National Skating Palace at Hengler's Circus / London Palladium 1902

Argyll Palace Skating Club and Amateur Skating Club Hockey Team.

In 1895 Hengler's Grand Circus was sold and turned into a skating rink, called the National Skating Palace, which was famed at the time for having real ice which was manufactured on site.

On January 11, 1896, the National Skating Palace opened its doors under the superintendence of the National Skating Association's Secretary, James Drake Digby. It was a vision of Victorian opulence, open from eleven in the morning until eleven at night, with eleven thousand feet of artificial ice, electric lights and a representation of the Aurora Borealis painted on the ceiling. There was a circular gallery, lounge, tea room and observation balcony and dressing rooms, "combined with a warm and genial atmosphere and luxury in all its appointments." The colour scheme was terracotta and pale blue and the ante-room was decorated with flowers and potted palms.

The National Skating Association made their headquarters here in 1897.

The 1898 World Figure Skating Championships were held at the National Skating Palace.