Starting as a railway shed in 1846, the Roundhouse has become a crucial building for the counter culture movement and creativity overall.[1] It is located in London's, Camden town, a hub for London's counterculture both presently and historically, Camden town frequently catered to counterculture and underground movements. The Roundhouse has undergone major transformation through the years. While the original purpose of the Roundhouse was for the storage of trains and railway cars, it was left neglected and eventually unmanaged prior to the outbreak of the second World War in 1939.[2] The architecture of the Roundhouse is unique, it is a circular structure with a 160ft diameter, influenced by its original purpose for railway cars and storage.[3] 21 years following the Roundhouse's neglect, the dramatist Arnold Wesker received control of the building in 1960 and began plans to convert the building into a venue of youth culture and art. Plans for renovation and change were commonplace within the Roundhouse. However, the Roundhouse's true opening night was not until six years later, on October 15^th, 1966.[4]

[1] "The Co-Existence of Historic and Contemporary Architecture—." Pg. 42.

[2] Ibid.,

[3] Darley, Peter. "Why the Roundhouse Was Built - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years."

[4] "Beginnings: 1960s - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years." Roundhouse

"The Co-Existence of Historic and Contemporary Architecture—." 2011. Architecture plus Design 28 (1): 42–46.

"Beginnings: 1960s - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years." Roundhouse, 50.roundhouse.org.uk/eras/beginnings-1960s.

Darley, Peter. "Why the Roundhouse Was Built - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years." Roundhouse. https://50.roundhouse.org.uk/content-items/1111..

On October 15^th 1966, the Roundhouse hosted the launch party for the counterculture newspaper titled "International Times." The event sold as a "Pop/Op/Costume/Masque/Fantasy-Loon/Blowout/Drag Ball"[1] received 2,000 guests who payed 10 shillings at the door.[2] These guests were also expected to "bring their own poison." The International Times newspaper was dedicated to presenting the "emblematic changes in music, film, writing and thinking that were occurring at the time."[3] This grand, bright night not only launched the International Times, but presented the stage for which the psychedelic band Pink Floyd debuted on. The event was a cornerstone of London's counterculture movement following the second World War. The International Times challenged mainstream media and received a strained relationship with authorities because of this as its office became the destination of frequent raids by police forces.[4] The night was spectacularly bright and energetic, embracing strange light techniques to alter the atmosphere of its guests. In the realm of counterculture, the night supported anti-war sentiment by pushing and funding the publication of the International Times, an outlet of shocking counterculture ideals in London. It was an overall start to a cultural revolution. The Roundhouse was enticing to all factions of London's countercultures and its atmosphere welcomed an assortment of punks, metalheads and hippies.[5] Roundhouse's debut encouraged the use of drugs, a fundamental element in countercultures such as the hippie community. Its legacy extends far beyond it's fated first night and it continues and proceeds to host many of England's most prominent subculture bands.

[1] Rycroft, Simon. Swinging city: a cultural geography of London, 1950-1974. Pg. 87

[2] Ibid.,

[3] Mason, Harry. "The Launch of the Provocative International Times - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years."

[4] Ibid.,

[5] Thompson, Dave. London's Burning: True Adventures on the Front Lines of Punk, Pg. 17

Rycroft, Simon. Swinging city: a cultural geography of London, 1950-1974. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2011.

Mason, Harry. "The Launch of the Provocative International Times - Roundhouse - Celebrating 50 Years." Roundhouse. https://50.roundhouse.org.uk/content-items/launch-international-times.

Thompson, Dave. London's Burning: True Adventures on the Front Lines of Punk, 1976-1977. Chicago Review Press, 2009.