While prepping for our "Lure of London" concerts, we have learned about a trendy venue for public concerts in Baroque London known as "Hickford's Room." Not much is known about the venue's founder—John Hickford—except that he was a dancing-master. The hall was initially known as the Great Dancing Room and was located on James Street in Haymarket. As it was one of only two rooms in London's West End large enough for concerts, musicians approached Hickford to use the space, and he soon developed a reputation as a concert organizer. At that point, it became known as Mr.