Mechanics Institute

• Theatre ID
  1165
• Built / Converted
  1855
• Dates of use
  • 1855 - 1981
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  disused (used for entertainment 1855-1930, theatre use from 1930)
• Address
  Emlyn Square, Railway Village, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 5BP, England

Details

The Mechanics Institute is perhaps one of the finest surviving examples of its kind. Designed in Tudor Gothic style of Swindon limestone rubble with Bath ashlar dressings, externally it gives the appearance of a great hall with buttressed sides of eight bays. It was built by GWR as a social and community centre for staff, opening in 1855, with a library, coffee room, reading room etc. It had a lecture/concert hall with a stage. There was originally an octagonal market hall at the south end. A proposal to erect a full-scale theatre at the rear in 1878 never came to fruition. In 1892 the market hall was demolished and the Institute greatly enlarged. These and most later additions and alterations were carried out in matching style. In 1930 the centre of the building was badly damaged by fire. The first floor hall was rebuilt as a theatre, the Playhouse, later known as the Civic Playhouse, with an enlarged stage. It had pit, stalls and dress circle, a pretty theatre with an elaborate proscenium and (unusually for its kind) a fly tower. The Playhouse took the place of the Empire, when that turned to cinema and also served local amateur companies who were later accommodated at the Wyvern. The theatre closed in 1986 and has since been disused and in some disrepair. In 1990 planning permission was granted (on appeal) for conversion to an hotel, but this was not implemented. Several subsequent planning applications for demolition or conversion have been withdrawn or refused. An Urgent Works Notice was presented to the current owner in 2009 to perform emergency safety work. At the same time the council are working with its partners to ensure a viable long-term future for the unique building.

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• Other names
  Playhouse Theatre, Civic Playhouse
• Events
  • Owner/Management: GWR, owners
  • Owner/Management: Later (1950s) Administrators of the Mayor’s Community Fund, proprietors
  • 1853 - 1855 Design/Construction:
    • Edward Roberts (London) - Architect
  • 1855 - 1981 Use:
  • 1893 Alteration: market hall removed; building greatly enlarged.
    • Brightwell Binyon - Architect
  • 1903 Alteration: minor additions (architect unknown).
  • 1930 Alteration: partly rebuilt after fire in former first floor hall - alterations and new fly tower.
    • Beswick & Son (Swindon) - Architect
• Capacities
  • Later: 1930: 606
• Listings
  • Grade II* - Upgraded 1999
• Stage type
  • Pros flat
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: Assembly Hall 76ft x 40ft
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 27ft
  • Proscenium width: 26ft
  • Height to grid: 40ft
  • Orchestra pit: Original (1930) 26