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Bridgwater Arts Centre

1264

The Bridgwater Arts Centre is a three-storey Georgian merchant’s house that forms part of a terraced street built from 1723 onwards. The houses were built of local brick with ashlar dressings and were designed by the architect Benjamin Holloway. The theatre was built behind the house in the 1930s, extending over the length of the garden. In 1946, it became the first arts centre in Britain to open with Arts Council support. The building was purchased by Bridgwater Borough Council in 1966 and passed into the ownership of Sedgemoor District Council in 1974. The adjoining house 11 Castle Street was acquired in 1982 and the theatre was extended sideways to accommodate a balcony, the stage being down one side, and the entrance to the side of the auditorium. The main theatre has capacity for 175 with flexible seating, a large proscenium stage with ample wing space but no flying facilities. There are two green rooms, a bar and gallery. The first floor studio space can seat 40. The Kelting Room is used for meetings and classes. It contains many original Georgian architectural features including plaster ceiling mouldings, wooden side cupboards, window panels and seats as well as the fireplace in the style of Robert Adam with a fine inverted arch fire basket made of cast iron. In 2011 Sedgemoor District Council leased the building to Bridgwater Arts Centre for 125 years, the first 25 on a peppercorn rent. Cuts in funding resulted in redundancies in 2011. The arts centre reopened on 11 January 2012 run totally by volunteers but has since received financial support from the Town Council for some salaried staff.

Built / Converted
1946
Dates of use
  • 1946 : continuing
Current state
Extant
Current use
Theatre (Theatre and arts centre)
Address
11 & 13 Castle Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3DD, England
Further details
Other names
Arts Centre
Events
  • Owner/Management: Later, Sedgmoor District Council, continuing
  • 1723 Design/Construction: as a house
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1930 - 1939 Alteration: theatre added at rear
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1946 Use: continuing
  • 1959 Owner/Management: Pre Gwen Pollard, owner
  • 1966 Owner/Management: Bridgwater District Council, owner
  • 1974 Owner/Management: Sedgemoor District Council, owner
  • 1982 Alteration: adjoining property incorporated; balcony extended
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 2011 Owner/Management: Bridgwater Arts Centre, lessee
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    200
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    196
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    40
    Comment
    studio theatre
  • Capacity
    Current
    Description
    175
    Comment
    main theatre
Listings
  • Listing
    I
Stage type
-
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: Depth: 6.1m Width SL: 5.18m SR: 5.18m
Proscenium width: 7.92m
Height to grid: 4m
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: None