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King's

1472

Opened as Albert Hall with stalls and balcony. Ballroom attached. After a series of improvements it was gutted by fire in 1927, reopening as a theatre in the same year. Stage removed about 1988.

Three bay gabled façade with a cheerful mixture of classical details, facing Trinity Street. The central bay is set forward and framed by superimposed orders of coupled columns supporting an open segmental pediment at the apex of the gable, above which is a pedestal carrying a lion. Within the pediment tympanum is an oeil-de-boeuf. Brick flank wall of nine bays divided by piers. Next to the stage, right end, is a long low building, now the Liberal Club, but which could have been the original Ballroom of 1885.

Internally the ground floor has been levelled throughout. There is a deep ‘U’ shaped balcony supported by iron pillars, which may be a survivor of the 1927 fire. The ceiling is barrel vaulted with Greek key guilloche on the longitudinal and cross beams. The original position of the stage is clearly visible. The grid is hidden from view. There is no external fly tower.

Built / Converted
1885
Dates of use
  • 1885 : Until when not known.
Current state
Extant
Current use
Bingo
Address
Trinity Street/Lewis Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
Albert Hall , Royal Albert Hall , Albert Theatre
Events
  • 1821 Owner/Management: R Kirk, lessee
  • 1885 Use: Until when not known.
  • 1885 Design/Construction:
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1891 Alteration: proscenium brought forward 2.15m (7ft); balcony lowered; other alerations and additions
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1891 Design/Construction:
    H Ward
    - Consultant
    scenery
  • 1904 Alteration: proscenium front enlarged; private boxes added next to proscenium; fibrous plaster decorations on proscenium and new balcony front
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1904 Design/Construction:
    Mr Terris
    - Consultant
    scenery
    Curtis & Sons
    - Consultant
    seating
  • 1904 Owner/Management: Arthur Carlton, lessee
  • 1908 Alteration: auditorium altered
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1908 Owner/Management: Gainsborough Theatre Co Ltd, lessees; Fred Leighton, managing director
  • 1910 Owner/Management: Aug W Seddon Payne & Ernest Pope, lessees
  • 1910 Alteration: alterations (unspecified)
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1910 Owner/Management: Leivers & Bennet, lessees
  • 1927 Owner/Management: Sept G P Fenton & Branford, lessees (of Palace Whithaven)
  • 1927 Alteration: re-decorated; new dome shaped roof replacing former flat one
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1988 Alteration: stage removed to provide space for a bar
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1995 Owner/Management: Liberal Club, owners; Suggitt, lessee
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Original
    Description
    c.1500
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1908: 1000
Listings
  • Listing
    Not listed
Stage type
Rake
Building dimensions: 91ft x 43ft 9in
Stage dimensions: Depth: 23ft 6in Width: 39ft 9in
Proscenium width: 22ft
Height to grid: 26ft
Inside proscenium: 30ft 8in
Orchestra pit: -