Empire (Crook)

• Theatre ID
  1545
• Built / Converted
  1910
• Dates of use
  • 1910 - 1967
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Shop)
• Address
  12 South Street (Market Place), Crook, Durham, England

Details

The façe must have undergone radical alteration and appears to be a rebuild (or an addition) above first floor level, the top storey being brick-faced and only casually related to the painted stucco front below. This is in three bays defined by thin rusticated pilasters with Ionic caps, above which is a cornice band but no cornice. A tall central semi-circular arched opening with three widely spaced keyblocks seems, like all the other openings, to have had its original joinery much altered or replaced. Internally a barrel-vaulted ceiling with single curving balcony with no boxes. The balcony front still intact with cartouche and scrollwork. The small proscenium still retains its fibrous plasterwork, the arch gently curved with a central cartouche. The bingo equipment remains on the stage. The front of house is now an autoparts shop. The balcony tier is intact though damaged. This interior must have been quite pleasing and certainly would be if restored, but the building is probably too isolated geographically to make such a proposition likely.

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• Other names
  Empire Palace
• Events
  • 1910 - 1967 Use:
  • 1910 Design/Construction:
    • Henry Gibson & Pascal J Stienlet - Architect
  • 1910 Owner/Management: W S Shepherd, owner
  • 1914 Owner/Management: North Counties Electric Theatres Ltd
  • 1934 Owner/Management: North East Coast Cinemas Ltd
  • 1949 - 1967 Owner/Management: Essoldo, owners
• Capacities
  • Later: 1912: 800 1939: 900 1956: 700
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: ext: 70ft x 45ft; auditorium: 52ft 6in x 43ft
  • Stage dimensions: 1912 d: 14ft w SL: 23ft
  • Height to grid: 1912: 20ft