Theatre (Bury St Edmunds)

• Theatre ID
  1973
• Built / Converted
  1734
• Dates of use
  • 1734 - 1819
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  converted to other use (Art gallery)
• Address
  Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England

Details

In 1774 Robert Adam proposed new elevations for the old Market Cross (like most of its kind, it also served as the Town Hall) which had been in use as a theatre since 1734 by the Duke of Grafton’s Comedians (The Norwich Company) and the Grammar School. In 1819 William Wilkins the Younger converted the first floor into a public concert room and transferred all the fittings to his new theatre in Westgate Street (see Theatre Royal). No trace of theatrical activity or evidence as to the layout of this small playhouse remains. The public room has been restored as an art gallery. Fine exterior with piano nobile, complete with Venetian arches under pediments on all four sides flanked with niches and windows, over a heavily rusticated ground floor. It is in excellent condition and conforms to the original drawing by Adam of an end elevation which is still in the possession of the Corporation.

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• Other names
  Early Market Cross
• Events
  • 1734 - 1819 Use:
  • 1734 Design/Construction:
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1774 Alteration: exterior redesigned
    • Robert Adam - Architect
  • 1819 Alteration: upper floor converted to concert room
    • William Wilkins the Younger - Architect
• Listings
  • Grade I