Theatre (Framlingham)

Theatre ID
2139
Built / Converted
—
Current state
Extant
Current use
disused (Unused barn)
Address
Fore Street (behind No 20, facing a backland yard), Framlingham, Suffolk, England

Details

A late eighteenth/early nineteenth century brick barn known as ‘the old theatre’ by strong local tradition. Overall dimensions c.8.75m x 11m (24ft x 36ft) with a simple pitched roof supported by principal rafters with collars and tie beams approximating to four constructional bays, reinforced with longitudinal iron tie rods. Gable to entrance or west elevation of horizontally boarded timber construction. An upper hay door, within a once larger opening above the main door, covered by a latter-day sliding door. In the opposite gable a small circular window. Internally, an intermediate timber floor reached by a (derelict) staircase against the west wall with two nicely turned Doric newels which is the only evidence of any earlier polite use. Ground floor of brick/cement/earth with latter-day stub brick walls to form storage bins. General condition of building not good. When comparing the present appearance of the building with two playbills in Framlingham Castle Museum of 1835 advertising Framlingham Theatre (they give no address) as having boxes, pit and gallery seats, it is not possible to conclude whether the building is one and the same or was originally purpose-built or merely served as a fit-up: Elizabeth Grice certainly considers the Framlingham venue to have been of the last type. Of theatrical significance, perhaps, 29 Fore Street is named Old Tavern House.

Hide all images

Balcony at the Framlingham Theatre, 1995
© The Theatres Trust