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Music Hall

2172

A remarkable building with a long and complex history. It was originally the Chapel of St Nicholas, built in 1280 on Cathedral land. After various uses, including that of a wool hall, it was converted into the Theatre Royal in 1777. A second conversion in 1855 by James Harrison was as a concert room and it is as this that it is best remembered, being still referred to as the Music Hall (in this context, a hall for music, rather than variety). Another internal reconstruction in 1921 saw modernisation for cinema.

The visible mediaeval fabric (probably of 1488) is on the south side. The base of the building is of local red stone, coarsely hewn and weathered. Above, the later additions including the stage house, rise in red brick with many variations in the brickwork, blocked-in windows and doors etc, reflecting changing uses over the centuries. The entrance on St Werburgh Street is advanced at ground floor level, with steps up to the entrance. The mid-nineteenth century Gothic front is by James Harrison. The rear of the property on Northgate Street is of plain modern stone in run-of-the-mill post-modern style, dating from 1993. The get-in door and some exits have been replaced within the last two or three decades.

The interior has been radically altered, suspended ceilings and new wall linings obscuring all the older fabric; no evidence of theatre fittings remain. No description of the theatre interior has been found, but it is known that, as a music hall, there was a single balcony, approached from the narrow foyer by a single stairway.

The building was converted to retail use from about the time of its closure as a cinema in 1961.

Built / Converted
1777
Dates of use
  • 1777 - 1854
Current state
Extant
Current use
Converted to other use (Retail store (Superdrug)
Concert hall after 1854, then cinema 1921-61)
Address
St Werburgh Street/Northgate Street/Music Hall Passage, Chester, Cheshire, England
Website-
Further details
Other names
New Theatre , Theatre Royal , (Chester) Music Hall , Music Hall Pictures
Events
  • Owner/Management: Diocese of Chester
  • Owner/Management: Phillipson and Golder, lessees
  • 1280 Design/Construction: as a guild chapel
    Abbot Simon
    - Architect
  • 1777 Alteration: converted to theatre (? name change only)
    Unknown
    - Architect
  • 1777 - 1854 Use:
  • 1828 - 1848 Owner/Management: Gaumont British
  • 1855 Alteration: extension, refronting and conversion to music hall
    James Harrison
    - Architect
  • 1921 Alteration: reconstructed and modernised for cinema
    E J Muspratt & G E Tonge
    - Architect
  • 1921 Owner/Management: Chester Music Hall (1921) Ltd, lessee
  • 1929 Owner/Management: GTC
  • 1948 - 1961 Owner/Management: Circuits Management Association
  • 1961 Alteration: reconstructed for retail use
    Unknown
    - Architect
Capacities
  • Capacity
    Later
    Description
    1910: 1000
    1921: 820
Listings
  • Listing
    II
Stage type
1910: Flat, no proscenium
Building dimensions: -
Stage dimensions: -
Proscenium width: -
Height to grid: -
Inside proscenium: -
Orchestra pit: -