Theatre

The theatre was built in 1799 by Fisher, who acquired a row of ten cottages for the enterprise. All but one of the cottages were gutted, and the theatre was constructed using some retained walls as a basis. It has a handsome, three bay, stone-dressed façade onto Gloucester Street, a part of the town with many remaining Georgian buildings; round-headed central entrance with fanlight, (formerly with cartouche above) and sash windows to ground and first floors. The front was originally parapeted with a central pedimental hump and blind lunette. The slated roof now has shallow eaves. Accommodation was pit, tiers of private boxes and gallery. The interior was decorated with floral wreaths and gilding. The retained cottage was at the right hand side, and its outline can be seen in the side wall today.

In 1808, a primitive Methodist Chapel was erected to one side, set back from the street, for which the cottage was demolished. In 1820, the front part of the building was converted to a public house, the Loyal Volunteer. The theatre’s fortunes were by then in decline, mainly after John Boles Watson’s death, since neither son nor grandson possessed his flair and business acumen. By c.1840 it was used as a store for beer. Later, the auditorium was subdivided. However, many features were retained, and could be seen until The Methodists succeeded in closing the pub and it was converted into a residence in 1955. Damage by flooding and by fire occurred in the 1930s and 50s. The shell of the building, however, survives, the façade little changed.