Art Picture House

• Theatre ID
  2233
• Built / Converted
  1922
• Dates of use
  • 1911 - 1964
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Licensed premises (currently believed to be vacant; previously bingo use)
• Address
  Haymarket Street, Bury, Greater Manchester, England

Details

An elaborate and complete example of an early 1920s cinema, exceptionally theatrical in its plan and decoration. The first theatre on the site was a conversion of a Baptist chapel which had become a warehouse. It had a minimal stage, 1.83m (6ft) deep, and a long ‘winter garden’ glazed foyer added along the length. This theatre was demolished in 1922 and replaced by the present building, also by Winstanley. It had stalls, a pit and a twelve row circle. The cine chamber, unusually, was at the rear stalls, not the circle. The first floor caféas not completed until 1923. Main three-storey elevation is symmetrical in five major bays, the wide centre crowned by stepped pedimental parapets, all in white faience. The outer bays were originally crowned by elaborate arches with large keystones now replaced by stepped parapets above the third floor circular windows. The ground floor has been altered with modern tiling around the main entrance. Internally, a two level auditorium with two boxes on either side of the proscenium, having extended rounded fronts between Ionic columns. Proscenium 9.14m (30ft) wide. The L-shaped caféas known originally as the Oriental or Indian Lounge.

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• Events
  • 1911 - 1964 Use:
  • Design/Construction: built as Baptist Chapel, unknown date
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1911 Alteration: converted to theatre
    • Albert Winstanley - Architect
  • 1922 Alteration: completely rebuilt
    • Albert Winstanley - Architect
• Capacities
  • Original: 750
  • Later: 1922: 1217
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium rake
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 6.1m Width SL: 9.14m SR: 5.79m
  • Proscenium width: 9.14m
  • Orchestra pit: Original