Helmsley Arts Centre

• Theatre ID
  224
• Built / Converted
  1995
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Arts Centre
• Address
  The Old Meeting House, Bridge Street, Helmsley, North Yorkshire, YO62 5DW, England
• Website
  • http://www.helmsleyarts.co.uk

Details

A gabled, barn-like structure, completely undemonstrative, as might befit a meeting house for the Society of Friends. Coursed rubble stone elevations with pitched slated roof and sliding sash windows with slender bars, set slightly back from the wall face. Modern glazed addition with lean-to roof covering the entrance. The original (methodist) pews were in three blocks with two aisles. Even before the 2000 fire the theatre seating was in two blocks with a central aisle, visually less pleasing, but probably adopted as permitting the optimum number of seats. A good and pleasing example of the successful recycling of a modest but seemly old building for public performance.

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• Events
  • 1812 Design/Construction: as Friends Meeting House
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1844 Alteration: conversion to methodist chapel
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1995 Alteration: conversion to arts centre
    • Tony Burns - Architect
  • 2001 Alteration: rebuilt after fire in 2000
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1844 Owner/Management: Primitive Methodists, lessees
  • 1984 Owner/Management: Old Meeting House Trust, owners
• Capacities
  • Current: 138
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: 7.5m x 7m (25ft x 23ft) Studio Bar is 9m x 7.25m (25ft x 24ft)
  • Height to grid: floor to ceiling 6m (20ft)
• Latest news
  Planning application submitted (Aug 05) to extend backstage and front of house (FB 4.8.05)