County (Hereford)

• Theatre ID
  867
• Built / Converted
  1913
• Dates of use
  • 1913 - 1957
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Bingo
• Address
  Berrington Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, England

Details

The present auditorium is the relic of a building of c.1790 which started life as a church of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion, became a piano showroom and was converted to the Picture House (cinéariety) in 1913, incorporating cottages on the Berrington Street front. It is not known whether the fly tower was added at this time. By 1939-46 stage use was occasional only, but in 1946 it became a full-time repertory theatre. By 1957 it was a ballroom and further uses included roller skating rink and warehouse. It reopened as a cinema in 1962 but became a bingo house in 1964. Six-bay asymmetrical rendered two-storey front; sandstone third bay slightly advanced with pedimented gable and a Venetian window over wide entrance; semi-circular headed windows with sandstone surrounds, imposts and keyboards; sashes with thin glazing bars, curved at head to form Gothic panes. Pitched slated roof.

---

Hide further details

• Other names
  Beethoven Hall, Picture House, Palladium, County Ballroom, Regal
• Events
  • 1913 - 1957 Use:
  • 1787 Design/Construction: or as a church
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1887 Alteration: converted to piano showroom
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1913 Alteration: converted to ciné-variety
    • H Skyrme - Architect
  • 1957 Alteration: converted to ballroom
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1962 Alteration: again converted to cinema
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1964 Alteration: converted to bingo hall
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1939 Owner/Management: Palladium Hereford Ltd, proprietors; Montague H Franklin, general manager
  • 1946 - 1948 Owner/Management: Derek Salberg, lessee
  • 1952 - 1964 Owner/Management: Miles Byrne, managing director
  • Owner/Management: Zetters
  • Owner/Management: EMI
  • Owner/Management: Granada
• Capacities
  • Original: c.350
  • Later: 1948: 500 1952: 600 1962: 520
• Listings
  • Grade II
• Stage type
  • Proscenium Rake c.1:40
• Dimensions
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: 5.2m (17ft) Width: 18m (60ft)
  • Proscenium width: 8.8m (28ft 10in)
  • Inside proscenium: 14.5m (47ft 6in)