Imperial (Walsall)

• Theatre ID
  886
• Built / Converted
  1869
• Dates of use
  • 1869 - 1900
• Current state
  Extant
• Current use
  Licensed premises (pub)
• Address
  Darwall Street, Walsall, West Midlands, England

Details

Opened as the Agricultural Hall but used for theatrical performances from the beginning. From 1899 it was known as the Imperial Theatre. It became a cinema from 1908, latterly a bingo house and, from 1997, a pub. The simple three-bay façe with broad entrance arch and a little pedimental gable at the centre appears to be, in its essentials, that of the 1869 Agricultural Hall. The interior is that of a cinema, presumably dating from conversion about 1915. It is a rectangular room with a raked floor and a slightly curved end balcony. The side walls are panelled between piers, from which spring shallow arched beams. Square proscenium, behind which an earlier proscenium arch can still be traced. Small foyer. No fly tower.

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• Other names
  Agricultural Hall, Theatre Royal and Agricultural Hall (also Theatre Royal), St George’s Hall and Theatre
• Events
  • 1869 - 1900 Use:
  • 1869 Design/Construction:
    • G B Nichols (West Bromwich) - Architect
  • 1883 Alteration: altered
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1899 Alteration: refurbished
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1915 Alteration: converted to cinema
    • Unknown - Architect
  • 1869 Design/Construction:
    • Trow & Sons - Consultant: Interior Decorations
    • Day & Watson - Consultant: Act Drop
  • 1887 Design/Construction:
    • Lawley - Consultant: Interior Decorations
  • 1870 Owner/Management: Charles Maitland
  • 1883 Owner/Management: Miss Rebekah Deering
  • 1883 Owner/Management: Chester Hildon, manager
  • 1885 Owner/Management: Andrew Melville, lessee
  • 1887 Owner/Management: St George’s Hall Co, proprietors
  • 1892 Owner/Management: Crichton Haldane, lessee
  • 1899 Owner/Management: Walsall Theatres Co Ltd
  • 1997 Owner/Management: Wetherspoon’s
• Capacities
  • Later: 1871: 800-1000 1885: 1550 1899: 1800
• Listings
  • Grade Not listed
• Stage type
  • Proscenium
• Dimensions
  • Building dimensions: 53ft 4in x 140ft
  • Stage dimensions: Depth: c.5m (16ft)
  • Proscenium width: 7m (23ft)