The building is currently open for the public to view an art installation. I went in to explore the remains. In the circle foyer the ceiling decoration has largely survived. In the auditorium the dome which survived destruction in 1962 is still in place. A decorative grille of pointed arches above the proscenium is still there and floors and stairs from the 1930s have been uncovered. At the back of the stalls some of the original steel girders have been revealed. Most of the stepped circle has survived with timber battens inset into the concrete to screw down the seat stanchions. I will be going in again and photos will follow.
When the cinema was reconstructed internally in 1931 to the designs of Bertie Crewe it had a proscenium opening 70ft wide and a screen 40ft by 26ft. The vast, cantilevered balcony spanned 100ft with no visible means of support. Despite being built of the most fireproof materials throughout, it was no match for the Luftwaffe.
Above the suspended ceiling of the supermarket the circle has been extended forwards to create a warehouse/stockroom. The stepped floor of the circle is still there as are the portals of the projection room.
Ian’s photo of the boxes is interesting. You can’t see the join! The boxes at upper circle level were added in 1983 as part of the nightclub conversion. I don’t know if they were part of the original 1898 design lost in the fire and not re-instated, but the main photo of the auditorium on this page shows empty spaces at the front of the upper circle, between the slips and the prosc arch. A couple of years ago I saw a photo of the fly rail, still numbered for the last stage show, Cinderella 1982-3. I have the fly plot for that show. Sadly I didn’t take any photos of the interior before it closed.
I have finally got round to adding a few photos from last year’s visit.
The building is currently open for the public to view an art installation. I went in to explore the remains. In the circle foyer the ceiling decoration has largely survived. In the auditorium the dome which survived destruction in 1962 is still in place. A decorative grille of pointed arches above the proscenium is still there and floors and stairs from the 1930s have been uncovered. At the back of the stalls some of the original steel girders have been revealed. Most of the stepped circle has survived with timber battens inset into the concrete to screw down the seat stanchions. I will be going in again and photos will follow.
The Belgrave is now shrouded in scaffolding and demolition has started, as of June 2018. In a couple of weeks it will just be a memory.
When the cinema was reconstructed internally in 1931 to the designs of Bertie Crewe it had a proscenium opening 70ft wide and a screen 40ft by 26ft. The vast, cantilevered balcony spanned 100ft with no visible means of support. Despite being built of the most fireproof materials throughout, it was no match for the Luftwaffe.
I think this is the site before Andrews Picture House was built.
Above the suspended ceiling of the supermarket the circle has been extended forwards to create a warehouse/stockroom. The stepped floor of the circle is still there as are the portals of the projection room.
Ian’s photo of the boxes is interesting. You can’t see the join! The boxes at upper circle level were added in 1983 as part of the nightclub conversion. I don’t know if they were part of the original 1898 design lost in the fire and not re-instated, but the main photo of the auditorium on this page shows empty spaces at the front of the upper circle, between the slips and the prosc arch. A couple of years ago I saw a photo of the fly rail, still numbered for the last stage show, Cinderella 1982-3. I have the fly plot for that show. Sadly I didn’t take any photos of the interior before it closed.