Picture House

The Hebden Bridge Picture House is another rare 1920’s survivor. It opened in 1921 with 954 seats in stalls and circle levels.

The cinema is Classical in appearance with two iconic pillars framing a stone recessed entrance, the building has two small shop units on either side of the stepped entrance. The building is best described as an atmospheric cinema, more like a cinema with atmosphere rather than the accepted cinematic Atmosphric style.

The Picture House was taken over by the Star Cinemas chain in 1947. It was purchased by the local Council in 1972 and was refurbished in 1978.

The Picture House is a Grade II Listed building.

Recent comments (view all 10 comments)

160candela on March 12, 2004 at 3:54 pm

I visit Hebden bridge every other weekend and i can’t stop going to gaze at this magnificent building! I haven’t been in yet but im sure it won’t be too long before i do!!

Mikebsc on July 2, 2007 at 5:37 pm

Visited last year.

Nice auditorium, but needs some investment to improve projection and upgrade the mono sound system.

Ian on August 21, 2007 at 7:07 am

A few more exterior pictures here:–

View link

View link

View link

lostmemory on February 29, 2008 at 12:20 pm

This is a 2008 close-up view of the entrance.

Mikebsc on March 3, 2008 at 6:03 pm

…..hmm is that a Dolby sound plaque I can see just hidden behind the top of the banister? Maybe they have installed a new sound system after all.

Mikebsc on March 31, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Ok I just made my second visit to the Picture House.

Slighty more enjoyable than my first visit, the new Dolby sound system has greatly improved the sound quality, allthough they need to improve the picture quality. The “cinemascope” image I saw lacked quality (looks like the shutter timing was off) and the aspect ratio was off.

Appart from that it’s a nice little community cinema, well worth a visit.

lostmemory on June 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm

The year given for this photo is 2003.

lostmemory on January 3, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Here is another photo of the Picture House.

Ian on September 13, 2009 at 12:27 am

A series of interior photographs taken at the end of the Heritage Open Day in September 2009:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3915062852/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3915062636/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3915062374/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3914277303/

Ian on September 25, 2009 at 12:37 am

Two projection box images from the Picture House here:–

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3952074733/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stagedoor/3952852100/