Essoldo Shildon

It closed in 1969 together with the Essoldos in Crook and Spennymoor; the Manager, Mr C Watson, whom I got to know quite well in later years (he went to manage the very busy Durham Essoldo after Shildon) told me that he and the Managers of the other two doomed cinemas received telephone calls from Head Office advising that “You are closing next Saturday!”. Typical of Essoldo!