Cinema Picture Palace

In Devon coastal town of Sidmouth, the Cinema Picture Palace opened, in premises that had previously been home to the Belle Vue restaurant, in either 1911 or 1912.

The cinema never converted to sound, and closed in 1929. The Knight family opened their family dress shop and drapers business in the building in 1938.

On making the necessary alterations, the family removed an artificial wall, and found the original plaster screen behind it. They also noted the date 1875 on a rafter, indicating the possible age of the building.

When I visited, in December 2001, Knights were still in occupation, and there were some lovely period decorative details inside. Sadly, due to retirement, the Knights store closed in May 2010. Plans were submitted to convert the upper floors into flats, leaving shop units on the ground floor.

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