Cinema

In Castle Cary, a market town in south Somerset, the Town Hall/Market House was built in 1855. In the 1920’s the upper floor was converted into a cinema, with a fireproof projection box being constructed. Entries in the Kinematograph Year Books are very sporadic, and equally brief, just showing “Town Hall” in the late 1920’s and into the 1940’s - and some years don’t even list this at all.

Eventually, the 1947 Kinematograph Year Book has a full entry. By that time, the Town Hall Cinema was being operated by Castle Cary Cinema Ltd., there were 138 seats and shows were once nightly, with two shows on Saturday. A Mihaly sound system was being used.

At one time very successful children’s shows were presented, under the name Castle Cary Children’s Cinema Club - with a badge depicting five Cs.

By the late-1940’s and into the 1950’s, the Kinematograph Year Books were listing 188 seats, and the cinema had been renamed as simply the Cinema. (Perhaps the 1947 entry listed an incorrect seating capacity.)

The Cinema closed in 1956 (precise date not known) with “Moby Dick”, starring Gregory Peck.

The Grade II listed Market House was extensively renovated in 2014 and now includes areas available for community and commercial events.

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