There was a large replica of St. George and the Dragon above the entrance of the building. I don’t think it was original but it was very attractive, probably put there by the developers of the arcade. Unfortunately this was the victim of some late night pranks and has never been replaced although I though the pieces were recovered with a view to doing this.
In Fact the Coat of Arms now on the side of the HSBC Bank was on the front of what was called The Royal Hotel. The whole site was built as a Hotel with a Coaching Yard at the side and to its rear. The Hotel is now the Bank and the site of the Grand Theatre would have been this Coach Yard to the side and at the Back of the Bank. The Theatre had a covered way now Moss Bros and then marble steps leading to its entrance which woyuld have been further back partly in the Fit Pit car park.
There was a large replica of St. George and the Dragon above the entrance of the building. I don’t think it was original but it was very attractive, probably put there by the developers of the arcade. Unfortunately this was the victim of some late night pranks and has never been replaced although I though the pieces were recovered with a view to doing this.
I would like to see these
Clive Morris
In Fact the Coat of Arms now on the side of the HSBC Bank was on the front of what was called The Royal Hotel. The whole site was built as a Hotel with a Coaching Yard at the side and to its rear. The Hotel is now the Bank and the site of the Grand Theatre would have been this Coach Yard to the side and at the Back of the Bank. The Theatre had a covered way now Moss Bros and then marble steps leading to its entrance which woyuld have been further back partly in the Fit Pit car park.