Seating for 769. Extensive modernisation was carried out in 1941. In 1960 it was bought by British Road Services who had a depot opposite.
Until closure it was owned by the Walker Cinemas Ltd. The final show was on November 26 1960 with “Doctor in the House”.
The building was later demolished, the site, in 2022, being a secure car parking compound.
Over the weekend of 7-8 September 2012 stage cloths and equipment recovered from the Palace Theatre are hanging and on show at the LBT in Huddersfield. Do go and see for FREE http://www.hoststudios.co.uk and http://hoststudios.co.uk/bm/venues/lawrence-batley-theatre-2.shtml
I must question the suggestion that “…the tall stained glass windows. Under the present student apartment plans this is to be retained and restored.”
I am sure the tall windows are not of stained glass, but rather textured/patterned/obscured glass with exotic glazing bars. I also understand that in this proposal the windows will be entirely replaced,not retained nor restored.
I suggest the civic society will be supporting the application despite the loss of the ornate glazing.
Here is the news. A planning application for conversion of the Palace into student apartments has been submitted. It can be found at http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/detail.aspx?id=2011%2f62%2f93327%2fW Consultation is open to 17 Jan 2012.
The current planning application has no library or other council service included. That was an earlier try on by the owners of Kingsgate. Kirklees Council has other plans…consider its proposed Queensgate scheme that has yet to be submitted for plaaning consent. The two schemes can be seen in direct competition.
Thanks for the Scottish pics conran. I have some more pics that show other features. I will try to get them posted somewhere.
To be fair, The Avion is only a local listing by Walsall, not a national register listing.
The Theatre Trust have written to Kirklees Council’s planning service on the planning application. I have extracted part of the letter and reproduce it here:
8 August 2007
Former Palace Theatre Your ref: 2007/92060
The Trust objects in principle to the current outline application.
Although we understand that the building has been subdivided for nightclub use, it would appear that there is local concern about the loss of this well-liked venue for architectural, historic, cultural and community benefit. Furthermore, the submission is lacking the information that we would have expected to see for application of full demolition within a conservation area.
The Huddersfield Palace was constructed in 1909 as a music hall built to the designs of Horsfall & Sons, with decorative plasterwork by J Binns & Sons of Halifax. The original facade was in brick with stone dressings, with an iron canopy across the full width of the front. This building was internally destroyed by fire in January 1936 and substantially rebuilt for reopening at Easter 1937. The cream faience facade of 1937 faintly echoes the original and despite the change of use and the painting over of the tail windows, the present exterior is comparatively little altered. The auditorium is now flat floored and dominated by a central bar with seating at the sides and at mezzanine level. The dress circle is still seated and the upper circle untouched apart from the removal of seats. The stage has been opened out but the fly galleries remain, as does the grid. The orchestra pit has been boarded over and the dressing rooms bricked up (originally seven single and two chorus dressing rooms).
Although a return to theatre use may be unlikely, there is sufficient remaining of the 1937 building for this to be entirely possible. The fact that the building is on an island site adjacent to a major shopping and commercial development with good car parking provision is a considerable advantage. Certainly The Theatres Trust would expect there to be a Needs and Impact Assessment submitted for a building of this genre, particularly where there is clear local concern for the loss of this building for community use. Performing arts venues such as this are required elements of a sustainable community, providing social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits as well as regeneration. They make a major contribution to the vitality of town centres and are a significant element in a council’s cultural infrastructure.
In architectural terms we consider it to be valuable as a representative building of its time, and that it fits in well with the other buildings along Kirkgate. The fact that the building has a streamlined design gives the street visual interest, particularly when juxtaposed with the nineteenth century buildings. The facade and immediate return walls would be perfectly capable of being restored and incorporated into any redevelopment scheme.
The loss of historic buildings within conservation areas should be of concern to the Council; particularly where the building has a more unusual cultural history. We fail to see how the Council could consider an application for demolition without a parallel application for Conservation Area Consent. In addition, it appears that there is a public house (photo 7, Design and Access Statement) which is said to be statutory listed (paragraph 2.21, D&AS) with no concurrent application for listed building consent.
In the absence of parallel application, justification, Needs and Impact Assessment or supporting documents, we would urge the Council to refuse this application. The applicants should explore all possible options for alternative sustainable cultural uses for the theatre before considering an application for total demolition.
In circumstances where the building’s main interest appears to be also as a cinema, The Theatres Trust would refer you to the specialist expertise of the Cinema Theatre Association (CTA), particularly in this case where the building was adapted for cinema use.
I bow to conranâ€\s knowledge from his interesting tour of the building. My recent tour was limited to the front half of the building including the dress circle and the gallery courtesy of the nice manager. If you get the chance to go – take a torch. However I am confident the owners were MacNaghten not MacNaughten.
The current planning application that calls for demolition is with Kirklees Council. Planning reference 2007/92060
It is described as “Outline application for extension to existing shopping centre to provide additional floorspace (Class a1 and a3), basement car parking, servicing and associated development (Partly within a conservation area)”
Email your comments to .uk
Or write to
Steve Hopwood
Major Development Team
Planning Service
Kirklees Council
Civic Centre 3
Market Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2JR
I have been told Kirklees Council is consulting with the Theatre Trust on the listability of The Palace.
Having taken a look at the contemporary issues of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner can I clarify that the fire that destroyed the 1909 theatre was on 23 January 1936. The new theatre was designed by Roland Satchwell. It cost £45,000. It seems the owner was the MacNaghten Vaudeville Circuit Ltd. It opened on 1 March 1937. At the time it had 1,210 seats. The Kirkgate elevation is in a biscuit coloured faience. The large column windows are intact.
The Palace is a rare survivor of a Roland Satchwell theatrical execution. I believe the others are; the Avion Cinema(1938), Aldridge, â€" now a bingo hall locally listed by Walsall Council in 2006; the much altered Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (with Ernest S Roberts, 1935) and the former Chandos Cinema, Buckingham (with Roberts, 1933) – now a car show room.
There is currently a planning application submitted to Kirklees Council for the Kingsgate shopping centre that involves demolition of the theatre. Little remains from the 1937 interior design of Rose Du Barry. Facade retention would be desirable.
Seating for 769. Extensive modernisation was carried out in 1941. In 1960 it was bought by British Road Services who had a depot opposite. Until closure it was owned by the Walker Cinemas Ltd. The final show was on November 26 1960 with “Doctor in the House”. The building was later demolished, the site, in 2022, being a secure car parking compound.
Some photos of the cloths from the Palace hanging at the LBT for HOST weekend.
Apologies the dates above should read 8 to 9 September
Over the weekend of 7-8 September 2012 stage cloths and equipment recovered from the Palace Theatre are hanging and on show at the LBT in Huddersfield. Do go and see for FREE http://www.hoststudios.co.uk and http://hoststudios.co.uk/bm/venues/lawrence-batley-theatre-2.shtml
Interesting report Curlew.
I must question the suggestion that “…the tall stained glass windows. Under the present student apartment plans this is to be retained and restored.”
I am sure the tall windows are not of stained glass, but rather textured/patterned/obscured glass with exotic glazing bars. I also understand that in this proposal the windows will be entirely replaced,not retained nor restored.
I suggest the civic society will be supporting the application despite the loss of the ornate glazing.
Here is the news. A planning application for conversion of the Palace into student apartments has been submitted. It can be found at http://www2.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/application_search/detail.aspx?id=2011%2f62%2f93327%2fW Consultation is open to 17 Jan 2012.
I have just been told be trusted source, a person in a position to know…
A demolition notice for the Palace has just been submitted to Kirklees Council. I understand that the notice gives seven days notice of demolition.
Time for action?
More news as I have it.
Thanks for the google pages tip conran.
I have posted a small gallery at http://cinesteps.googlepages.com/home
The current planning application has no library or other council service included. That was an earlier try on by the owners of Kingsgate. Kirklees Council has other plans…consider its proposed Queensgate scheme that has yet to be submitted for plaaning consent. The two schemes can be seen in direct competition.
Thanks for the Scottish pics conran. I have some more pics that show other features. I will try to get them posted somewhere.
To be fair, The Avion is only a local listing by Walsall, not a national register listing.
The Theatre Trust have written to Kirklees Council’s planning service on the planning application. I have extracted part of the letter and reproduce it here:
8 August 2007
Former Palace Theatre Your ref: 2007/92060
The Trust objects in principle to the current outline application.
Although we understand that the building has been subdivided for nightclub use, it would appear that there is local concern about the loss of this well-liked venue for architectural, historic, cultural and community benefit. Furthermore, the submission is lacking the information that we would have expected to see for application of full demolition within a conservation area.
The Huddersfield Palace was constructed in 1909 as a music hall built to the designs of Horsfall & Sons, with decorative plasterwork by J Binns & Sons of Halifax. The original facade was in brick with stone dressings, with an iron canopy across the full width of the front. This building was internally destroyed by fire in January 1936 and substantially rebuilt for reopening at Easter 1937. The cream faience facade of 1937 faintly echoes the original and despite the change of use and the painting over of the tail windows, the present exterior is comparatively little altered. The auditorium is now flat floored and dominated by a central bar with seating at the sides and at mezzanine level. The dress circle is still seated and the upper circle untouched apart from the removal of seats. The stage has been opened out but the fly galleries remain, as does the grid. The orchestra pit has been boarded over and the dressing rooms bricked up (originally seven single and two chorus dressing rooms).
Although a return to theatre use may be unlikely, there is sufficient remaining of the 1937 building for this to be entirely possible. The fact that the building is on an island site adjacent to a major shopping and commercial development with good car parking provision is a considerable advantage. Certainly The Theatres Trust would expect there to be a Needs and Impact Assessment submitted for a building of this genre, particularly where there is clear local concern for the loss of this building for community use. Performing arts venues such as this are required elements of a sustainable community, providing social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits as well as regeneration. They make a major contribution to the vitality of town centres and are a significant element in a council’s cultural infrastructure.
In architectural terms we consider it to be valuable as a representative building of its time, and that it fits in well with the other buildings along Kirkgate. The fact that the building has a streamlined design gives the street visual interest, particularly when juxtaposed with the nineteenth century buildings. The facade and immediate return walls would be perfectly capable of being restored and incorporated into any redevelopment scheme.
The loss of historic buildings within conservation areas should be of concern to the Council; particularly where the building has a more unusual cultural history. We fail to see how the Council could consider an application for demolition without a parallel application for Conservation Area Consent. In addition, it appears that there is a public house (photo 7, Design and Access Statement) which is said to be statutory listed (paragraph 2.21, D&AS) with no concurrent application for listed building consent.
In the absence of parallel application, justification, Needs and Impact Assessment or supporting documents, we would urge the Council to refuse this application. The applicants should explore all possible options for alternative sustainable cultural uses for the theatre before considering an application for total demolition.
In circumstances where the building’s main interest appears to be also as a cinema, The Theatres Trust would refer you to the specialist expertise of the Cinema Theatre Association (CTA), particularly in this case where the building was adapted for cinema use.
Take up arms, or at least your pen, now.
I bow to conranâ€\s knowledge from his interesting tour of the building. My recent tour was limited to the front half of the building including the dress circle and the gallery courtesy of the nice manager. If you get the chance to go – take a torch. However I am confident the owners were MacNaghten not MacNaughten.
The current planning application that calls for demolition is with Kirklees Council. Planning reference 2007/92060
It can be found at: www.kirklees.gov.uk/business/planning/Details.asp?ID=2007%2F92060
It is described as “Outline application for extension to existing shopping centre to provide additional floorspace (Class a1 and a3), basement car parking, servicing and associated development (Partly within a conservation area)”
Email your comments to .uk
Or write to
Steve Hopwood
Major Development Team
Planning Service
Kirklees Council
Civic Centre 3
Market Street
Huddersfield
HD1 2JR
I have been told Kirklees Council is consulting with the Theatre Trust on the listability of The Palace.
Don’t storm the Palace. Save it!
Having taken a look at the contemporary issues of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner can I clarify that the fire that destroyed the 1909 theatre was on 23 January 1936. The new theatre was designed by Roland Satchwell. It cost £45,000. It seems the owner was the MacNaghten Vaudeville Circuit Ltd. It opened on 1 March 1937. At the time it had 1,210 seats. The Kirkgate elevation is in a biscuit coloured faience. The large column windows are intact.
The Palace is a rare survivor of a Roland Satchwell theatrical execution. I believe the others are; the Avion Cinema(1938), Aldridge, â€" now a bingo hall locally listed by Walsall Council in 2006; the much altered Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (with Ernest S Roberts, 1935) and the former Chandos Cinema, Buckingham (with Roberts, 1933) – now a car show room.
There is currently a planning application submitted to Kirklees Council for the Kingsgate shopping centre that involves demolition of the theatre. Little remains from the 1937 interior design of Rose Du Barry. Facade retention would be desirable.