Pavilion Cinema

Situated in the village of Rhosllanerchrugog (known more colloquially as simply Rhos), now a district of Wrexham, the Pavilion Cinema opened in 1912.

It is thought that a Mr T. Williams was one of the first, if not the first, proprietors, but nothing more is known of the Pavilion Cinema’s earliest days. By 1923, according to the Kinematograph Year Book, it was being operated by David Jones. Then, by 1938, it was owned by Pavilion (Rhos) Ltd. At that time, the seating capacity was listed as 900, and the proscenium was 23ft wide. A British Talking Pictures (BTP) sound system was in operation.

By 1940 ownership had transferred to N. W. & R. Cinemas Ltd. By 1956, presumably to accommodate CinemaScope (or, at the least, a wider screen), the proscenium had been widened, to 30ft, and housed a screen that measured 26ft by 13ft 6ins. As a consequence, the seating capacity was reduced to 854. An RCA sound system replaced the BTP system.

The Pavilion Cinema was listed in the 1959 Kinematograph Year Book, but is not in the 1961 edition (frustratingly, I do not have access to the 1960 edition). However, it clearly closed in the early-1960’s, as the Hafod Colliery Social Centre was built on the site in 1966.

That was constructed with monies raised by miners at Hafod colliery to provide them with a much needed leisure venue. Happily, despite the demise of the colliery as early as 1968, the centre continues to provide a much needed and valuable service to the community.

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