County Theatre

In Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, the County Theatre was a project of The West of England Cinema Company, which first cast its eyes on the town in 1934.

The company purchased a large building that had most recently been home to a furniture store known locally as “Lewis the New Bridge” (because it stood next to a bridge over the River Cleddau). That had closed some years before and, in the meantime, had been home to such ventures as Sidney William’s ‘Variegated Golf’, which did not last very long, and a week-long, ultimately successful, attempt by Charles Elson to break the World Club Swinging [dancing] Club record.

Following demolition of the building, the County Theatre arose on the site. This was opened on Monday 25th February 1935 by the Mayor, Alderman J. W. Hammond. The opening feature was “The House of Rothschild” starring George Arlis.

The seating was split between stalls and circle. The proscenium was 35ft wide, and the stage was 28ft deep. There were 10 dressing rooms in this very large building (which also housed a dance hall above the entrance) but it is not known to what extent live shows were presented, although revues interspersed with the films during World War II. The projection box was fitted with Kalee projectors and a Western Electric(WE) sound system.

Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s films predominated, with Christmas pantomimes being the principal live events.

It is not clear when the County Theatre closed. The book ‘The Cinemas of West Wales’ says 1976, after which the building lay unused apart from the shop at the front and a billiard hall in the basement. However, an internet source has closure as early as 1971.

Whenever the County Theatre closed, the building was subsequently demolished, and Riverside apartments have replaced it.

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