Description

CAMDEN

TQ2583SE MAIDA VALE
798-1/80/1098 (East side)
05/02/91 Mecca Social Club Carlton Rooms

GV II

Formerly known as: The Maida Vale Picture House MAIDA VALE.
Cinema, now a social club and bingo hall. 1912. By Edward A
Stone. For Messrs Wilmot, Williams and Co. Stucco with red
brick returns.
EXTERIOR: symmetrical facade with central entrance bay of 3
round-arched openings flanked by enriched pilasters and
approached by 4 curved steps. 4 architraved windows to 1st
floor, central 2 paired, with scrolled pediments and separated
by enriched pilasters supporting an entablature with dentil
cornice and blocking course above which appears a small
segmental-arched pediment with keystone and shell enrichment.
Central bays flanked by rectangular towers each with paired,
architraved windows with cornices to ground floor (left hand,
a door), an oculus at mezzanine level and above, 2 narrow
vertically set windows. Each tower crowned by enriched dies at
angles and a circular belvedere with oculi having scrolled
surrounds, an enriched frieze, dentil cornice and cupola with
flag pole.
INTERIOR: panelled foyer with part fluted pilasters supporting
an entablature with mirrored frieze and dentil cornice above
which a deep plasterwork frieze of putti, animals, birds and
foliage. Enriched plasterwork panelled ceiling with bracketed
cornice. Sumptuous, fine quality gilded auditorium with
balcony at rear giving impression of 4 boxes. Giant Ionic
panelled pilasters alternate with round-arched, etched glass
mirrors with above, tall lugged panels having wreath and
festoon plasterwork. Proscenium arch flanked by fluted Ionic
half columns supporting an entablature with central foliated
cartouche. To either side, tall panels of geometric openwork
design. Coved, panelled ceiling with wide, intricately moulded
ribs. Central circular panel with enriched plasterwork
spandrels and dome with flaming sun and rays enrichment.
Seating now removed.
HISTORICAL NOTE: a rare example of a virtually unaltered early
picture house. In 1949 it became the Carlton Rooms Dance Hall;
in 1965 a casino and bingo hall.

Listing NGR: TQ2570783394

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Islamic Centre of England at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q6082378

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy