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Latitude: 53.4088 / 53°24'31"N
Longitude: -2.9782 / 2°58'41"W
OS Eastings: 335067
OS Northings: 390665
OS Grid: SJ350906
Mapcode National: GBR 75N.R1
Mapcode Global: WH877.7L13
Plus Code: 9C5VC25C+GP
Entry Name: The Empire Theatre
Listing Date: 16 October 1990
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1252934
English Heritage Legacy ID: 436059
ID on this website: 101252934
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, L1
County: Liverpool
Electoral Ward/Division: Central
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: Liverpool
Traditional County: Lancashire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Merseyside
Church of England Parish: Liverpool Our Lady and St Nicholas
Church of England Diocese: Liverpool
Tagged with: Theatre Neoclassical architecture
The following building shall be added:
SJ 3590 NW LIVERPOOL LIME STREET
50/1362 The Empire Theatre
GV II
Theatre. Brier 1924-5 for Moss's Empires Ltd; designed by W & T R Milburn. Carving
and auditorium ornament by E 0 Griffiths of Liverpool. Steel frame clad in Portland
stone (to front) and brick. Roof material not visible. Foyer and stairs; very wide
auditorium (with balcony) designed to seat an audience of 2,450. Free neo-Classical
style. Front: 1:3:1 bays, the central bays with Attic courses over dentilled
cornice; paired and single Ionic columns in antis (1:2:2:1) with windows between set
in bold aedicules and with octagonal openings above. 1st floor cornice.
Ground-floor with 3-light windows over entrances to foyer. Steel canopy with
medallions and guilloche decorative bands. Central bays (except Attic) rusticated.
Side bays lower with parapets; 1st floor windows in architraves flanked by shallow
pilasters; 1st floor cornice. Door and window in shallow recess. Stone cladding
returns one bay to either side with similar fenestration. Many altered window
openings to rear and sides (which are not designed to be seen). Interior: seating
raked up to sides as well as to rear to maximise visibility. Decoration in free
'Louis XVI' style: coved ceiling with deep lateral arches and elaborately treated
fan vaults (concealing lights) to front angles of auditorium; all-over decoration to
the nodding praesceneum arch, and to side walk of orchestra pit. Many curious
decorative features including carved elephant caryatids. The theatre was noted for
its advanced planning; the long rows of seats sloping up on either end were designed
to heighten a sense of audience participation as well as improving sight lines
towards the stage.
Refs include The Builder, April 1925.
Listing NGR: SJ3506790665
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.
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