Description

Circa 1942. 2-storey house (former theatre). Art Deco. Black-rendered brickwork; white-banded windows; stepped elevation.

NE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: flat-roofed central porch; central door, flanking windows. 3 ground floor windows. Shorter 1st floor; central section slightly advanced and heightened; 2 windows to centre. Bays set back to right and left; 2 windows in each. Stepped wall set back to far right and left creating platform above outer ground floor bays.

SE ELEVATION: 2 ground floor windows; white-banding continues from front elevation. 1st floor window/door. Stepped gable wall at 1st floor.

SW ELEVATION: grey-painted wall. Single storey flat-roofed extension to right. Irregularly placed windows to centre, 2 to ground and 2 to 1st floor.

NE ELEVATION: ground floor window to right. Stepped gable wall at 1st floor.

UPVC windows and some timber casements. Glazed front door with sunburst timber astragals. Flat-roof.

INTERIOR: not seen, 2000.

Statement of Interest

During the World Wars, Lyness was strategically important due to its position at the entrance to Scapa Flow. Lyness formed the hub of the Royal Navy's base in Scapa Flow and it has been estimated that its population rose to over 12,000 (comprising the various servicemen and women and civilian workers) during the 2nd World War. The entertainment of such a large population was important. All that remains of the theatre is this facade. The sharp contrast of colour and strongly emphasized horizontal lines makes it visually striking. 2 large Nissen huts to the rear (now gone) contained the theatre/dance hall (to the N) and cinema (to the S). The Entertainments' National Service Association which had an office at Lyness, organised shows, attracting performers such as Gracie Fields, George Formby and Flannigan and Allan. The Garrison is currently a private house (2001).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77776691

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

• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas