Description

James L Ross, 1920. 3-storey, 5-bay, rectangular-plan, Edwardian-style former cinema. Painted brick to principal elevation (late 20th century polished granite tiling to ground floor); rendered brick to sides; plain brick to rear. Pyramidal roofed towers with deep bracketed eaves flanking central Diocletian window; decorative stained glass.

SE (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: central 3-storey section, recessed late 20th century glazed entrance; keystoned Diocletian window at 1st floor; bay-leaf garland panel inscribed: 'CINEMA' with flanking lattice and stained glass windows. Breaking eaves towers with deep bracketed flanking central section with doorways to ground floor; long narrow lattice and stained glass windows at 1st and 2nd floors. Narrow 2-storey outer bays, narrow windows in between ground and 1st floors, and at 1st floor. Backlit metal and glass signage inscribed 'CLASSIC', at 1st floor left.

NE ELEVATION: irregular fenestration.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: plain wallhead.

SW ELEVATION: irregular fenestration.

INTERIOR: converted to arcade and pool hall

Statement of Interest

An early cinema built prior to the introduction of sound production, with interesting architectural detailing to principal elevation, in particular the double towers. Originally opened as The Cinema in 1920 for the Thomas Ormiston group, providing seating for 1,100 cinema viewers, a relatively large capacity for the period. The Gaumont group acquired the cinema in 1928. In 1967, the cinema became part of the Classic cinema group. The stalls were later converted to an amusement arcade and a small cinema continued to function upstairs. A cinema is no longer operated, but the building continues to be used as an amusement arcade and pool hall.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77780060

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)