History

Originally opened 1875 as public assembly and concert hall to designs by Richard Richards of Swansea. Converted to cinema 1921-2, possibly to designs by C T Ruthen. Principal alterations 1935 when new foyer extension, facade and new canopy added. Bingo hall 1977.

Exterior

Wide asymmetrical 3 storey painted frontage with open pedimented bay to right. Cornice and blocking course, twin columns with acanthus bands, Ionic pilasters to upper tripartite windows (top floor blocked), anthemion bands, fluted pilasters to outer bays. Similar treatment continues to 5-bay left hand section; heavy cill band over banded pilasters to ground floor. Pivot windows and modernised entrance canopy.

Long flank to De La Beche Street (3 3 3 2 bays). Dentil cornice, exposed rubble, keyblocked openings, arched openings to 1st floor (al blocked), cill band above arched ground floor treatment with recessed inner openings and impost bands. twin square-headed, larger openings to rear. Modern metal-clad roof with ventilators.

Interior

Interior of auditorium retains an ornamented ceiling with long guilloche panels coffering with central ventilator grilles, swagged frieze, segmental arched ceiling over rear balcony. Cantilevered and bowed gallery fronts with frond and wreath decoration; pilastered treatment under. Main landing has Art Deco frieze etc, good tube handrails to stairs etc.

Reasons for Listing

Dame Adelina Patti appeared at the concert hall here.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29489983

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

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)