History

Originally opened in 1937 as the Odeon (becoming the Astra in 1969), and designed by Harry Weedon, architect, of Birmingham. It was tripled in 1972, and now contains 2 cinemas and a bingo hall.

Exterior

Art Deco style, in brown brick with buff faience work incorporating red ribbing on tower and entrance bay. Black tiles and vitriolite panels to ground floor entrances and shop fronts. Corrugated asbestos roofs. Two storeyed circular entrance block at the corner with Brighton Road, of black vitriolite to ground floor and buff faience above is open through its full height internally. Wrap-around, painted canopy with blue ribbing and curved brackets over matching fascia supported by black-tiled columns. Large upper windows are divided by cylindrical piers. Modern lettering above. Tower is set back behind this entrance block: ribbed faience-work panel swept over to form asymmetrically curved roof. Banded brickwork to either side and inside elevations. To the right of the entrance block, a low 4-window bay has twin panelled exit doors; pilastered wall of the auditorium set back above. Brighton Street return has channelled brick to ground floor, and 3 long windows above, linked by bands of projecting brick. Narrow windows in upper storey, which also has channelled brickwork.

Three-storeyed 4 window shop block to south fronts the auditorium (Nos 135-141 High Street. Curved corners and 2 central bays advanced. Black vitriolite fascias and green and black panelled surrounds to shop fronts which have largely retained their original glazing. Altered glazing to upper windows which are set in rusticated brick bands.

Interior

Fine contemporary interiors include longitudinal entrance hall with overpainted detailing including half-columns, channelled bands and quatrefoil bronze and bakelite light pendants to panelled ceiling. Matching wall lights. Low curved and stepped jambs to twin stairs leading up by half-landings and with metal handrails and stepped skirtings to upper foyer with original glazing to double doors, etc. Interior of auditorium retains much of its original detail although the balcony area has been divided off: curved jambs to proscenium arch flanked by Deco trapezoidal panels infilled with horizontal ribs over original fretwork patterns. Full-width overarch to reinforced curved ceiling. Original detailing also includes double doors with glazing, ribbed overdoors, fretwork frieze to rear of curved balcony, etc.

Reasons for Listing

An important example of Art Deco cinema design - possibly the best of its kind in Wales - which retains most of its original internal and external character and detail.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29492124

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

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas