Old Cumbria Gazetteer |
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| Lonsdale Cinema, Carlisle | ||
| gone? | ||
| Lonsdale Cinema | ||
| Street:- | Warwick Road | |
| locality:- | Carlisle | |
| civil parish:- | Carlisle (formerly Cumberland) | |
| county:- | Cumbria | |
| locality type:- | cinema | |
| coordinates:- | NY40375570 | |
| 1Km square:- | NY4055 | |
| 10Km square:- | NY45 | |
| references:- | Listed Buildings 2010 |
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| evidence:- | database:- Listed Buildings 2010 placename:- Lonsdale Cinema |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "LONSDALE CINEMA BUILDING / / WARWICK ROAD / CARLISLE / CARLISLE / CUMBRIA / DL / 495205 / NY4037255706" |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "Percy L Browne &Son, architects, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1931." "MATERIALS: steel framed structure with brick facing to sides and rear; façade is faced in reconstituted stone." "PLAN: cinema entered from Warwick Road to north: originally, entrance foyer leads south, opening into large rhomboid auditorium with projection room etc behind bell- shaped auditorium. Currently sub-divided." "EXTERIOR: the narrow front is treated in a classical/Moderne manner, with moulded decoration supplied by the Empire Stone Co.. Main entrance now with modern doors; above is a modern fascia concealing the stained glass window. Original canopy has been removed, as have flagpoles over side windows. Side openings (that to right blocked), with framed windows over, enriched with Deco floral panel above and with contemporary grilles. Brick external walls to sides and rear." "INTERIOR: currently subdivided into a triple screen cinema, although extensive decorative features survive concealed behind later partitions. The foyer retains Deco plasterwork to the ceiling, and large stained glass panels by Reed Milligans of Newcastle, depicting Carlisle Castle, set against a sunburst sky with clouds. Some marble flooring. The stairs leading to the circle (or balcony) retain terrazzo treads and Deco railings, with some original mirror decoration to the walls. Auditorium: originally 130 ft wide, with a 53 ft screen within the proscenium arch. This was set within a border with large console brackets to upper corners. Flanking the arch were arched windows over the side exits in a Deco/Baroque manner, flanked by pilasters bearing flaming bowls. Classical acanthus decoration to ceiling plasterwork, with shallow dome to centre. Trussed steel roof above. Extensively sub-divided at time of inspection (2006)" "HISTORY: original designs are dated October 1930 and show a slightly different frontage design. It opened as the Lonsdale cinema theatre on 21 September 1931 for Sidney Bacon's Pictures Ltd. One of the largest in the north-west, it originally seated 1880. A Christie pipe organ was installed, capable of being raised and lowered from the stage. Bacon had introduced moving pictures to this area in 1907. It soon formed part of the Union circuit. It was renamed the ABC in 1962, and was used as a concert venue as well. It was converted for split cinema and bingo use in 1972. In 1978 it was sub-divided and renamed the Lonsdale; a third screen was added in 1987." "REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The survival of high quality stained glass in the foyer is particularly notable in the national context Alterations notwithstanding, the façade is a good classical screen design with characteristic Art Deco detailing Despite partition and alteration, a substantial amount of good quality decorative detailing remains in situ. The cinema was the largest in the region and constitutes one of the principal mid- 20th century survivals in Carlisle." "SOURCES:" "'The Lonsdale. Souvenir of Official Opening' (1931); Cumberland News, 19 Sept 1931" "Allen Eyles, 'ABC. The First Name in Entertainment' (1993), 134." |
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