The Carlton Theatre opened on 9th September 1928. Designed in an Art-Deco style by the local architects Blackmore & Sykes. The building seated 1,671 people and features a distinctive globe on the roof above the main façade. It remained in use as a cinema until 1967. Post summer of love the downstairs was redeveloped into a Bingo hall. The Carlton lived its final years as a Mecca bingo.
I have had my eye on this place for a long time. The result of some chin scratching the day before paid off and with some effort the four of us ventured inside. Obviously easier if you know someone with the keys!
While poking about trying to find anything from the buildings pre Bingo days I found someone's old framed collection of photographs, a record of a trip out to Centre court it would seem.
Here is an old photograph from the "good old days"
and now...
Into the loft spaces and underneath the upper circle still in search of the old bits (I'd pretty much given up on any sign of intact projectors by now)
At least I got to the roof and touched the globe.
Thanks for looking.
I have had my eye on this place for a long time. The result of some chin scratching the day before paid off and with some effort the four of us ventured inside. Obviously easier if you know someone with the keys!
While poking about trying to find anything from the buildings pre Bingo days I found someone's old framed collection of photographs, a record of a trip out to Centre court it would seem.
Here is an old photograph from the "good old days"
and now...
Into the loft spaces and underneath the upper circle still in search of the old bits (I'd pretty much given up on any sign of intact projectors by now)
At least I got to the roof and touched the globe.
Thanks for looking.
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