History:
The Empire Theatre in Burnley was built for W. C. Horner of the Victoria Opera House in Burnley and designed by the architect G. B. Rawcliffe, who had previously designed the Victoria Opera House. The Theatre opened on Monday the 29th of October 1894 with a variety show and could originally seat 1,935 people. In 1911 the respected Theatre Architect, Bertie Crewe reconstructed the auditorium with a new seating capacity of 2,100, and it is Crewe's auditorium that remains to this day despite several changes of use and recent serious neglect.
In 1938 The Theatre was converted for cinema use by the Architects Lewis and Company of Liverpool, and the seating capacity was reduced to 1,808 in the process. Like so many other Theatres around the Country the Empire was eventually converted for Bingo use but even this ceased in 1995 and the Theatre, despite being a Grade II Listed building, has been empty ever since, and is in serious decline, and listed as one of the Theatres Trust's buildings at risk.
The visit:
I did this one on my own and was in a rush due to parking the car in a 40 min zone !! This was the 3rd visit i've made to the theatre due to taking gash photos in recent visits so i came prepared and took my tripod along with me (best thing since sliced bread)
It was warm and sunny outside which is a bonus for this place due to half the stage roof missing and lets in some light. the building itself is suffering from really bad dry rot everywhere, so please tread gentle and slowly if you visit.
Thanks for looking
GK WAX
The Empire Theatre in Burnley was built for W. C. Horner of the Victoria Opera House in Burnley and designed by the architect G. B. Rawcliffe, who had previously designed the Victoria Opera House. The Theatre opened on Monday the 29th of October 1894 with a variety show and could originally seat 1,935 people. In 1911 the respected Theatre Architect, Bertie Crewe reconstructed the auditorium with a new seating capacity of 2,100, and it is Crewe's auditorium that remains to this day despite several changes of use and recent serious neglect.
In 1938 The Theatre was converted for cinema use by the Architects Lewis and Company of Liverpool, and the seating capacity was reduced to 1,808 in the process. Like so many other Theatres around the Country the Empire was eventually converted for Bingo use but even this ceased in 1995 and the Theatre, despite being a Grade II Listed building, has been empty ever since, and is in serious decline, and listed as one of the Theatres Trust's buildings at risk.
The visit:
I did this one on my own and was in a rush due to parking the car in a 40 min zone !! This was the 3rd visit i've made to the theatre due to taking gash photos in recent visits so i came prepared and took my tripod along with me (best thing since sliced bread)
It was warm and sunny outside which is a bonus for this place due to half the stage roof missing and lets in some light. the building itself is suffering from really bad dry rot everywhere, so please tread gentle and slowly if you visit.
Thanks for looking
GK WAX
