Report - Regal Cinema - Bacup - June 2011

[wall monkey]

The Royal Court Theatre was originally built in 1850 as the Henrietta Street Iron Works. In 1886 the building was gutted by fire and subsequently bought and turned into a Theatre. The Theatre opened in 1893 and incorporated some of the external walls of the original Iron Works. Although the Theatre originally had two balconies the upper circle was removed in 1948. The Theatre was known as the Empire in the 1900s, and has been a Bingo Hall and a church. Happily the Theatre, called the Royal Court once more, is now owned by the Bacup Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Its fair to say this place is now well and truely stripped and ruined.however it still houses a little in the way of period features so i thought it may be of interest. was only in 5 minutes so pics are rushed.

prob the best feature

 

[Laurence vK]

I think this may be wrong and confusing 2 separate buildings? The old iron works [ 1850 - 1886 ] burnt down as you say and the ruins were bought and opened I think in September 1893 as the Royal Court Theatre in Henrietta Street and this is the same building housing that theatre today and its entrance is now on Rochdale Road.


You have shown a photo of the outside of the ex Bingo Hall and I assume the interior photos are of that building. I believe that building had previously been the Regal Cinema but I do not think that was ever the ex iron works / theatre that opened in 1893. I think the Regal was a re build of the former Public Hall that apparently opened by 1878 and once contained a skating rink. That Public Hall building was used by the Rossendale Theatre at least from Oct to Dec 1892 and perhaps on to Sept 1893? I hope to learn more and post again. Interesting, good luck.

 

[3domfighter]

Correct this is the Regal Cinema still an eye sore and the Royal Court Theatre is still in use just but haunted and was an ex foundry which was converted.