The former Derby Cinema, 318a-322 Scotland Road, Liverpool 5, UK.
DERBY CINEMA
Wilbraham Street runs down the north side of the building.
Wesley Terrace ran (runs?) down the south side of the building.
23 August 1842, the first stone of the Wesleyan Association Chapel, Scotland Road was laid.
19 March 1843, the Chapel was opened, with 400 seats, and was officially called the Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel. It was enlarged in 1866 to seat 700.
By the 1870s it was called the Scotland Road Methodist Free Church. It was also called the United Methodist Free Church. The detail from the 1890 Ordnance Survey map has been shaded to show the extent of the 1927 alterations.
In January 1910 it was first proposed to turn the chapel into a cinema. Walter Wade, an architect from St Annes-on-Sea, submitted a plan (on 18 January) on behalf of J.W. Huddleston, to erect a small two-storey addition in front of "Victoria Hall", (Scotland Road, on the corner of Wilbraham Street). The addition was to form a porch on the ground floor, and an apartment for a "cinematograph apparatus" on the second floor.
Joseph H. Huddleston made the official application - for a Music & Cinematograph Licence - on 9 February 1910. (Without the licence there would have been no point in going ahead with the work). He said that the premises were to be called the Victoria Hall, and that they were currently being conducted as a Chapel. The Chairman of the Licensing Bench said: "Ah! this is a sort of try-on." (Laughter). Mr Huddleston's solicitor said that if the plans were approved by the Bench, the Chapel would come to an end. The Chairman remarked that the Bench could not deal with the case in that way. The application must be withdrawn, or else it would be refused. The application was therefore withdrawn.
In December 1911 another plan was received by the Building Surveyor's Department (of the Corporation) of the proposed conversion of the chapel into the "Derby Picturedrome". (Lord Derby owned a lot of land in that part of Liverpool). E. Haigh & Son were now behind the scheme, and the architect was to be J.W.B. Harding of Liverpool. (Mr Harding had designed the Queen's Cinema in Seacombe in 1911, and went on to design the Queen's Cinema in Walton in 1913, followed by the Gaiety Cinema in 1915, all three were purpose-built as cinemas. The Gaiety, like the Derby, was also in Scotland Road, and was another in E. Haigh & Son's circuit of cinemas and billiard halls). The auditorium of the Derby was to have 420 seats, with 200 in the "gallery". The exterior of the chapel would be largely untouched except for new exits and the operating room which was to be added to the front of the building. It was recorded that the work was started on 24 September 1912 by J.Duttine & Son.
A third plan was received in October 1912. This was a slightly revised version of the December 1911 plan, and showed 50 less seats in the "gallery". The work was officially "signed-off" (finished) on 14 November 1912. Normally one would assume that the premises were opened to the public by the signing-off date, but further work was recorded as being carried out. This involved extending the balcony to seat 250, and replacing the operating room. These were described as "extensive alterations" and were carried out from October 6th to the 28th, 1913. The plans showed that half the width of the operating room was inside the auditorium (See 1913 plan). This was a contravention of the 1910 Cinematograph Act which dictated that the operating room should be "fireproof and outside the auditorium". It therefore isn't clear when the cinema first opened.
In 1916 it was planned to modernise the frontage, but nothing came of it, presumably because of War conditions. (Even today it is still possible to see three circular windows at the top of the front of the building. These date from when the building was a chapel).
In March 1919 it was proposed to demolish the building and replace it with a new cinema. The scheme also included the demolition of three cottages (2, 4 & 6A Wilbraham Street) which were occupied. Because the cottages were occupied the application was postponed for six months. Nothing came of this scheme, either.
The Derby Cinema was eventually enlarged in 1927-28. E. Haigh & Son were still the owners, and J.W.B. Harding was again employed as the architect. Basically the shell of the chapel was retained (with a new facade, see 1927 plan), with the auditorium being extended about 50 feet behind the line of the original building (on the site of the cottages mentioned above). These features remain. The reconstructed building was twice the size of the old. There were 915 seats in the auditorium, and more in the balcony. It had taken almost eight months to complete the work. The signing-off date was 28 December 1928, so the grand reopening would have been around Christmas.
Despite the above reconstruction, it appears that the balcony remained untouched, as it was extended in November/December 1929. 96 extra seats were added to the original capacity of 235. The Southport architect, George E. Tonge was responsible for the work.
"Slight internal alterations" were recorded as taking place in May 1929. This might have been work in connection with the installation of "Talkie" equipment. If so, this would make the Derby one of the earliest Liverpool cinemas to show Talkies.
British Talking Pictures sound equipment was installed, but it's not known when. By 1937 RCA Photophone equipment was used.
The cinema carried on with no further structural alterations until it closed on 14 May 1960, the same day as its closest neighbour (and sister cinema), the Gaiety, also in Scotland Road. The last film to be shown at the Derby starred Liverpool's Ted Ray in "Carry on Teacher", with the supporting film being "White Cliffs Mystery". The Derby would have been young Priscilla White's local "flea-pit".
In August 1960 a plan was submitted showing how the cinema was to be converted into a car showroom for George A. Vickers. The work was started in September 1960, but was abandoned in favour of a later plan which was submitted in November. The later plan showed that the interior of the former cinema was to be gutted, with most of the original side walls of the old chapel being removed (although the circular windows which looked over on to Wesley Terrace remained, and could still be seen). There were large new showroom windows on the front (at street level), which continued part way down Wilbraham Street. What had originally been the area occupied by the chapel became a car showroom. The 1927 extension of the cinema became a garage. Vickers Motors traded as "Whitneys" and it was this name which was put on the building. The work was signed-off in October 1961. The building was then called Derby House.
By the 1970s, cladding covered all of the 1927 facade, leaving just the three circular chapel windows visible.
By 1982 the premises were occupied by Coyne Bros., (Funeral Directors). They were having work done there in 1997, at which date the proscenium arch, and ceiling mouldings, both from 1927, could be seen. Coyne Bros had moved out by early 2007 and put the building up for sale, after which it was due to be demolished. It remained unused, and the cladding was removed in 2010 after it started to fall off, revealing the 1927 facade complete with "Derby Cinema" carved in stone (and a Vickers' ghost sign on the Wilbraham Street side). The front ended up with a big banner advertising fireworks, whether or not they were sold in the building is not clear.
www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/5494457385
In March 2016 the building was first noticed as being "renovated", with new dormer windows inserted. (Presumably a conversion into flats?) The building was always a bit of a "dog's dinner", and wouldn't have been a great loss if it had been demolished (apart from its interesting history). It'll be interesting to see what it looks like when the current work is finished. The 1927 cinema facade is the only redeeming feature.
Original research by Philip G Mayer.
The former Derby Cinema, 318a-322 Scotland Road, Liverpool 5, UK.
DERBY CINEMA
Wilbraham Street runs down the north side of the building.
Wesley Terrace ran (runs?) down the south side of the building.
23 August 1842, the first stone of the Wesleyan Association Chapel, Scotland Road was laid.
19 March 1843, the Chapel was opened, with 400 seats, and was officially called the Wesleyan Methodist Association Chapel. It was enlarged in 1866 to seat 700.
By the 1870s it was called the Scotland Road Methodist Free Church. It was also called the United Methodist Free Church. The detail from the 1890 Ordnance Survey map has been shaded to show the extent of the 1927 alterations.
In January 1910 it was first proposed to turn the chapel into a cinema. Walter Wade, an architect from St Annes-on-Sea, submitted a plan (on 18 January) on behalf of J.W. Huddleston, to erect a small two-storey addition in front of "Victoria Hall", (Scotland Road, on the corner of Wilbraham Street). The addition was to form a porch on the ground floor, and an apartment for a "cinematograph apparatus" on the second floor.
Joseph H. Huddleston made the official application - for a Music & Cinematograph Licence - on 9 February 1910. (Without the licence there would have been no point in going ahead with the work). He said that the premises were to be called the Victoria Hall, and that they were currently being conducted as a Chapel. The Chairman of the Licensing Bench said: "Ah! this is a sort of try-on." (Laughter). Mr Huddleston's solicitor said that if the plans were approved by the Bench, the Chapel would come to an end. The Chairman remarked that the Bench could not deal with the case in that way. The application must be withdrawn, or else it would be refused. The application was therefore withdrawn.
In December 1911 another plan was received by the Building Surveyor's Department (of the Corporation) of the proposed conversion of the chapel into the "Derby Picturedrome". (Lord Derby owned a lot of land in that part of Liverpool). E. Haigh & Son were now behind the scheme, and the architect was to be J.W.B. Harding of Liverpool. (Mr Harding had designed the Queen's Cinema in Seacombe in 1911, and went on to design the Queen's Cinema in Walton in 1913, followed by the Gaiety Cinema in 1915, all three were purpose-built as cinemas. The Gaiety, like the Derby, was also in Scotland Road, and was another in E. Haigh & Son's circuit of cinemas and billiard halls). The auditorium of the Derby was to have 420 seats, with 200 in the "gallery". The exterior of the chapel would be largely untouched except for new exits and the operating room which was to be added to the front of the building. It was recorded that the work was started on 24 September 1912 by J.Duttine & Son.
A third plan was received in October 1912. This was a slightly revised version of the December 1911 plan, and showed 50 less seats in the "gallery". The work was officially "signed-off" (finished) on 14 November 1912. Normally one would assume that the premises were opened to the public by the signing-off date, but further work was recorded as being carried out. This involved extending the balcony to seat 250, and replacing the operating room. These were described as "extensive alterations" and were carried out from October 6th to the 28th, 1913. The plans showed that half the width of the operating room was inside the auditorium (See 1913 plan). This was a contravention of the 1910 Cinematograph Act which dictated that the operating room should be "fireproof and outside the auditorium". It therefore isn't clear when the cinema first opened.
In 1916 it was planned to modernise the frontage, but nothing came of it, presumably because of War conditions. (Even today it is still possible to see three circular windows at the top of the front of the building. These date from when the building was a chapel).
In March 1919 it was proposed to demolish the building and replace it with a new cinema. The scheme also included the demolition of three cottages (2, 4 & 6A Wilbraham Street) which were occupied. Because the cottages were occupied the application was postponed for six months. Nothing came of this scheme, either.
The Derby Cinema was eventually enlarged in 1927-28. E. Haigh & Son were still the owners, and J.W.B. Harding was again employed as the architect. Basically the shell of the chapel was retained (with a new facade, see 1927 plan), with the auditorium being extended about 50 feet behind the line of the original building (on the site of the cottages mentioned above). These features remain. The reconstructed building was twice the size of the old. There were 915 seats in the auditorium, and more in the balcony. It had taken almost eight months to complete the work. The signing-off date was 28 December 1928, so the grand reopening would have been around Christmas.
Despite the above reconstruction, it appears that the balcony remained untouched, as it was extended in November/December 1929. 96 extra seats were added to the original capacity of 235. The Southport architect, George E. Tonge was responsible for the work.
"Slight internal alterations" were recorded as taking place in May 1929. This might have been work in connection with the installation of "Talkie" equipment. If so, this would make the Derby one of the earliest Liverpool cinemas to show Talkies.
British Talking Pictures sound equipment was installed, but it's not known when. By 1937 RCA Photophone equipment was used.
The cinema carried on with no further structural alterations until it closed on 14 May 1960, the same day as its closest neighbour (and sister cinema), the Gaiety, also in Scotland Road. The last film to be shown at the Derby starred Liverpool's Ted Ray in "Carry on Teacher", with the supporting film being "White Cliffs Mystery". The Derby would have been young Priscilla White's local "flea-pit".
In August 1960 a plan was submitted showing how the cinema was to be converted into a car showroom for George A. Vickers. The work was started in September 1960, but was abandoned in favour of a later plan which was submitted in November. The later plan showed that the interior of the former cinema was to be gutted, with most of the original side walls of the old chapel being removed (although the circular windows which looked over on to Wesley Terrace remained, and could still be seen). There were large new showroom windows on the front (at street level), which continued part way down Wilbraham Street. What had originally been the area occupied by the chapel became a car showroom. The 1927 extension of the cinema became a garage. Vickers Motors traded as "Whitneys" and it was this name which was put on the building. The work was signed-off in October 1961. The building was then called Derby House.
By the 1970s, cladding covered all of the 1927 facade, leaving just the three circular chapel windows visible.
By 1982 the premises were occupied by Coyne Bros., (Funeral Directors). They were having work done there in 1997, at which date the proscenium arch, and ceiling mouldings, both from 1927, could be seen. Coyne Bros had moved out by early 2007 and put the building up for sale, after which it was due to be demolished. It remained unused, and the cladding was removed in 2010 after it started to fall off, revealing the 1927 facade complete with "Derby Cinema" carved in stone (and a Vickers' ghost sign on the Wilbraham Street side). The front ended up with a big banner advertising fireworks, whether or not they were sold in the building is not clear.
www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/5494457385
In March 2016 the building was first noticed as being "renovated", with new dormer windows inserted. (Presumably a conversion into flats?) The building was always a bit of a "dog's dinner", and wouldn't have been a great loss if it had been demolished (apart from its interesting history). It'll be interesting to see what it looks like when the current work is finished. The 1927 cinema facade is the only redeeming feature.
Original research by Philip G Mayer.