Picture House

A 1921 cinema, intact inside and out and now often presenting a live show on its original (very small) stage, especially of music and stand-up variety and during the annual Arts Festival. The building is of great charm and is an interesting survivor of its period. The stone frontage (cleaned and restored in 1978) is in an unusually pure classical style in three bays, defined by channelled quoins, the centre bay recessed with a Doric portico in antis. In the outer bays are good original shop fronts. Only the disproportionately small windows over the shops dilute the effect.

The original paybox remains in perfect condition, but has been superseded by an internal box in the small main foyer. Dressing rooms and stage access are at the rear of the building which backs on to the canal. The building has been the subject of regular recent improvements: a general refurbishment in 1978, stage and dressing room upgrades in 1985, new sound system and a new electric roll-up wide screen in 1993 (to facilitate more live shows).