Bohemia

The Bohemia was a complex of buildings behind the shops in Ballards Lane, filling the backland between two side streets. It comprised an outdoor garden with loggia leading to a winter garden with a glazed roof and gallery and a cinema. The entrance to the winter garden was through a set of Moorish arches and an elaborate staircase led to the gallery. The hall had a narrow proscenium and a small concert platform stage. Decoration was elegant and the entrance imposing. The auditorium was was probably rebuilt as a cine-variety before the First World War. It had both cinematograph and music and dancing licences in 1913 (probably earlier), the latter licence apparently covering the summer and winter gardens. In that year there were complaints that stages for al fresco entertainments had been built at either end of the theatre without consent. The Bohemia closed in 1917 when it was requisitioned as a balloon factory, and continued in factory use until 1936. Segmental barrel-vault ceiling of nine bays with relief (Anaglypta or similar) decoration to the panels. Plaster moulded proscenium about 38ft wide. Auditorium about 95ft by 60ft. No balcony, no projection box. In 1936 it was subdivided into offices. It became vacant in 1991 and was demolished in 1994, at which time it was still largely intact in spite of the subdivision, and included the remains of the grand staircase.