Former Hippodrome Theatre

Former Hippodrome Theatre

This red brick theatre with cast-stone dressings painted cream occupies a corner site on Railway Street and Union Street in north-east Bishop Auckland. Built in 1909, it was designed with a central auditorium served by entrance and stalls foyers to the front, with staircases flanking the auditorium leading to the first floor balcony foyer and balcony. The upper balcony is accessed via separate stairs from side entrances at street level.

The main elevation on Railway Street presents three bays across two storeys, separated by a moulded stone string course. A moulded stone cornice and parapet cap the composition, with the parapet stepped down over the central bay. The ground floor central bay features a recessed main entrance with 20th-century renewed double doors and a modern neon sign; truncated fixings visible above the entrance indicate the former presence of a canopy documented in 1960s photographs. The second floor has a large central round-headed window comprising a small-paned lunette with an eight-light window below, both containing original stained glass with roundel and swag motifs. Beneath this sits an apron bearing the word 'HIPPODROME', flanked by smaller windows of similar design. The ground floor end bays each contain a small window and an entrance; the right entrance has been blocked. Above these are paired six-light stair windows. The first floors feature windows similar to the central bay design, and the right end bay displays five neon signs spelling 'BINGO'. The parapet's central broken pediment formerly bore the date '1909', now reading '190', with keyed oculi on either side. The side elevations contain scattered fenestration serving internal stairs, original fire exits, stage doors, and street entrances to the balcony, decorated only with keyed oculi and brick pilasters.

Internally, the main entrance opens into a rectangular foyer with a suspended ceiling through which pilasters rise to carry the original ceiling above. The former ticket desk probably occupied the left side, with a small inserted room to the right. Replacement double doors lead into a small stalls foyer, from which round-arched openings provide access to plain staircases serving the balcony. The auditorium survives as a single space with original stage, proscenium arch, side boxes, balcony, and upper balcony. Backstage dressing rooms and offices remain. The stalls are plainly finished, but the square-framed proscenium and ante-proscenium walls are enriched with ornate plasterwork. The balcony front features panels with decorative plaster consoles, whilst the boxes have similar panels and decorative arched cornice-hoods. All stall seating has been removed and replaced with fixed tables and chairs; the stage, lowered in height, is similarly fitted with tables, chairs, and a bingo caller's podium, with an inserted stair accessing one of the boxes. A suspended ceiling has been introduced at upper balcony level, but the original auditorium plaster ceiling with geometric panel designs and a central ornate plaster dome remains visible above, as do the upper auditorium walls and decorative ante-proscenium walls. A complete set of original upper balcony seating remains above this inserted ceiling. The balcony is entered via paired staircases with metal handrails through a first floor rectangular foyer retaining original double wooden doors, cornicing, and architraves. Except for the back row, which retains its side panels, all balcony seating has been removed and replaced with bingo playing equipment. The balcony foyer provides concealed access to stairs serving the projection and light rooms. Original features throughout include some doors, architraves, and cornicing. The fly galleries, fly floor, grid, and stair access from street to upper balcony are understood to remain in situ, though these were not inspected.