Spennymoor Settlement

SPENNYMOOR

1403/0/10003 LOW GRANGE ROAD 12-MAY-04 Spennymoor Settlement

II Theatre, still in use, built in 1938-9, designed by C Elgey. Red brick, in stretcher bond, with three different levels of flat roof behind parapets. Main entrance to south of double doors under a concrete canopy, flanked by decorative horizontal strips of concrete, to left hand end of facade. One metal-framed oblong window to left of entrance, with dark red brick string course from the top towards the door, and three string courses to left to corner of building. Three high metal-framed oblong windows to right of entrance, with carved frieze (?sandstone) by Tisa Hess above. This shows two head-and-shoulders figures holding up masks of comedy and tragedy. The relief is quite badly weathered, but the main components can be clearly seen. Three dark red brick string courses run between windows and along right return where there is a line of similar windows along east side of building. West side of building has line of smaller metal-framed windows and a side entrance. North side has one metal-framed window at western end, otherwise blank (this is back of stage. INTERIOR: Main hall - small auditorium with low raised stage at one end. Small entrance hall, with boiler room and corridor off, to side of auditorium. Mens and Ladies dressing rooms and kitchen along side. Original pipework for central heating, and original electrical circuit board (no longer in use) in boiler room. Original lighting board for stage at rear of stage (no longer i, including gardens around the theatre, is owned by trustees. The original Settlement buildings are now in private use. Sources: "the spennymoor settlement:education for all" in 'SHAFTS OF LIGHT' by R McManners & G Wales, 2002? "Spennymoor Sttlement Papers" Durham University Library A&SC, Ref: GB-0033-SPE "The Spennymoor Settlement" K Armstrong Ed., 2002 "A Study of one Aspect of Adult Education: the Residential Settlement - with Particular Reference to the Spennymoor Settlement" W MAson, Durham, undated