The Picturedrome

THE PICTUREDROME

Cinema, built in 1912–13, designed by P. Norman Brown of Holmfirth for proprietors Hawthorne and King. The building is constructed in red brick, mainly rendered, with exposed brick pillars and a slate pitched roof. A louvre sits on the ridge towards the front.

The main entrance is positioned at the south-east gable end, comprising two double doors with original oval glazing bars in the upper halves and overlights, separated by a brick pilaster. Stone-banded brick pilasters flank the entrance and support a balcony, which was formerly an external projection box. These pilasters continue upwards and break the roof line with semi-circular caps. The balcony contains three blocked openings and a window. A projecting stone band runs at first-floor level, with one window on each side at ground and first-floor levels, all with stone dressings. The raised apex of the gable carries a date stone of 1912 surmounted by a stone cartouche. Both flanks of the building are rendered brick with exposed brick pilasters and various openings, some now blocked. The rear has a first-floor entrance to the stage and gallery areas, accessed by an altered external stair.

Inside, the entrance doors lead into a foyer with a reception desk inserted at the rear. Stairs to the first-floor gallery rise to the left, featuring original green, yellow and white Art Deco tiling on each side. The toilet doors carry original lettering in their glass panels. The main auditorium contains a bar area beneath the gallery at the rear, modern seating in the central section, and an open area at the front. The flattened proscenium arch framing the screen is surrounded by a decorative plasterwork band with a central cartouche; the lower right portion has been restored using the original mould. The ceiling is a coffered segmented barrel vault in pressed tin, with ceiling roses that form part of the ventilation system. Exit doors with raised pediments flank the stage, with a further door on the right side of the auditorium and shuttered windows along each side. The gallery extends along the rear and right-hand side, its curved front decorated with ornate plasterwork. No seating remains in the gallery, and a projection room has been inserted into its front portion. Two small rooms sit behind the screen to the left, and additional timber and steelwork has been installed to support a first-floor room in the former fly tower area; truncated remains of the fly equipment survive above.

The cinema was the first purpose-built cinema in Holmfirth, opening on 1 March 1913 under the name the Valley Theatre. It originally seated 800 in the stalls and 240 in the gallery. The design incorporated several safety features: the pressed tin ceiling, ventilation system, and multiple emergency exits. An external projection and lighting box was cantilevered over the main entrance, and the building had its own electric plant with supplementary gas lighting. The stage was designed for live performances as well as film screenings, with two small dressing rooms behind it.

The external projection room was removed in the 1920s and replaced with an internal one, which survives but without equipment. The first sound feature was presented in 1930, when a new screen was installed and projection and sound systems upgraded. By 1952 seating capacity had reduced to 779. The cinema closed in 1967 and subsequently operated as a bingo hall until around 1993. After remaining closed, the building underwent refurbishment and reopened in 1998 as the Picturedrome, continuing in use as a cinema with occasional live performances.

The building has strong historical connections with the Bamforth family of Holmfirth, pioneering early filmmakers. Founded in 1870 making magic lantern slides, Bamforths were producing films by 1898 in partnership with Riley Brothers of Bradford. Some of their early films were shown at the Valley Theatre, and it is suggested that members of the company appeared live on stage. Their studio was located nearby in Holmfirth. The firm later specialised in postcards, calendars and birthday cards, but their films are recognised as important in early cinema history, containing the earliest known examples of British comic film. The precise extent of Bamforth financial involvement at the theatre's opening is unclear. Harry Vernon is variously described as manager and proprietor; he knew the Bamforths and his obituary records that he commissioned them to film the Holmfirth Whitsuntide procession. The firm may have provided financial backing to the original owners and acquired an interest in the cinema after the First World War.