Liberty Cinema

The Liberty Cinema, later a market hall, was built in 1928 and is a rare and significant early work by George Coles, representing the only known cinema constructed in a Chinese style. The building is primarily of brick, but its street facade is faced with coloured glazed tiles, topped with red pantiled pagoda roofs. It is two storeys high. The central five-bay section features tall windows with geometrically patterned glazing, flanked by triangular pilasters. Above the windows are three blank panels. The pagoda roofs have a moulded tile band along the ridge, a similar cornice, and terracotta carp finials. The lower wings incorporate corner pilasters, advertising panels, and matching pagoda roofs with terracotta dragon finials. A reeded band separates the floors. While the original ground-floor panels with console brackets are still present, the canopy has been replaced and the entrance doors altered. The interior remains largely intact above a later inserted ceiling. It has a proscenium arch with dragon mouldings at the corners, geometrical panels, a fluted band at the top representing a stylised roof, and pilasters. The auditorium walls feature Chinoiserie ventilation grilles on either side of the proscenium arch, similar grilles to the rear wall, and two Chinoiserie wall panels resembling trelliswork with floral motifs to the side exits. The interior is divided into bays by pilasters with bracketed capitals decorated with floral motifs. The ceiling is panelled with ribs featuring anthemion motifs and square Chinese motif paterae, with two large ventilation grilles matching those elsewhere. Original Chinese-style panels are present on the side doors to the auditorium, and the foyer retains its original cornices. The original orchestra pit survives, as does the original raked floor, with seat bolts, now covered by a later floor. Original concrete staircases with metal handrails are also present. The fusion of the Chinese style with the classical style more familiar to the plasterers is notably unique.