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Monument details
HER Number: | TR 37 SE 1173 |
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Type of record: | Listed Building |
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Name: | THEATRE ROYAL |
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Summary
Grade II* listed building.The Theatre Royal opened in 1787 at a cost of £4,000 and comprised an auditorium and stage housing contained within a simple rectangular brick building. Flanking this on the south side was the original, so-called 'Royal House' (manager's house). The paybox and entrance foyer formed a single-storey adjunct to the Addington Street frontage. The structure of the 1787 building partly remains, but in 1874 the theatre was remodelled by Jethro Thomas Robinson (designer of the 'Old Vic' and father-in-law to Frank Matcham). Robinson removed the old auditorium and stage, increasing the width by demolishing one side wall, and doing odd things with the old roof trusses in order to extend their span. In so doing the depth of the Royal House was halved and reduced to little more than a facade. Robinson also rebuilt the front-of-house areas and frontage. This is in stucco of two storeys and four bays, defined by fluted pilaster strips topped by a cornice and parapet. The two bays to the right curve round into the side street, with the entrance in the corner bay. Robinson's auditorium is a smaller version of his 'Old Vic' having two horseshoe balconies supported by iron columns along the line of their fronts. The balconies curve round the sides to meet the elliptically arched proscenium which rises directly to the underside of the saucer-dome ceiling. When a new scene dock was constructed to the rear in 1994 the floorings of the 1878 rear wall were revealed to be well above the present, suggesting that the earlier theatre had no significant stage basement. In 1841, the Royal was used as a chapel and between 1930 and 1934 it was in use as a cinema.
Grid Reference: | TR 35587 70771 |
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Map Sheet: | TR37SE |
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Parish: | MARGATE, THANET, KENT |
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Monument Types
- THEATRE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1787 AD to 2050 AD)
Full description
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Description from record TR 37 SE 67:
[TR 3559 7076] Theatre Royal [NAT] (1) Theatre Royal, Addington Street (NW side). Grade 2*. Built in 1787, burnt in 1829 and remodelled in 1879. The exterior is largely C19. 2 storeys stock brick, stuccoed on front elevation. Parapet and dropped moulded eaves cornice with brackets, 3 sashes on the AddingtonStreet elevation. Pilasters. Windows have cornices, brackets and scrolls above. The main doorcase is C19 with half columns, consoles and swags. Doorcase has moulded pediment with swags and reeded pilasters. The elevation to Hawley Square has an C18 wooden doorcase with open pediment round-headed fanlight with glazing bars intact and a 6 panelled door. The interior is C19. (1,2) Amended to Grade II*. (3) Theatre Royal, built 1787, burnt in 1829 and remodelled in 1874. (4)
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
In the entry for
ADDINGTON STREET (north west side) TR 3570 NE6/56A Theatre Royal
The grade shall be amended to read II* (star)
ADDINGTON STREET 1. 1380 (North West Side) Theatre Royal TR 3570 NE 6/56A 25.8.55.
II GV
2. Built In 1787, burnt in 1829 and remodelled in 1879. The exterior is largely Cl9. 2 storeys stock brick, stuccoed on front elevation. Parapet and dropped moulded eaves cornice with brackets, 3 sashes on the Addington Street elevation. Pilasters. Windows have cornices, brackets and scrolls above. The main doorcase is Cl9 with ½ columns, consoles and swags. Doorcase has moulded pediment with swags and reeded pilasters. The elevation to Hawley Square has an C18 wooden doorcase with open pediment round-headed fanlight with glazing bars intact and a 6 panelled door. The interior is Cl9. There is a border of Acanthus leaf motifs around the proscenium arch and a palm leaf motif on the ceiling. The Dress Circle has 6 cast iron columns with Palm leaf capitals and a very elaborate balcony decoration of ropes roses and swags. The balcony has shell moulding.
Theatre Royal forms a group with London Tavern and No 39 (Lochaber House)
Listing NGR: TR3558170772 (5)
The Theatre Royal opened in 1787 at a cost of £4,000 and comprised an auditorium and stage housing contained within a simple rectangular brick building. Flanking this on the south side was the original, so-called 'Royal House' (manager's house). The paybox and entrance foyer formed a single-storey adjunct to the Addington Street frontage. The structure of the 1787 building partly remains, but in 1874 the theatre was remodelled by Jethro Thomas Robinson (designer of the 'Old Vic' and father-in-law to Frank Matcham). Robinson removed the old auditorium and stage, increasing the width by demolishing one side wall, and doing odd things with the old roof trusses in order to extend their span. In so doing the depth of the Royal House was halved and reduced to little more than a facade. Robinson also rebuilt the front-of-house areas and frontage. This is in stucco of two storeys and four bays, defined by fluted pilaster strips topped by a cornice and parapet. The two bays to the right curve round into the side street, with the entrance in the corner bay. Robinson's auditorium is a smaller version of his 'Old Vic' having two horseshoe balconies supported by iron columns along the line of their fronts. The balconies curve round the sides to meet the elliptically arched proscenium which rises directly to the underside of the saucer-dome ceiling. When a new scene dock was constructed to the rear in 1994 the floorings of the 1878 rear wall were revealed to be well above the present, suggesting that the earlier theatre had no significant stage basement. In 1841, the Royal was used as a chapel and between 1930 and 1934 it was in use as a cinema. (1-7)
Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1 (Map). SKE30964.
Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2 (Map). SKE30965.
Landmark, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952) (Map). SKE30967.
Ordinance Survey, 1873, Margate - Kent XXV 8_2 (Map). SKE56380.
Landmark, 1907-1923, Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923) (Map). SKE30966.
<1> OS 1:1250 Nov 1973 (OS Card Reference). SKE48191.
<2> DOE (HHR) Borough of Margate, Kent 22 Feb 1973 3-4 (OS Card Reference). SKE39948.
<3> DOE(HHR) 10th amendment to Borough of Margate Kent 1st April 1987 (OS Card Reference). SKE40804.
<4> The Bldgs of Eng NE and E Kent 1983 386 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE50120.
<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.
<6> English Heritage, 2007, Margate's Seaside Heritage (Monograph). SKE55520.
<7> 2000, The Theatres Trust Guide to British Theatres, 1750-1950 (Monograph). SKE55521.
Sources and further reading
Cross-ref.
| Source description | --- | Map: Landmark. Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 1st edition 1862-1875): Landmark Epoch 1. |
--- | Map: Landmark. Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 2nd Edition, 1897-1900): Landmark Epoch 2. |
--- | Map: Landmark. 1907-1923. Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 3rd Edition, 1907-1923). |
--- | Map: Landmark. Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 map (OS 4th Edition, 1929-1952). |
--- | Map: Ordinance Survey. 1873. Margate - Kent XXV 8_2. |
<1> | OS Card Reference: OS 1:1250 Nov 1973. |
<2> | OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Borough of Margate, Kent 22 Feb 1973 3-4. |
<3> | OS Card Reference: DOE(HHR) 10th amendment to Borough of Margate Kent 1st April 1987. |
<4> | OS Card Reference: The Bldgs of Eng NE and E Kent 1983 386 (J Newman). |
<5> | Map: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. |
<6> | Monograph: English Heritage. 2007. Margate's Seaside Heritage. |
<7> | Monograph: 2000. The Theatres Trust Guide to British Theatres, 1750-1950. |