Towers Cinema

Towers Cinema was a cinema in Hornchurch, England. It was built in 1935 on part of the former Grey Towers estate. It was converted for use as a bingo hall in 1973. It was threatened with demolition in 2015 and a campaign to have it listed by Historic England is underway.

History

The Towers Cinema was built on part of the late Grey Towers Mansion site. The Cinema was built on the southern boundary of the Grey Towers estate, at the west end of Hornchurch High Street.

The Cinema was commissioned by David J. James - a Brewing Industrialist turned Cinema Impresario. It was designed by Leslie Hagger Kemp (1899-1997) in partnership with Frederick Edward Tasker, a partnership which designed new and renovated existing cinemas for James' independent chain. Opening its doors on 3 August 1935 it provided generous facilities including an auditorium to seat 1799 patrons; a shallow stage with dressing rooms; a luxurious café/ballroom on the first floor that could seat 200; a cosmetics saloon for use by ladies and an ample car park.

In March 1937 James sold his chain of cinemas for a considerable sum to Eastern Cinemas (GCF) Ltd which were then taken over by the Odeon chain in 1943. The characteristic neon ODEON signage was then applied covering the word Towers (which is cut into the fabric of the building but later restored in 2010). This building converted to a Bingo Hall in 1973 (which it has remained thus far - 2015)

Although alterations to the foyer and lower auditorium have been made, thankfully many original features still remain. It is believed that the highly ornate coffered ceiling in the café-ballroom remains in tact although now boarded to create lower ceilings and currently sub divided into offices. The private boxes haven't been used since the Cinema was converted so have been preserved.

Leslie Hagger Kemp designed the former Union Cinema in Dunstable, Bedfordshire built in 1936-37 which has achieved Grade II listed status, he was associated with the Regal in Camberwell built in 1938-39 also listed at Grade II. Apart from cinemas, Kemp and Tasker won the Daily Mail 'Ideal House' competition in 1934 (at the same time they were working on The Towers Building)

Campaign to save from demolition

The building was sold to Lidl and was to be demolished to be replaced by a supermarket.^[1] Following a campaign to save the building,^[2] Havering London Borough Council temporarily protected it in 2015 so Historic England could assess its heritage value.^[3]

References

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