Description

SJ 79 SE
1482-/5/10004

STRETFORD
CHESTER ROAD
The Top Rank Club (former Essoldo Cinema)

II
Cinema, now club. 1936, by Henry Elder,of Roberts, Wood and Elder of Manchester, for the Jackson and Newport cinema circuit, with late C20 alterations. Of narrow red brick, with faience tiled facade, with roofs concealed by tall brick walling. Art Deco style. Set-back auditorium, with long foyer passage to Chester Road entrance, and shorter link to side entrance on Edge Road, set amidst contemporary buildings. The Chester Road entrance was designed to resemble a cash register, with stepped convex surfaces curving upwards and backwards, and an attached but advanced rib rising with less curvature designed to carry the vertically-displayed name of the cinema, now bearing the name 'Top Rank.' A projecting band, carved across the face of both curve and rib is the sole horizontal element above the rectangular entrance canopy, which has a modern fascia. This sits above 3 evenly-spaced double doorways, with tile covered flanking walls. Side entrance on Edge Road with tall convex brick wall above a semi-circular canopy, the two components forming a circular entrance area above which rises a substantial tall, grooved concrete column. Directly beneath, supporting the canopy is a curved pier which divides the side entrance area, each part with a pair of original glazed double doors. To the right, a tall recessed panel set between tall brick piers stands above exit doors for the auditorium.

Interior; stalls area altered to form a bingo hall, but plan little disturbed, with circle, projection room, upper floor bar, lighting rotunda and a cafe area above the foyer (now with a suspended ceiling) all surviving. Foyer murals, designed by Frederick H. Baines, depicting contemporary cinema scenes, and each 10 x 6 feet are thought to survive behind removable coverings.

This was amongst the first, and is the only survivor of Elder's cinemas, a building in which the striking and explicit frontage motifs are held to represent his belief that the film industry of the day was primarily concerned with money and sex. The design represents a dramatic departure from theatre-influenced cinema planning, and acknowledged the different spatial and technical requirements of wide screen cinematography.

Listing NGR: SJ7979794420

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26533305

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)