Paignton Picture House
Paignton Picture House
We were asked by the Paignton Picture House Trust to review the heritage significance of the Grade II* listed Paignton Picture House - one of Europe’s earliest surviving purpose-built cinemas - in order to inform proposals being developed by AOC Architecture.
Paignton Picture House opened in 1914 and closed in 1999. By 2011 it had been placed on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk register. In 2013 a group of dedicated local people with a passion for historic buildings came together to set up a Buildings Preservation Trust. The Trust’s vision is to create a community and cultural hub for Torbay and in 2015 it secured ownership of the site, with support from Historic England.
The project has secured almost £4m funding, including £2.95m from the Cultural Development Fund, £1.25m from the Future High Streets Fund. Early phase conservation works - chiefly the restoration of the façade in 2021 - were supported by Historic England and the Architectural Heritage Fund.
Our report established a new understanding of the history and significance of the building in collaboration with the Trust, who will move forward with plans to refurbish the site for creative, cultural and community uses.
Client: Paignton Picture House Trust
Architects: AOC Architecture