Date:June 1949
Description:Hanley's Theatre Royal had a long and colourful history until its closure in 2000. In 1850 a disused Methodist Chapel on Brunswick Street was converted into a chartist lecture hall by Thomas Hinde, and renamed 'the People's Hall'. In 1871 a new 'Theatre Royal' was built on the same site which was then gutted rebuilt in 1887 by Charles Phipps and Frank Matcham (with extensions in 1894 by Matcham). It was this theatre that was destroyed by fire in 1949. This photograph shows the aftermath of the fire of June 2nd, which destroyed the entire auditorium, leaving only the outer walls standing. The owner at the time of the fire was Frederick Peake who undertook the re-build at a considerable cost. The theatre reopened on 14 August 1951. In 1961 it was sold to Mecca who operated it as a Bingo hall for twenty years. It reopened as a theatre in 1982, closed again in 1996, and was purchased by Mike Lloyd and refurbished in 1997. The curtain finally fell when Mike Lloyd's business empire collapsed in 2000. It has since been converted into bars.
The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.
Edwin Handforth (1854-1942) owned a drapery business at 45 Picadilly, Hanley, Stoke ...
Edwin Handforth (1854-1942) owned a drapery business and hat shop at 45 Picadilly, ...
Richard Hearne (1908-1979) was an actor and comedian. As 'Mr. Pastry' he was one ...
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Image courtesy of: Shawna & Gerald
Donor ref:THEATRE ROYAL FIRE 1949.jpg (55/23615)
Source: Miscellaneous Collection
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