Joseph Rowntree Theatre
JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE, HAXBY ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1096161
- Date first listed:
- 29-May-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre
- Statutory Address:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE, HAXBY ROAD
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1096161
- Date first listed:
- 29-May-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre
- Statutory Address 1:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE, HAXBY ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- JOSEPH ROWNTREE THEATRE, HAXBY ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- York (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SE 60730 53579
Details
1112-1/0/10037 HAXBY ROAD
29-MAY-03 (East side)
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
II
Theatre and lecture hall. Opened November 1935, with small late-C20 addition. Designed by Barry Parker for the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust. Brown brick with concrete dressings and pantile roofs. Chamfered brick plinth.
Main entrance to west has 3-storey recessed centre with triple doorway reached up six concrete steps with wooden canopy over. Above three small windows, then two tall casement windows either side of blank centre, above again three 2-light casement windows. Projecting wings either side have two square uPVC casement windows to left and three similar windows to right. Wings topped with brick parapet topped with concrete coping.
Side elevations each have 5 full height buttresses with concrete set-offs, slightly projecting lower floor has concrete coping. Small single-storey flat-roofed late-C20 addition to north.
Rear has tall 4-storey fly-tower with broad plain buttresses, flat roof and concrete coped parapets.
INTERIOR. Entrance foyer has original composite floor with staircase to left, similar right staircase has been altered to form a small box office. Shallow steps with metal rails lead to auditorium doors between original light fittings. Auditorium has raking stalls and narrow balcony with plain curved front. Both have panelling to dado height incorporating louvred ventilators. Proscenium opening has segmental arch flanked by convex quadrant walls. Balcony front and orchestra pit front are curved on plan. Ceiling spanned by shallow arched ribs that die into the walls and continue as pilaster strips. Original wooden seating survives throughout though re-upholstered at later date. Original stage machinery survives.
Originally fitted with ventilation system reputed to be 'one of the most up-to-date systems in the country'. Also fitted with film projection room and modern loudspeaker system for the reproduction of recorded music.
A rare example of a surviving theatre from the mid-1930s outside London, and an example of the progressive social policies of the Rowntree family towards their workforce.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 490183
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 09:32:26.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.