CITY VARIETIES

CITY VARIETIES, SWAN STREET

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Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1255972
Date first listed:: 15-Feb-1960
List Entry Name:: CITY VARIETIES
Statutory Address:: CITY VARIETIES, SWAN STREET

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Date:: 2005-09-16
Reference:: IOE01/13099/04
Rights:: © Mrs Pennie Keech. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1255972
Date first listed:: 15-Feb-1960
Date of most recent amendment:: 11-Sep-1996
List Entry Name:: CITY VARIETIES
Statutory Address 1:: CITY VARIETIES, SWAN STREET

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: CITY VARIETIES, SWAN STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: Leeds (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: SE 30209 33721

Details

LEEDS

SE3033NW SWAN STREET 714-1/76/395 (North side) 15/02/60 City Varieties (Formerly Listed as: THE HEADROW (South side) City Palace of Varieties)

II*

Music hall theatre and inn. 1865, with remains of late C18 inn to east. By George Smith. For Charles Thornton. Rendered brick, slate roof. Theatre block: 3 storeys, 7 bays built on Swan Street, former entrance at east end of north side from The Headrow obscured by a canopy, rectangular window above; rear facade to Swan Street: entrance to ground floor/basement bar to right of centre, 2 tiers of round-arched recesses and bracketed eaves above. Remains of inn: 4 storeys, 2 bays fronting Swan Street, this block projects forward of the theatre and has the main theatre entrance left with segmental arch and moulded plaster semicircular arch above, later C20 openings to right; first floor: paired sash and 2 blocked windows; 2nd floor: 2 small segmental-arch casements left; 3rd floor: 4 flat-arched windows. INTERIOR: the former Headrow entrance has a stairway of 4 straight flights with a ramped wooden handrail on cast-iron balustrade with circular and scroll motifs; the stairs rise to the rear of the auditorium (above the ground-floor bar), and to the higher galleries and boxes. The Swan Street entrance has glazed double doors and opens into a more elaborate staircase hall with ticket office; the stone stairs to left and right are each of 2 flights, united at the 3rd flight and rising to a landing supported on ornate cast-iron columns. The balustrade to stairs and landing has cast-iron scrolled panels supporting a ramped wooden handrail. The auditorium is reached to the left and a bar and former dining room to the right. The latter has an inserted ceiling, the room above has traces of the original roll-moulded ceiling cornice relating to the earlier level, this higher room lit by the 2 blocked windows on the facade 1st floor. Theatre auditorium: dress circle supported by cast-iron columns with Corinthian-type caps, modillion cornice, crinoline or bow fronted solid balustrade decorated with plaster enrichments, swags, medallions and female busts. Boxes

have Corinthian columns with lotus-leaf bases; gallery similar but less ornate. Flat ceiling with plaster decorations. 3-centred proscenium arch with royal arms over. HISTORICAL NOTE: Charles Thornton was the landlord of the Swan Inn in Swan Street, built in 1762; the Swan Inn is identifiable on the 1850 OS map as the projecting block to right of the theatre. Thornton rebuilt the singing room as 'Thornton's New Music Hall and Fashionable Lounge', opened 7 June 1865; the building evidence suggests that he modified the inn by altering the Swan Street entrance to provide the main access to theatre and bar/dining room, the floor levels in the inn altered to suit the new staircase and openings from the landing. He leased the building to John Stansfield in 1876; the Insurance map shows the 'Theatre of Varieties' with bar and dining room extending across the old inn and a brew house and stable beneath the stage. In 1894 it became the City Varieties and the 1899 OS map shows the White Swan Inn beneath the auditorium, probably the original arrangement. Charles Thornton was also responsible for the construction of Thornton's Buildings and Thornton's Arcade (qv). (Heap, A: The Headrow, a pictorial history: Leeds: 1990-: 41; Goad, C: Insurance Plan of Leeds: Leeds: 1886-: SHEET 5; OS Map of Leeds: 1850-: SHEET 11; OS Map of Leeds: 1890-).

Listing NGR: SE3020933721

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 465414
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Heap, A, The Headrow a Pictorial history, (1990), 41
Other
Title: Insurance Plan of Leeds Source Date: 1886 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.