Opera Colonnade the Opera House With the Shops Below Numbers 84 to 96 and Numbers 38 to 50 Monson Road Including Numbers 38 to 50 Opera Colonnade
38-50, MONSON 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:
- 1338803
- Date first listed:
- 24-Nov-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Opera Colonnade the Opera House With the Shops Below Numbers 84 to 96 and Numbers 38 to 50 Monson Road Including Numbers 38 to 50 Opera Colonnade
- Statutory Address:
- 38-50, MONSON ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-06-29
- Reference:
- IOE01/03985/22
- Rights:
- © Mrs Jane Comeau. Source: Historic England Archive
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Official list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1338803
- Date first listed:
- 24-Nov-1966
- List Entry Name:
- Opera Colonnade the Opera House With the Shops Below Numbers 84 to 96 and Numbers 38 to 50 Monson Road Including Numbers 38 to 50 Opera Colonnade
- Statutory Address 1:
- 38-50, MONSON ROAD
- Statutory Address 2:
- 84-96, MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD
- Statutory Address 3:
- OPERA COLONNADE, 38-50
- Statutory Address 4:
- THE OPERA HOUSE WITH THE SHOPS BELOW NUMBERS 84 TO 96 AND NUMBERS 38 TO 50 MONSON ROAD INCLUDING NUMBERS 38 TO 50 OPERA COLONNADE, MOUNT PLEASANT 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:
- 38-50, MONSON ROAD
- Statutory Address:
- 84-96, MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD
- Statutory Address:
- OPERA COLONNADE, 38-50
- Statutory Address:
- THE OPERA HOUSE WITH THE SHOPS BELOW NUMBERS 84 TO 96 AND NUMBERS 38 TO 50 MONSON ROAD INCLUDING NUMBERS 38 TO 50 OPERA COLONNADE, MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Kent
- District:
- Tunbridge Wells (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 58514 39598
Details
In the entry for MOUNT PLEASANT ROAD TQ 5839 NW TQ 5839 NE (east side) 3/280 The Opera House, 6/280 with shops below numbers 84 to 96 (even) and numbers 38 to 50 (even) Monson Road including numbers 24.11.66 38 to 50 (even) Opera Colonnade
II the description shall be amended;
Theatre incorporating shops on three sides. Built in 1902 to the designs of John Briggs. Symmetrical composition in Neo-georgian style with a Baroque centrepiece. Built of red brick with ashlar dressings with central copper dome and smaller domes at the sides. Three storeys, 23 windows in all to principal elevation. The centre 9 bays form the major composition with flanking six bay wings. Central dome with oculus above broken pediment supported on paired Ionic pilasters. Central curved balcony with round-headed arch and three round-headed openings with french windows. Three flanking bays have oculi with carved figures above second floor and central section terminates with a pediment and double pilasters. Twelve-pane sashes throughout on second floor and fifteen-pane sashes to first floor. The outer ends of the wings end in domes. Outer bays have baroque doorways to the ground floor set against banded rustication. Shops on ground floor. INTERIOR. Foyer has dado panelling, two fireplaces with pilasters, swags and console brackets and two arches with Ionic piers. Main staircase, probably altered after 1923, leads to bar which has mahogany bar fitment with round-headed arch with carved shell motif and painting of C18 revellers and painted fireplace. The auditorium has two slightly curved balconies of six and eight rows each with straight slips running to ranges of superimposed boxes, four on each side. The upper boxes have gryphons at the head of each subdividing pilaster. The Dress Circle retains a glazed screen with lily decoration and the seating probably dates from the cinema conversion of 1923. The Gallery retains original tip up seating with lily motif. The Proscenium is rectangular with elaborately scrolled brackets in the corners and a curved pedimental tablte above the centre flanked by reclining figures personifying Music and Drama. The main ceiling is in the form of a panelled saucer dome set within a richly moulded rectangular frame. Flytower retains scenery winch and metal hooks.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 168100
- 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-Jul-2026 at 04:28:33.
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.