History
Kingston upon Thames, historically in Surrey, was an important market town, port and river crossing from the early medieval period, while there is evidence of Saxon settlement and of activity dating from the prehistoric period and of Roman occupation. It is close to the important historic royal estates at Hampton Court, Bushy Park, Richmond and Richmond Park. The old core of the town, around All Saints Church (C14 and C15, on an earlier site) and Market Place, with its recognisably medieval street pattern, is ‘the best preserved of its type in outer London’ (Pevsner and Cherry, London: South, 1983 p. 307). Kingston thrived first as an agricultural and market town and on its historic industries of malting, brewing and tanning, salmon fishing and timber exporting, before expanding rapidly as a suburb after the arrival of the railway in the 1860s. In the later C19 it become a centre of local government, and in the early C20 became an important shopping and commercial centre. Its rich diversity of buildings and structures from all periods reflect the multi-facetted development of the town.
Details
CLARENCE STREET
Nos 154-166, Former Granada Cinema, (Formerly listed as Granada Cinema, 154-156 Clarence Street, previously listed under RICHMOND ROAD) Former cinema. 1939. Designed by George Coles with interior by Komisarjevsky. Brick. two storeys to facade. Plate glass replacement entrance doors to ground floor, beneath cantilevered canopy. Three arched windows to first floor, with three oculi above. Rectangular tower to right with later C20 lettering. Fine interior including double height entrance hall with heavy coffered ceiling and triple arch motifs to walls etc and main auditorium with plastered proscenium flanked by triple arch motifs with decorative grilles rounded to ceiling etc. Original light fittings. Listing NGR: TQ1833669438 This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 11/04/2018
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
203201
Legacy System:
LBS
Sources
Books and journals Cherry, B, Pevsner, N , The Buildings of England, London 2: South, (1983), 307
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
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