Northwick Cinema
NORTHWICK CINEMA, OMBERSLEY 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:
- 1390034
- Date first listed:
- 31-Jan-1984
- List Entry Name:
- Northwick Cinema
- Statutory Address:
- NORTHWICK CINEMA, OMBERSLEY ROAD
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1390034
- Date first listed:
- 31-Jan-1984
- List Entry Name:
- Northwick Cinema
- Statutory Address 1:
- NORTHWICK CINEMA, OMBERSLEY 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:
- NORTHWICK CINEMA, OMBERSLEY ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Worcestershire
- District:
- Worcester (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SO 84655 57287
Details
WORCESTER
SO85NW OMBERSLEY ROAD
620-1/1/469 (East side)
31/01/84 Northwick Cinema
II
Cinema, now hall. 1936-1938 with later alterations. For Scala
(Worcester) Limited. Architect C Edmund Wilford, with interior
designed by John Alexander. Brick with concealed roof. Art Deco
style. Two storeys, five bays, the outer two projecting and with
slit windows. Central bay has projecting tower with 'Northwick'
on a fin-like vertical sign the full height of the building.
Ground floor has a flat cantilevered hood the full height of the
building.
INTERIOR: the principal feature is the group of over-life-size
mythical figures, horses and chariots executed in fibrous plaster
and flanking the proscenium arch. Small contemporary details such
as light fittings and ashtrays. HISTORICAL NOTE: opened on 28
November 1938; closed as a cinema c1967. John Alexander trained
in part at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and was a Director of the
Newcastle firm of M Alexander and Sons. Alexander was responsible
for the manufacturing process of the fibrous plasterwork as well
as the design. The fibrous plaster groups flanking the proscenium
arch was designed in 1936 and cost ,1,138.
Eyles: 'highly evocative of the Thirties and cinema design at its
most assured.' Atwell: John Alexander was unique in the area of
cinema design.' Some of Alexander's drawings survive in the
collection of the RIBA. It is believed to be the only surviving
example of his work in a complete and unaltered form, although in
parts it has been covered by a layer of (removable) paint.
(RIBA Drawings Collection (for perspective drawings by Alexander)
Cards 3404-5) (Picture House: Eyles A: Who Will Save The
Northwick?: 1987-: 14-16; Atwell D: Cinema Perspectives of John
Alexander, Exhibition Catalogue: 1987-: 1-4).
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 488985
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Atwell, D, Cinema Perspectives of John Alexander, (1987), 1-4
Eyles, A, Picture House in Who Will Save The Northwick?, (1987), 14-16
Other
Cards 3404-5, RIBA Drawings Collection,
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 04-Jun-2026 at 05:36:36.
Download a full scale map (PDF)© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900.© British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2026. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006.
End of official list entry