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Mansfields First Cinema
A few more pictures from the Museums Chad Negative Collection, taken in June 1973 and listed as ‘Mansfield’s First Cinema’ Where was this, did you go there? what films did you see?
So sorry to hear about Micks passing. I worked there to and knew Mick welL My Dad was the boss and has just had his 86th birthday!
By Stuart Hall (25/09/2023)
Hi Just referring to the old photos of the old cinema it was a plasterers place where they would make coving ,ceiling roses , wooden beams figurines. This was all done and out of plaster of Paris hence the white powder all poured into mould. My late father worked there for about 20 years ,I used to go down as eight-year-old boy in the 80s on Saturday morning and clean and sweep up areas inside. I can remember the first photo of the old booth that was there room to get changed into their overalls on and a vice on the bench Then when dad wasn’t looking I would have a sneak round all the rooms and explore as a young boy I could remember just one room very high what overlooked the workshop that must’ve been the projector room . I worked there on Saturday mornings did all this for a 5 pound note in a brown envelope my first wage . Can remember one big job that dad used to tell me about that his company went down to Brighton to in store all their old ceiling roses and original coving back and it was the famous hotel what got bombed in Brighton in the 80s with the Government MPs inside Company was called Wilsons and Sons Mr Arnold Wilson I do have a photo somewhere of one of his wage slips but I will try to put on this site In memory of MR Michael Barker ( Mick Barker ) Who died a year ago from this day x
By MrLBarker (25/01/2019)
Mansfield’s first FULL TIME cinema, not just first cinema. The Victoria Hall (Palais de Dance / QI / etc..) was screening movies from 1907.
By Howard Mansfield (09/12/2015)
According to the 1957 Linney’s Gazateer the premises were W J Wilson, Plasterers, Decorative mouldings etc. This book is a treasure, a mine of information!
By Tom Shead (29/04/2015)
Yes like Barry says I’m sure this was used by a company that used to make decorative plaster cornice and ceiling rose mouldings, as is evident by the white powder spillage in the doorways. Don’t know if it was the same company or not that relocated but there was one in the eighties on Arthur Street just off Newgate Lane that did the same sort thing. Does anybody remember the company name or anybody who worked there?
By Kevin Gilbert (28/04/2015)
The building was formerly known as the ‘Albert Works’ The Simpsons were gas fitters and mechanical engineers. Between 1874 and 1882 they manufactured the ‘Defiance’ bicycles (Penny Farthings) and tricycles. They sub-let part of the building to a Mr. Weatherall, wholesale boot and shoe maker in 1892. Property was vacated in 1894.
By John Vanags - Old Mansfield Society (04/04/2015)
It looks like the Popular Picture Palace on Elm street. I don’t think it was open for very long though, it only survived until 1912 as the Palace Electric Theatre on Leeming street opened in 1910.
By Angela Bramwell (01/04/2015)
I seem to remember this building being on Elm Tree Street an old plasters workshop.
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So sorry to hear about Micks passing.
I worked there to and knew Mick welL My Dad was the boss and has just had his 86th birthday!
Hi Just referring to the old photos of the old cinema it was a plasterers place where they would make
coving ,ceiling roses , wooden beams figurines. This was all done and out of plaster of Paris hence the white powder all poured into mould. My late father worked there for about 20 years ,I used to go down as eight-year-old boy in the 80s on Saturday morning and clean and sweep up areas inside. I can remember the first photo of the old booth that was there room to get changed into their overalls on and a vice on the bench Then when dad wasn’t looking I would have a sneak round all the rooms and explore as a young boy I could remember just one room very high what overlooked the workshop that must’ve been the projector room .
I worked there on Saturday mornings did all this for a 5 pound note in a brown envelope my first wage . Can remember one big job that dad used to tell me about that his company went down to Brighton to in store all their old ceiling roses and original coving back and it was the famous hotel what got bombed in Brighton in the 80s with the Government MPs inside
Company was called Wilsons and Sons Mr Arnold Wilson
I do have a photo somewhere of one of his wage slips but I will try to put on this site
In memory of MR Michael Barker ( Mick Barker ) Who died a year ago from this day x
Mansfield’s first FULL TIME cinema, not just first cinema. The Victoria Hall (Palais de Dance / QI / etc..) was screening movies from 1907.
According to the 1957 Linney’s Gazateer the premises were W J Wilson, Plasterers, Decorative mouldings etc. This book is a treasure, a mine of information!
Yes like Barry says I’m sure this was used by a company that used to make decorative plaster cornice and ceiling rose mouldings, as is evident by the white powder spillage in the doorways. Don’t know if it was the same company or not that relocated but there was one in the eighties on Arthur Street just off Newgate Lane that did the same sort thing. Does anybody remember the company name or anybody who worked there?
The building was formerly known as the ‘Albert Works’ The Simpsons were gas fitters and mechanical engineers. Between 1874 and 1882 they manufactured the ‘Defiance’ bicycles (Penny Farthings) and tricycles. They sub-let part of the building to a Mr. Weatherall, wholesale boot and shoe maker in 1892. Property was vacated in 1894.
It looks like the Popular Picture Palace on Elm street. I don’t think it was open for very long though, it only survived until 1912 as the Palace Electric Theatre on Leeming street opened in 1910.
I seem to remember this building being on Elm Tree Street an old plasters workshop.
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