The National Picture Theatre, Beverley Road, Kingston upon Hull is a very rare survival of a WW2 blitzed ruin. Only a handful are left in England, mostly churches kept as memorials, and this is now the only truly civilian example in the whole country. A REMARKABLE SURVIVAL
The National Picture Theatre is not only England’s last civilian blitzed ruin, it is also particularly special due to the vit
al role that cinemas played in the war-effort, providing news and entertainment and maintaining morale. This was one of the leading cinemas in Hull, and like all cinemas it was very busy during the Second World War. On the night of 17th March 1941 an audience of 150 were enjoying Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’, when the air-raid siren sounded. The audience left their seats, but couldn’t go into the street or to air-raid shelters because of the falling bombs, so they took refuge in the cinema foyer. Suddenly a bomb exploded in the passage at the rear of the cinema which destroyed the auditorium. But by then everyone was in the foyer, and miraculously no one was seriously hurt. Hidden by an advertising hoarding, the ruins of the cinema foyer survive, frozen in time as a reminder of that night in 1941, and a testament to the city’s fortitude during the dark days of the Blitz. A NATIONAL LEGACY AT HULL
It is particularly fitting that this unique survival is here, as Kingston upon Hull suffered more from bombing than any other provincial city. Like London, but unlike other British towns, Hull saw bombing raids throughout the war. Hundreds of thousands of buildings were bomb-damaged, including over 85,000 homes. There were over 1200 people killed and many more injured. Hull also has the distinction of having had Britain’s very first daylight air-raid of WW2 and the last air-raid by a piloted enemy aircraft. The very last British casualties of the Second World War Blitz were in Hull too. The city therefore has a very special place in British and European history for its wartime role. HUGE EDUCATIONAL POTENTIAL
The National Picture Theatre is now a well-known focus for the city’s wartime memories. It is a dramatic site that vividly brings home the impacts of wartime bombing, and it conveys so much more than pictures or written accounts. It illustrates uniquely well the Second World War Blitz and the civilian experience on the Home Front. There’s really nothing else like it in the entire country. Standing here is probably the closest you can get today to the reality of the1940s Blitz. The Picture Theatre has huge educational potential - for primary school children learning about WW2 and the Blitz as part of their National Curriculum, for older children learning about history, community and citizenship, and for adults studying local or family history. As time goes on, there is growing interest in life during WW2. The Picture Theatre has featured in local and national press and TV, including the BBC TV ‘Coast’ series. THREAT TO UNIQUE HERITAGE
Because of its high heritage value the Picture Theatre is a Grade 2 Listed Building, nationally important as ‘a rare and remarkable survival….and a powerful symbol’ of the wartime history of Hull and of northern England and the country as a whole. Fewer than 20 bombed ruins survive in England. Most are churches preserved as memorials, or military buildings, and most are in the south of England. This is the only truly civilian example. But now the cinema and the neighbouring Swan Inn are under threat of redevelopment that would sweep away most of the buildings and destroy their historic and educational value. Along with the Hull Civic Society, the Cinema and Theatre Association, the Council for British Archaeology, CAMRA , ex-servicemen, WW2 veterans and their families, and many other interested groups and individuals, we have objected to this damaging proposal. OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Together with a Building Preservation Trust we are preparing a scheme to preserve the cinema as an educational and heritage site which will:
give children and future generations unique first-hand experience of the wartime Blitz; serve as a living tribute to the local and national civilian war effort;
commemorate the many people of Hull who suffered in the wartime bombing;
be a national and international focus for commemorating the WW2 Blitz. The blitzed cinema will be accessible to the public and for educational use by schools. Its handsome street front will be conserved and provided with 1941 film posters and historic information. Inside, the foyer would be largely left as a bombed ruin, with dramatic lighting and films projected onto the walls. The rear auditorium section will be an open garden with an education room. If funds permit there would be a ‘wall of remembrance’ containing the names of the 1200 people who died during the blitz of Hull. Discussions are underway about using the site for special events such as film shows, outdoor exhibitions or performances. The Swan Inn would be restored as a period pub with a micro-brewery at the rear, and would help maintain the cinema site. We are confident that such a scheme is financially and technically feasible. CURRENT SITUATION
The current situation as reported in the Hull Daily Mail is as follows:
"The National Civilian WW2 Memorial Trust has been given planning permission to turn the dilapidated National Picture Theatre in Beverley Road, Hull, into a memorial site with an education centre. But developer Reid Park Properties has also been given permission to turn the building into apartments and a restaurant. Now, the developer has given the trust one last chance to raise the money and buy the site – but the price has risen from £230,000 to £250,000. The trust will have to raise 10 per cent – £25,000 – almost immediately and will be given just six months to raise the rest. Trust secretary Alan Canvess said: "Hull has a population of 250,000, so if every adult donated a couple of quid, we could raise the money no problem. "We would also appeal to businesses to donate money so we can at least secure the deposit. "If the public want this to happen, it can be done, but we need their support." For the full article please follow this link:
http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Race-time-save-Blitz-site-city/story-13358802-detail/story.html
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP? Become a Friend of the National Picture Theatre and give your support to the Trust. You can either contact us here or at [email protected]
Give a donation to help the fighting fund and pay towards the new heritage and educational scheme. Give what you can - a few pounds can make a big difference! HOW TO DONATE
If you would like to help the Trust by making a donation, you can either send a cheque (made payable to NCWW2MT) to the Chairman of the National Civillian WWII Memorial Trust:
Tom Robinson, 219 Summergangs Road, KINGSTON UPON HULL, HU8 8LD
***We also now have a paypal account! If you'd like to send us a gift then our paypal email is [email protected] ***
We are in the process of becoming a registered charity so will have a just giving up and running hopefully in the near future. Give what you can - just a few pounds can make a big difference! If you would like to give a bit more:
BOOK A SEAT! In honour of the audience of the 17th March 1941, we are looking for 150 people to 'book a seat'.
£30 for the stalls and £100 for the circle will get you a special certificate and raise enough for us to make the grant applications. If against all odds our aims aren't achieved, you can rest assured that any funds raised will be donated to a comparable worthy cause.
