How the Regal Cinema Came to Tenbury Wells

In this picture of 1904 the building looks very much like it does today but if you look closely you can see an awning outside one of the shops.

The Ashley family ran a plumbing business from 47 Teme Street while two of its members became solicitors clerks. Who remembers Ashley and Davis solicitors of Tenbury?

 

Perhaps the items hanging outside the shop are connected with the plumbing trade. There are still signs in Tenbury today of this connection, have you noticed these inspection covers in the pavement?

W H B Ashley who sold 47 and 49 Teme Street to Mr. N J Robson of Craven Cinemas Ltd. is shown as head of the household on the 1911 census aged 39. His father William Ashley was living there in 1881 when  WHB (William Henry Barnard) was eight.

 

Teme Street 1904

In this picture probably taken sometime in the 1920s shows the building before it became a cinema.

“On the north side of Church Walk, is a three-storied brick house of the late 17th or early 18th century, with a later plaster front relieved by pilasters with Ionic capitals and an entablature. On the ground floor are modern shop fronts. The house retains its original oak floors and doors and a good oak staircase with square newels, moulded handrails and flat twisted balusters.”

( A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4 Edited by William Page and J W Willis-Bund. published in 1924)

Ernest Roberts of Birmingham, a specialist cinema architect designed the building, his 1936 plans shows a basement and a single pitched roof to replace the double pitched roof over the original building. The single roof was never built as can be seen from the 1939 aerial photo below; the inside of the attics above the foyer still contains old rafters and is in a very poor state of repair.

NEW CINEMA

“Mr. Winny, of the firm of Messrs Medlicott and Winny, solicitors for the Craven Arms Cinema Co., addressed the magistrates regarding the proposed cinema to be erected on the site of the present shops, Nos. 47 and 49, Teme Street, Tenbury, belonging to Mr. W. H. B. Ashley. It was proposed to make structural alterations to the existing premises to provide a cinema accommodating 316 persons, the cinema to have a twelve feet entrance, with a booking office, etc., and two lock-up shops. Mr. Roberts, of Birmingham, a specialist in cinema architecture, had drawn up plans which were submitted to the bench for approval. The roof of the cinema was to be covered with sheet asbestos, similar to the cinema at Craven Arms. An exit would be made into Church Walk, and two exits on ground at the rear of the building. Mr. Winny pointed out that the erection of the cinema would not create opposition with the present cinema because this would be closed down, and Mr. A. J. Smith would be the resident manager, and Mr. Robson, who was also the proprietor of the Craven Arms cinema, would be the proprietor. Everything would be done to secure proper safety to patrons, and ample exits supplied. Supt, Gregory considered the plans were very good, and so long as they compared with the provisions of the Act, the police would approve of them. The exits and entrance appeared to be quite in order. The magistrates granted provisional approval of the plans. Subject to the approval of the county architect.”

 

Tenbury Advertiser 17th October 1936

THE REGAL CINEMA

“Since the first day that the work of building a new cinema began in Tenbury the whole inhabitants of Tenbury and neighbourhood have watched with great interest the daily proceedings taking place. On Thursday afternoon a complimentary performance was given before the magistrates of the local Petty Sessions, members of Rural District Council, Parish Council, Police and employees engaged in the building of the Regal. In the evening there was a queue at opening time and a “full house” witnessed a splendid projection of the announced programme ” Everybody Dance ” Them Thar Hills” and “Good Little Monkeys.” There was a five minutes interval, and with full lighting effect the whole auditorium could be seen and the brilliant work of the artist, Mr. George Legge, appreciated.”

Tenbury Advertiser 31st July 1937