Opened as a variety hall called
Campbell's Music Salon in 1857, a
conversion of the first and second floors of a warehouse building.
Originally seated around 800 on wooden bench-style seating, with room
for around 300 standing.
Renamed the Britannia in 1859, and again in 1887 as Hubner's
Animatograph. Rebuilt as the Panopticon 1906, and became the Tron
Cinema in
1922, before reverting to Panopticon again until closure in 1938.
Was used for cine-variety from around 1910, and finally closed as a
cinema in 1938.
Upper level of original auditorium is still
intact and
largely
untouched above
amusment arcade. Many atefacts recovered; projections portholes and
much
more still in situ - see links to interior photos below.
Listed Category
A
Plans are afoot by the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall Trust
to
restore and reopen the hall to the public again. For more information
on the Britannia, and to join the Friends of the
Britannia Trust, visit their website here.
|
Excepts from the Prospectus
Courtesy of
the Scottish Screen Archive at the National Library of Scotland |
