free hit counter
Great Britain - Crown Theatre, Eccles. April 2018 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

Post a thread

Post a thread in one of the forums

Browse the forums

Browse threads and contribute to reports

Contact Staff

Contact the team

Great Britain Crown Theatre, Eccles. April 2018

Ferox

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
526
Reaction score
334
Points
63
Had a look in here earlier in the year after an fail near by. A grand example of dereliction on the outside and a crumbing mess on the inside. Nice little wander as it turned out. There is enough features and bits still knocking about to make it interesting and I enjoyed having a look around and getting some snaps. Visited with non member Paul.
History
The Crown opened in 1899 as the Lyceum Theatre. The intention was to provide a luxury theatre for Shakespeare productions and drama as well as revue. It is a landmark building in the town of Eccles in a vaguely Elizabethan Style with pilasters and mullioned windows. The facade is constructed of moulded red brick of five storeys with terracotta dressings to three high arched windows at first floor. It is richly decorated, and has an asymmetrically placed short corner tower. This once had a pyramidal roof and the parapet was topped with square pinnacles. The cast iron copy still survives, now encased. The auditorium was designed with three balconies, supported by four columns. The ornamentation of the proscenium comprised an allegorical representation of Shakespeare's 'Seven Ages of Man'. The act drop was a facsimile of Beverley's noted work for the opening of the Theatre Royal (Manchester) in 1845 - a Grecian subject painted by Mr Keith. Becoming a cinema in 1932, it was later adapted for Cinemascope, ending stage use. Converted for bingo in 1963, by the late 1980s it was reported to be falling into disrepair internally. The exterior is largely intact, apart from the stage house which has been partly demolished. Planning permission was given in 2005 - and again in 2008 - for partial demolition (retaining the facade) and development of apartments behind. Since then the building has become more dilapidated and a new planning application for a residential and retail development submitted in 2016 proposes complete demolition of the theatre.

27254297227_ae70885802_c.jpg


42125270521_1884d5c923_c.jpg


42079124372_50a8afe1f0_c.jpg


42079039032_03beec4e30_c.jpg


27254600197_6d0d1bfc7f_c.jpg


28252502008_efae5f04ca_c.jpg


28252603618_ef2dfbac36_z.jpg
.
42125171091_f3fcfe8e82_z.jpg


41224132365_8eba3439b4_c.jpg


41223967035_0166030e05_c.jpg


41404618724_626e141243_c.jpg


41404594744_2aa875ba60_c.jpg


42124774351_8f2154db0d_c.jpg


Thanks For Looking

More pics on my Flickr page - https://www.flickr.com/photos/135648593@N02/albums/72157693704356862/with/42124774351/

 

Lenston

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jun 5, 2014
Messages
1,668
Reaction score
637
Points
113
Location
Wales
A ton of work to save that building for sure, some nice bits left though.

 

hamtagger

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Jan 30, 2014
Messages
3,517
Reaction score
1,062
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
A shame a building like this has gotten so bad! Looks like a place you could easily die ? 

 

obscureserenity

OS Member
OS Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2017
Messages
493
Reaction score
425
Points
63
Location
Brighton
Thought this place was looking pretty worse for wear but I didn't realise how bad it was! Sad too see all that rubbish dumped there. Great set of photos none the less, thank you for sharing :)  

 

Ferox

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
526
Reaction score
334
Points
63
The "Save the Crown Theatre" campaign seems a bit far fetched!
Lol, Thought the same myself bud ?

A right state now, still a few bits to have a look at though.

 

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
Jesus that looks like a right death trap :eek: Some cool pics to be had though!

 

Ferox

Oblivion State Member
OS Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2014
Messages
526
Reaction score
334
Points
63
Yep, was fucked mate. There is a handy crutch hanging in the last pic in case of any mishaps ?

 

coolboyslim

Old school (m8ty)
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
617
Reaction score
397
Points
63
Location
Manchester
I remember being here ages back surprised it still stands. Nice ferox matey and all the best

 
Top