Kings Hall
Kings hall cinema and church, seeing the signs out front I was worried it would be horribly modern inside, I was so wrong, complete with original tiles corridors, circle, impressive ceiling and original signage and hand painted doors. What a place. Took a bit of effort to get in and out but we managed to fine. Fantastically original!
I'm not sure how it's declined in condition so badly in 3 years! Must've been not looked after when it was in use because the place is crumbling. A terrible shame really. Interesting architecture mixing church and theater styles in one.
Cheers for beers and fun MR and DC
West is best!
History
Cinema treasures, where else? (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/31352)
Located in Southall, Middlesex, in the west of Greater London. The King’s Hall was built in 1916 and was designed by architect Sir Alfred Gelder of Hull. The King’s Hall building has a 3-storey red brick and stone facade. It was operated by the Uxbridge and Southall Wesleyan Mission and it was soon screening religious films.
By 1926, it was operating as a regular cinema, still managed by the Methodist church.
The King’s Hall Cinema was closed in 1937. It then reverted back to a Methodist Church use, and today is the King’s Hall Methodist Church.
Some interesting and otherwise controversial quotes taken from comments when closure was announced.
‘No you do not understand, Reverend! We have been a beacon here, a beacon for Southall and in Pakistan as well!’ ‘For me to stand up and say the church will close, it will shame me - they will not take it, they will throw shoes at me...’ ‘You do not know, the Moslems they will come, they will take this so quickly, they are devils.’ - trustees and members, the King’s Hall Methodist Church Urdu-speaking congregation
‘Christians in the world church are also critical of the secularised attitude to church buildings which has developed in the West. ...although other churches have formalised the designation of sacred places, this thinking does not usually find a ready home within Methodism. Methodism has no formal theology of sacred places. Nevertheless, Methodists hold their buildings in high regard. - ‘The Use of Methodist Premises by other Faith Communities’, 1997 ‘In Southall, size matters.’ - the Anglican Team Rector and Archdeacon, Southall
Interesting document on why it closed. https://oimts.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-6-smith.pdf
Pictures
Managed to scrape some daylight and get some ok pictures. Again fish eye works pretty well so here you go. Enjoy!
Might as well start here
TILESSSS
Projector room:
Entrance
Hey mr pigeon
Floor like waves
Fancy
Urgh those tiles, I'll apologies for the many pictures.
Kings hall cinema and church, seeing the signs out front I was worried it would be horribly modern inside, I was so wrong, complete with original tiles corridors, circle, impressive ceiling and original signage and hand painted doors. What a place. Took a bit of effort to get in and out but we managed to fine. Fantastically original!
I'm not sure how it's declined in condition so badly in 3 years! Must've been not looked after when it was in use because the place is crumbling. A terrible shame really. Interesting architecture mixing church and theater styles in one.
Cheers for beers and fun MR and DC
West is best!
History
Cinema treasures, where else? (http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/31352)
Located in Southall, Middlesex, in the west of Greater London. The King’s Hall was built in 1916 and was designed by architect Sir Alfred Gelder of Hull. The King’s Hall building has a 3-storey red brick and stone facade. It was operated by the Uxbridge and Southall Wesleyan Mission and it was soon screening religious films.
By 1926, it was operating as a regular cinema, still managed by the Methodist church.
The King’s Hall Cinema was closed in 1937. It then reverted back to a Methodist Church use, and today is the King’s Hall Methodist Church.
Some interesting and otherwise controversial quotes taken from comments when closure was announced.
‘No you do not understand, Reverend! We have been a beacon here, a beacon for Southall and in Pakistan as well!’ ‘For me to stand up and say the church will close, it will shame me - they will not take it, they will throw shoes at me...’ ‘You do not know, the Moslems they will come, they will take this so quickly, they are devils.’ - trustees and members, the King’s Hall Methodist Church Urdu-speaking congregation
‘Christians in the world church are also critical of the secularised attitude to church buildings which has developed in the West. ...although other churches have formalised the designation of sacred places, this thinking does not usually find a ready home within Methodism. Methodism has no formal theology of sacred places. Nevertheless, Methodists hold their buildings in high regard. - ‘The Use of Methodist Premises by other Faith Communities’, 1997 ‘In Southall, size matters.’ - the Anglican Team Rector and Archdeacon, Southall
Interesting document on why it closed. https://oimts.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-6-smith.pdf
Pictures
Managed to scrape some daylight and get some ok pictures. Again fish eye works pretty well so here you go. Enjoy!
Might as well start here
TILESSSS
Projector room:
Entrance
Hey mr pigeon
Floor like waves
Fancy
Urgh those tiles, I'll apologies for the many pictures.
