Rhyl Life presents a double-flashback on the old Pavilion. Firstly, here is a picture I had never seen until recently. It was taken during World War 2 when the Pavilion was camouflaged and Manchester Repertory Company was in residence.
The boy in foreground is wearing a short-sleeved pullover and knee length trousers - a fashion that lasted too long into the 1950s.
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On Feb 28, 1908 - just a few months before Rhyl Pavilion opened - the following item appeared in The Building News. Interesting to see the structure described as 'assembly room' rather than a theatre (same intended use, though).
The accompanying text says:
"SELECTED
DESIGN FOR ASSEMBLY ROOM AND GARDENS FOR THE TOWN COUNCIL, RHYL
"This design,
by Messrs. Maxwell and Toke and F. Bennett Smith, F.R.I.B.A., of 25 Brazennose
Street, Manchester, has been selected in a limited competition of six
architects for an assembly-room to be erected on the foreshore at Rhyl.
"The building will contain a large hall or
assembly-room on the ground floor, with gallery over. The main entrances will
be at the front, with entrances or exits on either side. There will be a large
platform, suitable for music or theatricals, with retiring rooms and staircases
on either side. Tea and refreshment rooms will be provided on the ground floor,
and large one on the upper floor at the front, opening on to a balcony. Covered
balconies and verandahs will surround the entire building.
"The form of plan is practically a square
with four large turrets at each corner, and the centre covered by a large dome.
"A considerable amount of reinforced
concrete is to be used in the construction of the staircase, floors, gallery,
roofs and dome. The exterior (is) to be faced with red and buff bricks and
terracotta. The assembly-room is to hold 1,500 persons seated. The general
contractor is Mr. C. Griffiths, of Lye, Stourbridge.
"The ornamental gardens on either side of
the pavilion are being formed from the designs, and under the superintendence
of Mr A. A. Goodall, the surveyor to the council. The entire cost is £14,000."Note the cost of the project is £14,000 – that would be about one-and-a-half million pounds in today's money (quite a bargain compared with the fifteen million pounds for our proposed waterpark).
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| Photo: VOA News |
FÉLICITATIONS AUX ÉLECTEURS DE FRANCE
Congratulations to voters of France for electing Emmanuel Macron as President. He is enthusiastic about the European Union and wants to make it work. How refreshing, compared with the backward politicians who want to drag us out!
Bon chance, Monsieur le Président!Congratulations to voters of France for electing Emmanuel Macron as President. He is enthusiastic about the European Union and wants to make it work. How refreshing, compared with the backward politicians who want to drag us out!
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