Devon Cinema Gazetteer

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SOUTH MOLTON

New Assembly Room ~ Walford's ~ BB Cinema

Attached to the Guildhall which had its own Assembly Room, the New Assembly Room was built in 1863 at the same time as the Pannier Market, who's entrance is under the hall.  This fine ballroom is still used today and considered one of the finest in all Devon. First listed 6th October 1913 at the New Assembly Room, Broad Street this operation was run by Samuel E Walford of Chard.  By 1920 the operation was licenced to Richard Taylor of Redruth and by William John Batchelor of South Molton from 1924. Joseph Henry Blackhurst took over the operation as part of his BB circuit from 2nd May 1932 and continued to operate the cinema until 15th April 1935 when it closed (The Savoy opened).  This no doubt means that sound was installed here but details are not known.

Savoy

Opened in 1935 this almost perfect little art deco small town cinema is a rare surviver.  The first film was Sorrell and Son.   The cinema was built by South Molton & District Cinema Company and had 350 seats and British Acoustic sound.   Situated on New Road on the site of William Sanders Sawmills this building was the only art deco structure in South Molton.  The proscenium was 18' wide.

In the 1950s Tiverton's Eastmond & Hamlin took over the operating company.  By 1959 a CinemaScope screen had been added 28' by 13' within a new 35' proscenium.  The cinema closed January 1977 for bingo and in the 1980's became an auctioneers.  The present auctioneers have restored the facade and preserved the art deco interior almost intact. There is currently a threat to this lovely building as Eastmond and Hamlin would like to knock it down to make way for flats.  Lets hope it can be saved.

Gone but not forgotten:        New Drill Hall

Licenced for OCE Coy 6th BDK, South Molton from 4th November 1912, this cinema operation was under the control of Arthur George Poole Jnr by February 1914.  By May 1914 Charles Gold of South Molton was operating the cinema but it closed soon after.

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