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Former Embassy Cinema

20-22 High Street, Esher, KT10 9RT

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1263552
Date first listed:: 12-Jun-1991
List Entry Name:: Former Embassy Cinema
Statutory Address:: 20-22 High Street, Esher, KT10 9RT

User submitted image — Uploaded by Brian Mawdsley This photo may not represent the current condition of the site
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Date:: 2000-07-27
Reference:: IOE01/00981/19
Rights:: © Mr John Sparks. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1263552
Date first listed:: 12-Jun-1991
List Entry Name:: Former Embassy Cinema
Statutory Address 1:: 20-22 High Street, Esher, KT10 9RT

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: 20-22 High Street, Esher, KT10 9RT

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Surrey
District:: Elmbridge (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 13976 64795

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 29 November 2023 to amend the description and to reformat the text to current standards

TQ 16 SW 5/456

ESHER HIGH STREET No 20-22, Former Embassy Cinema

(Formerly listed as Cannon Cinema, previously listed as Embassy Cinema)

II Cinema. 1936-1937 by John Evelyn Nye for the Shipman and King circuit, forming part of a parade of shops not of special interest. Neo Georgian exterior with modern interior. Brown brick in English bond with artificial stone dressings. Hipped roof covered in asbestos sheeting. Coved stone cornice and panel below with word "EMBASSY". Three tall round-headed windows with keystones and casements with metal bars and central opening lights. Late C20 fascia and five double doors in late C20 aluminium. Original terrazzo steps in black, white, red and buff. Foyer has original fibrous plaster domed lighting. The auditorium retains its circle and stalls undivided (at time of listing), the slates having an unusual double rake designed to save time and expense in the excavation cost. Auditorium decoration by Mollo & Egan. Ante-Proscenium walls are broken up into squares backed by patterned grilles and illuminated from the rear. These grilles serve both as ventilation extract and organ chamber openings.

The main ceiling is split up into squares, above which a fluted bay is illuminated by indirect lighting troughs. Circle walls have modernistic designs representing trees and plants (now covered over). Original domed lighting underneath balcony and cylindrical lighting to circle survives. Two decorative iron grilles in front of proscenium arch.

[see 'THE IDEAL KINEMA' SEPT 9 1937 'EMBASSY ESHER SOUVENIR PROGRAMME' AUGUST 23 1937 "THE PICTURE PALACE" DENNIS SHARP, 1969 CATHEDRALS OF THE MOVIES" DAVID ATWELL, 1980]

Listing NGR: TQ1397664795

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 287063
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Atwell, D, Cathedral of the Movies: A History of British Cinemas and their Audiences, (1980)
Sharp, D, The Picture Palace, (1969)
Other
Embassy Esher Souvenir Programme August 23rd, (1937)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.