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Wrexham Hippodrome, Henblas Street, Wrexham, Clwyd
Above - The Wrexham Hippodrome in June 2002 with 'Closed' and 'For Sale' notices plastered on its walls - Photo Paul Hamblet 02 The Wrexham Hippodrome was built on the site of a former Public Hall which was itself originally built in 1873 and eventually destroyed by fire.
Left - Auditorium of the Wrexham Hippodrome in 1985 - Courtesy Ted Bottle The Hippodrome is mentioned in the Theatres Trust Guide To British Theatres stating that the Theatre 'had an interesting lozenge shaped interior with one curved balcony with baroque plaster ornament and a tiny triangular stage.' It had a seating capacity of 800. The Theatre was later subdivided and used as a cinema for many years. |
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Above - Doddy joins the fight to save historic theatre from developer - A local newspaper cuttings on the Campaign to save the Wrexham Hippodrome on August the 19th 2004 In 2004 the Theatre was bought by a property developer and its future became extremely vulnerable. Local campaigners and celebrities, including Ken Dodd (see cutting above) fought to save the building for future generations but its redevelopment looked almost certain. Then on the 16th of June 2008 a major fire did extensive damage to the building and its future became even more uncertain. Ironically the fire occurred just a week after the Theatre's former owner Barry Flanagan, who had run the Theatre for over 37 years, passed away.
Above - Video of the Wrexham Hippodrome on fire on
the 16th of June 2008 Sadly, nothing could save the building after the fire and 10 months later, in April 2009, the Theatre was finally demolished. For more information on the Wrexham Hippodrome and its history you may be interested in the following links: The last picture show - From the BBC Dodd backs cinema campaign - BBC Daily Post article on the fire You may also like to visit the website of the new Wales Millennium Centre here... And an article on this site about Britain's Hippodrome Theatres here... Arthur Lloyd is known to have performed in Wrexham 1872 |
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