Jacquelinegray Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Does anyone know where the cinema was located in prescot ? I was told there was one ! If anyone has any photographs I would be very interested Thanks ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvy20 Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 There were 2 cinemas in Prescot - Lyme House in Eccleston Street. The frontage is still there at the entrance to the shopping centre. The other was the Palace in Kemble Street - this building is still standing. At one time it was used as a Church and is close to the Red Lion pub but on the other side of the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underdog Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Here are a couple of my own pics that might help. The Lyme House was Lennons supermarket for ages until it changed to Somerfields & is now the Halifax, I can't remember if the remaining frontage (see pic) is listed or not. The Picture Palace was a bingo hall for years before becoming a church. The outside of the building is largely unchanged & the pic is of the back where the name can still (just) be read as a "ghost sign" painted on the back wall - it says "Prescot Picture Palace" in case you can't make it out. Before the Prescot Centre was built, a similar painted sign was clearly visible on the back of the Lyme House & could be seen from Kemble Street. If you hunt through the forum there's at least one old picture of the Lyme House somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliebeak Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Seemingly, they were owned and operated by the same fella - and sited approx 100yds apart . The former Lyme House Cinema, Eccleston Street, Prescot - https://www.flickr.com/photos/44435674@N00/841266799 The former Picture Palace, Kemble Street, Prescot - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Kemble+St,+Prescot,+Merseyside+L34/@53.42787,-2.80421,3a,75y,222.66h,99.8t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1svbIbxEdCfOQS4f8MyhT_BA!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x487b1ebcafa6560b:0x1d54da3759c60fd2!6m1!1e1?hl=en Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschip Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 They were oth owned by the same bloke, as beakey so rightly states. The Palace was a flea pit and "nice" people didn't go there. I was not allowed to go, obs! It was also well known for showing the more artistic films. Or as we called them filthy flicks. When it was a bingo hall the cafe was run by Prescot's own soccer superstar, Sylvia Gore M.B.E.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliebeak Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I think it must have been one of the 'cheaper Bingo Halls' cos my mother-in-law used to go there - but only when she didn't have much spare money. When her husband had been paid and just given her 'the housekeeping', she would head for the Casino down at Kensington . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiedunc Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 If I recall correctly, the Lyme House was next to Lennons shop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschip Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Eddie, Lennon's was in the Lyme House. When the cinema closed, Lennon's bought the building and converted it into a supermarket. Double Green Shield Stamps on Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kizzy Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 I went to both Cinemas when young even though I lived over the border in St Helens, Prescot and its Cinema's, shops, park etc, used to be regular haunts. We kids could just as easily walk there as into St Helens, town centre and the bus fare was cheaper from where we lived so I spent a lot of time in Prescot Later I worked for Woolies in Eccleston St. and at BICC so always felt a sort of affinity for the place. It's looking a bit shabby nowadays though like many High Streets all over the UK there's hardly anything left of its heart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliebeak Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 When Merseyside was formed, Prescot was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. Just as becoming forced to join with 'Merseyside' didn't do St.Helens many favours - neither did becoming part of Knowley do any favours for Prescot/Whiston. Then Tesco seemed to want to close the lid very firmly on the coffin when the Retail Park was formed ... it wrecked the livelihoods of the business owners along Eccleston Street . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gervassutti Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 They were oth owned by the same bloke, as beakey so rightly states. The Palace was a flea pit and "nice" people didn't go there. I was not allowed to go, obs! It was also well known for showing the more artistic films. Or as we called them filthy flicks. When it was a bingo hall the cafe was run by Prescot's own soccer superstar, Sylvia Gore M.B.E.. Leschip's quote: 'The Palace was a flea pit and "nice" people didn't go there.' Steady on Les, I rode with 'Hopalong' Cassidy, and fought alongside General Custer at the Little Bighorn in that Cinema. As a lad Kemble Street was my "Boulevard of Dreams". Something you had to look out for though was lit cigarette butts thrown from the balcony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschip Posted June 1, 2015 Share Posted June 1, 2015 G. I am refering to it's latter days. You're cowboy days without doubt saw a more genteel customer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underdog Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Since no-one seems to have found an old photo of the Palace, here's one I took today just before my camera decided to throw a wobbler. AFAIK the church is still using it for Sunday services but, as you can see, it's up for sale. I've never been inside, I suppose it's too much to hope the original, presumably ornate cinema interior has survived Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen nulty Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I believe the upstairs balcony is still in place, along with some of the seating. I've never seen this, just been told about it. Might be worth popping along on Sunday to see if you can get access to the upstairs for some pictures? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artyfarty Posted June 4, 2015 Share Posted June 4, 2015 I also used to go to both.If it was an A' film we used to ask some adult to take us in,how times have changed. I also used to queue up with my Mum,Aunty Ada and her son Peter waiting for the doors to open while my Dad and Uncle walter used to nip for a quick pint,and woe betide them if they weren't back in time to go in with us(and they usually weren't. Strangely the only films I can recall seeing were Dick Barton Special Agent and Moira Shearer in "The Red Shoes" Use to go the The Empire for the Saturday afternoon crush too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve90 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Hi all, sorry I'm late coming to this thread, but I thought I could add some interesting information. I worked for Prescot Oasis Centre which was operated out of Prescot Community Church formerly the Palace Cinema. I worked there for approx 5/6 years and still now do occasional work inside the building, I can confirm that the balacony where the old projector would have been housed is still in place, the interior hall and stage still exist aswell and dont appear to have been changed an awful lot, as previously mentioned for the past few years aside from being a church on Sunday it has been used to operate what was a decent sized business within Knowsley so lots of the many rooms within the building were used as offices. The company went insolvent about 3 years ago and the offices are now mostly empty, only being used for its religious purposes, the styling inside the building is very old as you can imagine, there are rooms and stairs etc that even I haven't seen yet and the building can feel quite spooky, I was working in there last week on one of the top floors clearing out an old office, the only person in the entire building and every noise had me on edge Unfortunatley the church is up for sale as it seems that a building of that size can't be justified for such a small(but growing) Sunday service, occasional youth club and other related activities. The Reverend of the church is my former boss and as I say I still do the odd days work for him, I may be able to get some photos of inside the building of some of its interesting features with his permission. Sadly however there are some known theives who operate in parts of Prescot who have targeted the church a number of times over the past few years so understandably he may be abit weary of new people coming in simply to observe the church. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen nulty Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Thanks for that Steve. It would be fantastic if you get access with your camera and take LOTS of pictures of all aspects of the building, especially the less-frequented areas. It would be sad to see it bought and either gutted or even worse, demolished, and for us all to then say "We should have took some pictures". I bet Leschip would help out with the photography if possible ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschip Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 In like Flynn, Ste. I'd love the opportunity. Steve just give me a shout and I'll be there. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve90 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 No problems guys, I will see what I can do next time I'm there, I will have a word and see if I can arrange a visit Leschip. Just to add to that when the W&E Motors site went to Tesco a few years ago (in Sewell Street) they wanted the church aswell, Luckily that fell through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschip Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Thanks, Steve. That's very kind of you. Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OJB Posted July 15, 2016 Share Posted July 15, 2016 Probably posted elsewhere, but the Echo published photos of the old cinema interior in December: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/look-inside-prescot-historic-cinema-10657088 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyll Posted July 16, 2016 Share Posted July 16, 2016 Hi OJB, to Connect, great find, I don't remember seeing those photos before. I think I posted this somewhere on here before, not much of a video, but shows a little of the interior too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlegs liz Posted February 10, 2018 Share Posted February 10, 2018 On 30/05/2015 at 18:28, Olliebeak said: When Merseyside was formed, Prescot was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. Just as becoming forced to join with 'Merseyside' didn't do St.Helens many favours - neither did becoming part of Knowley do any favours for Prescot/Whiston. Then Tesco seemed to want to close the lid very firmly on the coffin when the Retail Park was formed ... it wrecked the livelihoods of the business owners along Eccleston Street . I couldn't agree more! Huyton Village also completely and utterly wrecked after being subsumed by Knowsley . Everything was fine under Lancashire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olliebeak Posted February 12, 2018 Share Posted February 12, 2018 redlegs liz - are you on the Huyton History Facebook Site ... some great stuff on there ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redlegs liz Posted February 13, 2018 Share Posted February 13, 2018 Olliebeak-- no, not a member of any of the social media sites, with the exception of this one--and I can barely make my way round this site! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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