Basic Site Details Name: | Lothian House | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | A local syndicate is considering a development scheme on a site at Canal Basin where it is proposed to erect a cinema to seat 2,500, a hotel, a garage, restaurant and shops. Plans will be prepared by Messrs Lorimer and Matthew FRIBA, 43 Minto-street, Edinburgh. [Builder 20 October 1933, p632]
Messrs Scottish Cinemas Limited have acquired a site in Lothian-road, formerly the basin of the Old Union Canal, for the erection of a cinema to seat over 3,000 people. Mr C J McNair LRIBA 272 St Vincent-street Edinburgh is the architect to the company and the contract will be executed by The Scottish Construction Company, 49 Bath-street Glasgow. [Builder 4 September 1936 Page 443]
Plans have been passed for the erection of a cinema in Lothian-road. The excavation, brick and masonry work will be carried out by Messrs A Stewart and Company Limited, Glasgow. [Builder 10 December 1937 Page 1086]
Impressive monumental classical office building, occupying entire length of street. Designed for Sir Albert Ball (Nottingham) Ltd, and built on the site of the Port Hopetoun terminal of the Union Canal. A scheme for the site, drawn up by Robert Mayhew, appears to have been rejected in 1934. Stewart Kaye's initial proposals including a large hotel along Morrison Street and a 3000-seat cinema, entered from Lothian Road, were conceived with government use in mind; the first tenants included the Inland Revenue. The hotel was never built, but the site was subsequently taken up by the Regal Cinema and renamed the ABC in 1969. The cinema was closed in 2000 with the auditorium demolished and redeveloped as offices and a small multiplex cinema (CTA, 2008).
| Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | ABC Cinema | | | | Regal Cinema | | Name given in Builder 4 September 1936 | | Somerset House | Yes | Name given in Architect & Building News |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Cinema | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 52,54, Fountainbridge | | | | 118,120,122,124,126,128,130,132,134,136,138,140,14, Lothian Road | Yes | | | 1,3,5,7, Morrison Street | | | | Semple Street | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1933 | | | Proposal for hotel, cinema, garage and shops | | 1934 | | | First scheme drawn up. | | 1936 | 1937 | Proposed | Scheme for cinema to hold 3,000 people | | 1939 | | | Offices and showrooms for H M Office of Works to be added - Dean of Guild Warrant granted | | 1969 | | Reconstruction | Cinema extended in 1969 to become the first multiplex cinema in Europe, with three screens.
The Scottish Cinemas website says it was three screens when it closed but that a 4 screen mini plex was built in the basement and opened for oden cinemas - to be checked | | 1998 | | Alterations and additions | Cinema extended to ten screen multiplex at a cost of £8.2 Million. | | 2000 | | Closed | Cinema closed - redeveloped as offices and small multiplex cinema. |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | John Fraser Matthew | | A | 1933 | | Unexecuted design (Robert Hogg Matthew responsible) - Proposal for hotel, cinema, garage and shops | | Lorimer & Matthew | | A | 1933 | | Unexecuted design (Robert Hogg Matthew responsible)- Proposal for hotel, cinema, garage and shops | | Robert Hogg Matthew | | A | 1933 | | Unexecuted design - as assistant to Lorimer & Matthew - Proposal for hotel, cinema, garage and shops | | Robert Henry Jewers Mayhew | | | 1934 | | Initial scheme drawn up but rejected | | Stewart Kaye | | | 1936 | 1937 | Superseded Lorimer and Matthew for designing complex including cinema. | | William Riddell Glen | | F | 1936 | | Credited with being the architect for proposed cinema on Old Union Canal basin. | | George Learmonth Harkess Walls | | B | 1939 | | Offices and showrooms for H M Office of Works to be added | | Stewart Kaye | | B | 1939 | | Offices and showrooms for H M Office of Works to be added | | Stewart Kaye & Walls | | B | 1939 | | Offices and showrooms for H M Office of Works to be added |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Ball, Sir Albert, of Nottingham | | | Scottish Cinemas Limited | Client given in Builder 1936 reference |
Related Buildings, Structures and DesignsChild Structures
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 2008 | Modern architect: the life and times of Robert Matthew | | RIBA Publishing | p39 | | Lion Foundry Catalogue | 1935 | | 7th ed. | | p167 | | McKean, Charles | 1987 | The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction | | Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press | p37, p195 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architect and Building News | 1933 | Jul-Dec | | p91 | | Architect and Building News | 1935 | Jan-June | | p404 | | Builder | 20 October 1933 | | | p652 | | Builder | 4 September 1936 | | | p443 | | Builder | 10 December 1937 | | | p1086 | | Edinburgh Evening News | 24 September 1998 | | | | | Scotsman | 15 April 1939 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | 22 November 1935 | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 30289 | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Haxton & Watson Collection | | HW 1930/19/16 - new premises for Reform Co-operative Society Ltd, Leven, including details of lifts; acquired design for lift enclosure at Lothian House, Edinburgh. | | Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | Canmore | 131106 | |
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