Basic Site Details Name: | Good Templar Halls | Town, district or village: | Paisley | City or county: | Renfrewshire | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | B listed | Grid ref: | | Notes: | A group of Good Templars' buildings were inaugurated at Paisley on Monday. They are Classic in style, are built of local stone, and consist of a main hall, 75ft. by 40ft. and 45ft. high, seating, inclusive of horse-shoe gallery, 1,000 persons; at the rear are two rooms, each seated for 100 persons, and beneath two smaller halls and several minor rooms. Messrs Rennison and Scott, of Paisley, are the architects, and Mr James Barclay, of Paisley, took the principal contract for building. The cost has been about £7,000. [Building News 25 March 1881 p347]
A cinema, the Royal Animated Pictures, was opened in 1910 on the upper floor of the halls. Seating on fixed wooden benches accommodated 612 in the stalls and 330 in the gallery. The licence also allowed another 140 people standing. This cinema, renamed the Glen, was the site of a disaster on 31 December 1929, when 71 children died after a call of "fire" resulted in a panic stampede.
The cinema never re-opened following the tragedy, and attempts were made to dispose of the building. 'Negotiations are understood to be taking place by the Good Templar Halls Committee and Paisley Town Council with a view to purchase the whole site at the Cross. A portion of the Good Templar Halls are leased as the Glen Cinema'. [Builder 30 May 1930, p1066] | Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes | | Alexandra Hall | | | | Glen Cinema | | | | Royal Animated Pictures | | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Cinema | | 1910 to 31 December 1929 | | Public hall | | Original Building | | Shop | | Post 1930 mixed use including Burtons built across the former entrance |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | 4, Dykes Wynd | | | | Gilmour Street | | | | The Cross | | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | March 1881 | | Opened | | | 1910 | | Alteration/conversion | Upper hall converted to cinema use | | 1912 | | Alterations and additions | New entrance formed towards Paisley Cross | | 1928 | | | Cinema refurbished | | 31 December 1929 | | Closed | 71 children died after a call of "fire" resulted in a panic stampede. Cinema closed permanently | | 1930s | | Alteration/conversion | Converted to mixed use shops and offices | | 1981 | | | Interior renovation |
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 | | Andrew Robb Scott | | | 1881 | | | | John Albert Rennison | | | 1881 | | | | Rennison & Scott | | | 1881 | | | | James Donald | | | 1910 | | Conversion of main hall to cinema |
ClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes | | Good Templars | |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 30 May 1930 | | | p1066 | | Building News | 25 March 1881 | | | p347 - opening
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Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes | | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | | | | Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | Canmore | ID 198801 | |
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