Basic Site Details

Name: Mayfair Cinema
Town, district or village: Whitefield
City or county: Manchester
Country: England
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: WHITEFIELD - Mr Alistair G McDonald ARIBA 13 Queen Anne’s-gate Westminster SW1 is preparing plans for the erection of a cinema at Bury Old-road, Besses o’th’Barn, (Whitefield) for the directors of the Palace Picture House. Accommodation for about 1,450 will be provided

WHITEFIELD - Esson Cinema Limited has been formed to erect a cinema on a site adjoining the “Palace” Whitefield near Manchester. The cinema, the “Mayfair”will seat 1,500 persons and will cost £22,000. Plans are in course of preparation by Mr Alistair G McDonald ARIBA 13 Queen Anne’s Gate, SW1. [Builder 1 February 1935 Page 240 - new cinemas]

WHITEFIELD - A contract for the erection of the Mayfair cinema to seat 1450 persons at Bury Old Road, Besses o’th’ Barn for Red Rose Cinema Company Limited (Mr Alistair G McDonald ARIBA 13 Queen Anne’s Gate London SW1, architect) has been placed with Messrs P Hamer Limited, 15 Park Road, Swinton, Manchester. The estimated cost is £22,000. [Builder 22 March 1935 Page 573 - new cinemas].

The first Mayfair opened alongside the earlier Palace Cinema which closed immediately before the new building opened on January 6, 1936. However the Mayfair was totally destroyed by fire in April 1941 and the Palace was hurriedly reopened until a replacement could be built. This duly opened in 1947 (?), designed by Drury & Gomersall.

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Cinema  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Bury Old Road  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 119331936Build/construction 

People

Design and Construction

The 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.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 2Alister Gladstone MacDonald (or Alistair Gladstone MacDonald) A19331936Cinema destroyed by fire 1941
Item 2 of 2Leonard George Pargiter aAfter 1933Before 1937As architect in charge of Edinburgh office of Alister G MacDonald (which dealt with everyhting north of Manchester)

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder27 October 1933  p679 - new cinemas
Item 2 of 3Builder1 February 1935  p240 - new cinemas]

Item 3 of 3Builder22 March 1935  p573 - new cinemas

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers Pargiter: L no6486 (Combined Box 142); F no4784 (Combined Box 35)