County Cinema

In Castle Donington, a market town in Leicestershire, in 1922, the County Cinema opened. The precise date of opening is not known, but the plans for the conversion of the Wesleyan chapel, which dated from 1823, were drawn up by T. H. Thorpe on 3rd February 1922.

The County Cinema was situated at the intersection of Clapgun Street, Apiary Gate and Dovecote. It was operated by County Cinemas Enterprises, based in nearby Kegworth.

By 1935 (and presumably much earlier) a Marshall sound system had been installed (this was to be replaced by an AWH system by the mid 1940’s). According that year’s Kinematograph Year Book the seating capacity was 450.

By 1945 the proprietor was Mrs F. R. Hunt, of Anstey, near Leicester, and the seating capacity had reduced to 400.

In reminiscences, an usherette who worked at the County Cinema in the early-1950’s recalled the very popular double seats at the back of the stalls and the balcony, and that the manager’s office was a small room under the stairs at the rear of the auditorium. At that time shows were once nightly, with two shows on Saturday.

The County Cinema is thought to have closed around 1960. The building was certainly demolished in 1963, to be replaced by private garages and hard standing.

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