Abbey Cinema frequently visited by John Lennon and George Harrison has been saved from demolition. They spent their teenage years on the site and mentioned it in personal writings and original lyrics of the song ‘In My Life’ from 1965. ArchitectsJournal explains: “imposing brick and glass edifice is known to Beatles experts as one of the ‘places I remember’ mentioned in the original handwritten lyrics to John Lennon’ song In My Life, a reflection on the happy hours he spent as a youth ‘in the circle of the Abbey”.
‘The striking internationally-influenced architecture and many special features of its interior design, including its wooden mosaic flooring and shell-like ceiling domes, will now be protected for future generations.’@HistoricEngland #HereForHeritage
https://t.co/Qcio8YqpYl— Ben Derbyshire IPPRIBA (@ben_derbyshire) April 22, 2021
The cinema based in east Liverpool district of Wavertree, designed by architect and Liverpool City Council leader Sir Alfred Ernest Shennan, was opened in March 1939. In 1964 it was converted into Cinerama: “A giant curved screen was installed, which hid from view the original proscenium. A new projection suit was built to enable the installation of the 3 Cinerama projectors. The seating capacity was reduced to 1,260. A licensed bar was installed in the circle foyer”.
The historic cinema was finally closed in 1979 and part of it converted into Lennon’s Supermarket, then operated by Somerfield and Co-Operative until April 2020. Supermarket chain Lidl recently had plans to demolish the building considered as “beyond economic repair”, to make way for a new store.
After a successful campaign by Save Britain’s Heritage, the building was granted Grade II listed status. The petition against demolition plans has been signed by over seven thousand people. Marcus Binney of Save Britain’s Heritage commented: “This recognition of the Abbey’s importance sets a positive precedent for Britain’s remaining interwar Art Deco cinemas. They are among the most beloved buildings in popular feeling, yet over two thirds have now been lost and many of the survivors were crudely converted”.
Sarah Charlesworth from Historic England said: “The Abbey is an increasingly rare survivor from the 1930s heyday of cinema”. She then added: “The Abbey has proved to be versatile enough to serve a range of purposes since it closed as a cinema, so we hope that the owner and the local community will now come together to find a sustainable new use for this remarkable building”.
