Theatre Royal Church Street Darwen

Built in the Italianate style at a cost of £10,000 the Theatre Royal, Church Street, Darwen, opened its doors on 12th March 1877. With a large stage, dress circle, gallery and seven dressing rooms the building also included four shops on the ground floor and offices on the first floor. However, the post office took over from those shops in 1890. It saw many name changes including the Hippodrome Cinema, the Darwen Picture Palace and others with a variety of owners and grand re-openings.

Reference           British Architect 26 January 1877 Page 58