Theatre Royal, 21 Churchgate Bolton

Opened on 19 November 1888 and built for J.F. Elliston as a drama theatre, the Theatre Royal replaced an earlier theatre of the same name which had been destroyed by fire on 4 January 1888.  The Bolton Chronicle, 20 November 1888, stated that the style of the theatre could be "broadly described as Moresque, the finely carved mouldings being supplied by the Plastic Decoration Co., whose chief artist Mr Morand has been engaged on the chaste scheme of colour." It took twenty weeks to rebuild the theatre in 1888. Capacity 2,200. Proscenium opening 28 feet, stage depth 50 feet. stage width 50 feet (1908).

It was again reconstructed as a theatre in 1928, and became a cinema the following year. It closed in 1962, and was demolished in September 1963.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 18 October 1888 page 6 - foundation stone laid by Henry Irving
Reference    The Bolton Chronicle, 20 November 1888