Hull’s Grade II listed National Picture Theatre is opening its doors this week, following a huge project to restore an internationally significant piece of wartime heritage. It is the first time the Beverley Road building has been used since the wartime bombing raid.
It brings the site back into use after many years of lying derelict and is set to become a national memorial to the contribution that civilians made to the war effort. Councillors hope it will be used by schools and community groups and believe it will become an important way to mark the ‘profound impact the Second World War had on our city’.
The work has been a unique engineering challenge that has taken many years of painstaking work. Complex jobs have included the stabilisation and restoration of the red‑brick façade, installation of new period-style lighting and the conservation of remaining wartime fabric.
A hat and a shoe worn by people during the dramatic bombing during the Second World War were among the extraordinary objects discovered by workers on the site. Miraculously, there were no casualties when the building was bombed. The site will now be used as both an educational facility and a place where people can come together to reflect and remember loved ones.
Hilary Byers, a trustee of the National Civilian World War II Memorial Trust, said she was hopeful the site would inspire new generations to learn more about the roles of civilians in World War II and was confident it would become a place for profound reflection in a city that was devastated by the conflict.
“It has been a long journey getting here and we are very grateful for all the help that The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Hull City Council and Historic England have given us over the years, as well as the continuing help that today’s volunteers are giving on the site,” she said.
“This cinema, which suffered bombing on 18th March 1941, and the audience all remarkably survived, is a reminder of the experiences that civilians went through during World War II. We want this to be a national memorial to the contribution that civilians made to the war effort, as wardens, firefighters, rescuers, first aiders, carers, messengers, food providers and in many other ways. We hope people of all ages will be inspired by the site to find out more about the roles of civilians in World War II and will enjoy the opportunities presented by the site to hold events and community gatherings.”
The National Picture Theatre was built in 1914 and designed by Runton and Barry for the De-Luxe Theatre Company, the cinema entertained audiences for nearly 30 years until it was severely damaged in March 1941 as a result of a Luftwaffe air raid.
The air raid took place during an evening showing of Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator’, the sirens sounded and the Picture Theatre took a direct hit. The cinema’s auditorium was destroyed, and the rest of the building was reduced to ruins.
Without time to get to the air-raid shelter, cinema-goers took cover in the entrance foyer. Remarkably, all 150 audience members survived. Once described as the ‘last surviving civilian bomb‑damaged building’ in the UK, the National Picture Theatre still bears the historic scars of the 1941 raid.
Now, 85 years after that fateful night and thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hull City Council, The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the National Civilian World War II Memorial Trust (NCWW2MT), the Grade II listed building has been given a new lease of life. The reopening marks the first time the former cinema will be brought back to use since the bombing.
Local contractor Hobson & Porter led the restoration works, using original materials and traditional techniques to reflect the building’s 1914 design.
Cllr Jackie Dad, Hull City Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: “The National Picture Theatre is an incredibly important part of Hull’s wartime history, and its preservation ensures that future generations can understand the profound impact the Second World War had on our city.
“For the first time, this site will become both an educational facility and a place where people can come together to reflect and remember loved ones. The careful work undertaken here not only protects a unique heritage asset but also creates a new community space that honours the resilience of the people of Hull. I am proud of what has been achieved and look forward to seeing the public engage with this remarkable landmark once it opens.”
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .
The project has long been championed by the National Civilian World War II Memorial Trust, which has tirelessly campaigned to preserve the site and share the stories of those who endured the Blitz in Hull – then Britain’s second most bombed city.
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “We’re thrilled to have supported the restoration of the National Picture Theatre thanks to money raised by National Lottery players. The sympathetic and painstaking restoration ensures that the important wartime heritage of Hull and the history of this striking building will live on, as the cinema enters its latest act as a valuable community space for the city.”
The former National Picture Theatre gained Grade II listed status in 2007 due to its significance as a rare surviving bomb-damaged building from the Blitz of the Second World War.
Air raids on Hull went on longer than on any other British city and, out of Hull’s 91,660 houses, only 5,945 survived the air raids undamaged.
To find planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal .