Former Gaumont Palace, Streatham Hill

Image: © Stephen Richards Taken: Unknown

A fine brick building with stone dressings and a giant loggia (which originally had coloured tiling). Designed by Charles Nicholas and John Dixon-Spain, it opened as a vaudeville venue and cinema in 1932 with seating for almost 2,500. Damaged during the war, it was used as a factory before being rebuilt in 1955 but closing only six years later. It has been a bowling alley (under various owners) since 1962. It is within the Streatham High Road and Streatham Hill Conservation Area. The course of Streatham High Road has been a major highway between London and Sussex since Roman times. Its current appearance is largely attributable to two major spells of development. The first was during the late C19th following the opening of Streatham Hill station in 1856, and the second was after 1911 when the line to Victoria was electrified. Though much-maligned and undoubtedly blighted by heavy traffic, closer examination reveals that the road is lined with a number of interesting buildings, some of which reflect the period between the wars when Streatham was a fashionable centre of entertainment. Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm ).

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