1
Acton: Gala Bingo Club
Built as the Dominion Cinema in 1937 and closing as the Granada Cinema in 1972 this is now the Gala Bingo Club on Acton's High Street. It is a Grade II Listed Building by virtue of being a good example of a 1930s super-cinema, its facade, and a unique (to cinemas at least) space saving stairway in the foyer. It was designed by Frank Ernest Bromige LRIBA (1902-1979).
The English Heritage Listed Building website describes the exterior as follows:-
"Tall, symmetrical, Moderne facade. In the centre, three sets of paired entrance doors, flanked by splay walls, the first part rendered. In the centre, the first and second floors break forward as a cantilevered structure to form a large area of glazing, at the same time creating a canopy over the entrance. Twin vertical members rise from this canopy to the third floor level, then curve inwards as fins to support an oversized cornice. The vertical members are filled with continuous glazing, which, at first floor level only, bends around on either side to meet the brick. These glazed areas have broad cornices above which are balconies with Art Deco metal balustrades. All glazing with multiple transoms and margin mullions. French doors give on to these balconies either side. At the top is a deep parapet which formerly carried the name of the cinema. This and the top of the fins are masked by a recent metal fascia. The tall slender windows on the flanking stair towers have also been covered."
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 10 Nov 2010
0.06 miles
2
Acton: The Windmill
A late Victorian pub on the High Street at the junction with Grove Road, the tablet on the High Street frontage to the right has the date 1899.
Image: © Nigel Cox
Taken: 10 Nov 2010
0.07 miles
3
Gala Bingo, Acton
Originally the Dominion cinema, built in 1936-7 to the design of the architect F E Bromige, a specialist in cinema design. It became the Granada before becoming a bingo club in 1972. A notable feature is the cantilevering of the central portion of the frontage, creating an entrance canopy. The deep fascia is a modern addition concealing the upper part of the original facade. Listed Grade II.
Image: © Alan Murray-Rust
Taken: 10 Jan 2012
0.07 miles
4
Houses, Albert Road W3
Image: © Robin Sones
Taken: 31 Jul 2013
0.07 miles
5
The Rocket, Churchfield Road
Formerly the Station Hotel, the modern name is at least responsive to the old.
Image: © Alan Murray-Rust
Taken: 10 Jan 2012
0.07 miles
6
Ghosts From the Past
A car turns briskly off High Street, Acton onto Birkbeck Road. The building on the corner has two obvious ghost adverts intermixed.
The Mackie's name at the top belongs to an advert for Mackie's White Horse Whisky which adorned the building in 1908. That particular blended Scotch Whisky first went on sale circa 1890.
The more obvious advert is for Price's Old English Lavender Soap. This advert almost certainly predates the Mackie's one - Price started manufacturing soap in 1856.
There may even be a third advert trying to show through the Price's one. A fascinating glimpse of history!
Image: © Martin Addison
Taken: 31 Oct 2013
0.08 miles
7
Ghost Adverts
Located on an end of terrace house beside Birkbeck Street there are two obvious ghost adverts.
The Mackie's name at the top belongs to an advert for Mackie's White Horse Whisky which adorned the building in 1908. That particular blended Scotch Whisky first went on sale circa 1890.
The more obvious advert is for Price's Old English Lavender Soap. This advert almost certainly predates the Mackie's one - Price started manufacturing soap in 1856.
There may even be a third advert trying to show through the Price's one. A fascinating glimpse of history!
Image: © Martin Addison
Taken: 31 Oct 2013
0.08 miles
8
Businesses on Churchfield Road
Churchfield Road is very much an off-the-High-Street shopping street. Not wall to wall clothes and shoes from the usual suspects, but a selection of varied small shops and businesses offering all kinds of things.
Here we have a wine bar, Greek restaurant, hairdressers and a car repair workshop all side by side.
Image: © Des Blenkinsopp
Taken: 13 Apr 2017
0.08 miles
9
Churchfield Road
Looking towards Acton town centre from near Acton Central Station.
Image: © Alan Murray-Rust
Taken: 10 Jan 2012
0.08 miles
10
Mackies Prices
There are in fact at least two generations of advert on this end gable. Prices is clearly a manufacturer's name.
Image: © Alan Murray-Rust
Taken: 10 Jan 2012
0.08 miles