Malton Cinema Revival
- 1998 – Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, using rights under the lease, and Ryedale District Council (RDC) using the building’s status as a Listed building intervened with the Receiver to make sure that the art deco fixtures and fittings were removed from the auction catalogue.
- 2000 – Fitzwilliam Malton Estate as freeholder served an interim schedule of repairs on Tulip Ltd. The objective was to get the building into a presentable condition so that it was more likely to attract an occupier. Litigation was started before the matter was settled on the steps of the Court and Tulip Ltd committed to complete the Schedule of Repairs. Repairs were completed and the building was let in 2002. Jeremy Powell carried out a refurbishment of the cinema, including refurbished seating at a cost of £26k. The toilet area and reception/sales area were completely revamped and a new sound system installed in the cinema. A video security system was installed at a cost of £1.5k and in its early days successfully led to the arrest of two people who had previously contributed in gang form to the intimidating nature of the alleyway. Malcolm Chalk, as well as investing in the interior of the shopping mall, put a lot of work making the access to the building more attractive, particularly by providing lighting to further deter anti social behaviour in the public thoroughfare and instigated a regular cleaning regime for Chancery Lane. The town management company paid for the painting of the window boards to the Chancery Lane frontage of the historically connected Dickens House. All of this work converted Chancery Lane into an important artery between Yorkersgate and the Market Place and a safe approach to the cinema from an alleyway that people were advised to avoid previously.
- Between 2002 and 2006 a new heating system was installed in the cinema. A new half hour fire exit giving access to the front of the building was provided by Malcolm Chalk at a cost of £7k. Incorporated into this work was sympathetic repositioning of a number of the original art-deco features, including the fine example of a foyer lantern. In the shopping mall the historic cafe area was restored from three former shops and is now largely as it would have been in the cinema’s hey day. The town management company provided and arranged for new advertising boards to be suspended beneath the cinema canopy.
- 2006 - Jeremy Powell, in partnership with Westler Foods (a local food production company) and the Town Management Company converted the former upper circle into a dual screen installation at a cost of £17k. This work encouraged the investment in a digital projector in partnership with the UK Film Council. This permitted a more flexible film programme to be implemented increasing the number of films to be shown on a weekly basis, resulting in better use to be made of the available seating capacity. Shortly afterwards a new ventilation system was installed at a cost of £2.5k
- 2007 – Malcolm Chalk and Fitzwilliam Estate and Malton Town Council joined together to organise the resurfacing of Chancery Lane. Whilst it is a public right of way in a Conservation Area, it was formed of old and broken tarmac. Each party invested a large amount of administrative effort to organise the finance and practical aspects of commissioning new paving in traditional materials. Grant funding came from Malcolm Chalk, Highway Authority (NYCC), RDC, Malton Town Council and English Heritage.
- 2008 – A partnership of Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, Malcolm Chalk and Jeremy Powell designed, fabricated and erected a pair of LED screens in art deco housing underneath the canopy on the Yorkersgate frontage. This enables films to be advertised on the exterior of the cinema building in a smart and effective manner. Previously the only method was available to Jeremy Powell was fly posting on a board under the canopy. The initial cost of £6,000 and maintenance costs of the screens and software was shared by the parties who each take a third of the advertising time available. Fitzwilliam Malton Estate’s allocation of time is available for businesses in the town to promote themselves and to advertise community events.
- 2008 – NYCC fitted an additional street lamp in Chancery Lane (the supply conduit having been laid during the re-paving works). The new lamp raised the light levels for customers approaching the cinema in the evening.
- 2008 – Jeremy Powell continues to seek ways of further integrating the cinema with the community. The cinema has been used for community based audio visual presentations, both to the general public and also to invited audiences. An innovative mother and child screening was introduced whereby the sound level of the films is reduced, low level lighting maintained throughout the auditorium and baby feed/change facilities provided. The cinema works closely with the local operatic group, providing special operatic films chosen by the group on an occasional basis.
- In 2009 Fitzwilliam Malton Estate and Malcolm Chalk realised an ambition to restore the status of the Yorkersgate frontage of the building. The impact of the Classical front with its art deco stain glass windows was lost behind the inelegant canopy, signs and banners. This feeds the expectation that, as in many towns, the former cinema is either empty or may as well be. That is not the case in Malton, where the appearance of the frontage belies a vibrant use inside and the existence of an excellent cinema. The overall impression was to make this building a depressing feature in the street scene rather than the uplifting one that was originally intended.
The solution suggested by the Estate’s architect was to redesign the canopy with a rail, remove the adverts and get back to the higher status frontage that was originally intended for the building. Advertising required for the business would be conducted on the LED screens beneath the canopy and the rail, whilst an attractive feature in itself, would draw the eye to the art deco stain glass above and behind. The stain glass windows would be restored and lit internally.
Malcolm Chalk accepted the Estate’s design, obtained Listed building consent, and instructed its fabrication and installation.
Funding came from the Estate for the design, and from Malcolm Chalk and Yorkshire Forward for the implementation. The breakthrough for the proposal came with confirmation of funding from Yorkshire Forward’s Rural Target Fund.
