Building MPM425 - Former Plaza cinema, Victoria Road North

Former Plaza cinema built in 1928 by H.J. Dyer & Son. Curved front with two-storey centre of Doric and Ionic columns. Now the Portsmouth Jami Mosque. [1, p475]

Originally named the Plaza (c1928-48), later the Gaumont Cinema (c1951-1964). The building was used as a Bingo hall between 1965 and 1997, and became a Jami Mosque in 2003. [2]

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Cinema, now bingo hall. 1928. Red brick in Flemish bond, painted brick and faience. Composite roof on slates. EXTERIOR: 1 storey and balcony. 7 bays. (bays 3 and 6 narrow). North face: curved projecting painted centre, 4 bays wide has 6 terrazzo steps approaching 2 wide recessed entrances, each with 2-leaf glazed door set within panelled fronts. Flanking detached Doric columns, paired at curved centre. On each side is a projecting bay with recessed entrance, horizontally rusticated at ground floor, moulded jambs, flat arch and keystone. 2-leaf panelled door with glazed top panels. Entablature to centre 2 bays with cornice running through flanking bays. First floor has a detached Ionic column set over each of the ground floor columns. Recessed panels between columns each with 2 tripartite mullioned windows with leaded lights, moulded sill and apron. Similar 1-light window to each side bay with flanking Doric pilasters. Entablature with corbels at centre 2 bays, parapet and coping. Each of the flanking bays has a higher parapet with projecting cap, die and base set over lower pilasters. Each of the flanking left and right brick bays has a recessed centre with two 2-light casements set under a flat stone arch, brick jambs, banded stone sill. First floor has paired 2-light timber mullioned and transomed casements with leaded lights. Stone cornice and stone coped parapet. At far left, brick bay has flat stone arched entrance with 2-leaf late C20 doors. Above are 2 tiers of 2-light casements with flanking 1-light casements, leaded lights, each set under a brick segmental arch. Parapet with stone coping. Elevation facing Bradford Road has to left 4 tiers of 2-light casements with leaded lights, each set under a brick segmental arch. To right shop fronts with flanking pilasters and late C20 infills. At high level are 7 boarded openings with rod opening gear to each top ventilation panel. Bracketed eaves. INTERIOR: auditorium is panelled at dado level. To each side above dado are 5 paired engaged fluted Ionic columns, entablature with dentilled cornice. Curved plaster ceiling with curved beams. Proscenium at west end has moulded jambs and segmental arch. Ornate patterned plasterwork with vase ornament at each end. Balcony at opposite end (east) timber front with slim balusters and raised panels. Balcony has original seating, each row with ornate scrolled metal end panels. Main entrance vestibule has 2 `Tudor' type recesses on rear wall face with moulded jambs and head; 4 uprights over each shelf with grotesque carved figures. Cornice and splayed top. Flat plastered ceiling with carved exposed beams. Plaster cornice at junction between ceiling and walls. First floor has decorated ceiling roses with moulded plaster cornice at junction between ceiling and walls. Patterned plaster wall panels depicting garlands and figures. Art Deco stained glass "Sunburst" windows featured in leaded lights with graduating shades of yellow surmounted with a blue sky. Queuing lobby on left of main entrance had 17 Italian Renaissance panels and 4 Heraldic Coat of Arms panels now painted over except for 2 Renaissance panels near entrance. (Knee R (Cinema Historian & Research Archivist): Letter to PCC dated 25/6: 1993-). [3]

<1> O'Brien, Bailey, Pevsner, Lloyd, 2018, The Buildings of England Hampshire: South (Bibliographic reference). SPM585.

<2> Pomeroy, Stephen, 2014, Pomeroy's of Portsmouth
Pomeroy's of Portsmouth (Britain's Island & Twin Cathedral City) (Bibliographic reference). SPM277.

<3> Historic England, The National Heritage List for England (Index). SPM35.