Heritage Lottery to safeguard the Future of the Harwich Electric Palace

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded a grant of £50,000 to the Harwich Electric Palace Trust for essential repairs including installation of supplementary weight-bearing main metal beams, it was announced today.

The Electric Palace Cinema Harwich is an outstanding example of an early 20th century purpose-built cinema.  A key building frequently cited in specialist and general texts it is Grade II* Listed for its architectural and sociological significance.

The main weight-bearing metal beams that support the frontage, foyer and projection room are deteriorating.  The building is on the English Heritage  Buildings at Risk Register.

A full architectural and structural engineering survey has been carried out under the aegis of English Heritage and a quantity surveyor's report has been completed.

The survey has been followed up by a detailed schedule of works which has been put out to tender.  The grant will ensure definitive resolution of these problems within a reasonable time scale in order that the building can be removed from the at risk register and its future secured as a functioning community cinema and venue for small scale theatrical and musical events.

10% (£5000) of the Grant will go on educational initiatives that will encourage people to learn about, become involved in and enjoy the heritage that this special building represents.

The total expenditure on the project will be about £74,000 of which £67,000 is for the essential repairs. A local Appeal was launched in November 2006 by the new Patron of the Trust, Hollywood screen actor Clive Owen. Thanks to several splendid local efforts and positive practical support from the local Harwich & Manningtree Standard, nearly £17,000 has been raised. Together with the £50,000 HLF Grant this is sufficient for the repairs to start towards the end of January 2008.

Commenting on the award Chris Strachan, Chairman of Harwich Electric Palace Trust said: "We are all delighted with the Heritage Lottery Fund decision. It will enable the Trust to deal with the accelerating deterioration of the metal beams. Without intervention closure will become inevitable and that would be more difficult to reverse this time round.  Now rescue works can be completed within six months and, along with the Heritage Awareness proposals, the future is much brighter."

The Patron of the Trust, Clive Owen, said: "I'm thrilled and excited that the Heritage Lottery Fund has recognized the significance of the Electric Palace.  The theatre is not only an historical landmark, it's also an important and vital asset to the local area and one of the most charming cinemas in the country"

Expanding on the importance of the award the HLF Regional Manager, Robyn Llewellyn stated, "We are thrilled that HLF can help to restore this historic building enabling it to be removed from English Heritage's At Risk Register. As well as conserving an important heritage asset in Harwich the project will give the public wider access through the educational opportunities provided by the recruitment of an Education Officer for the cinema."


For further information please contact:

Chris Strachan on  07821 959235  or Colin Crawford on 07836 693977

The Heritage Lottery Fund enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and countryside or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. We have awarded grants totalling more than £240million to over 2,500 projects across the East of England. For more information about Heritage Lottery Fund, please go to www.hlf.org.uk

9/23/07 -- The Electric Palace's Autumn programme has been boosted by an exclusive preview of Elizabeth; The Golden Age. Arranged by the film's star and Palace Patron, Clive Owen, demand is bound to be high for this showing a full week before its full cinema release.  The screening is at 7.30pm on Friday 26th October. Tickets are available from the Box Office and early booking is advised. Mr Owen said ' I am delighted that people in Harwich will get this early showing of my latest film'.

Friends of the Electric Palace

The T Shirts will be available for sale on line in the near future

Clive helping at the Palace T Shirt sale

A video of Clive's appearance at the Electric Palace fundraiser

Hollywood star and Tendring resident Clive Owen last night launched an £85,000 appeal for repairs to the Electric Palace cinema in Harwich with a passionate speech.

"I'm really proud to be asked to be Patron of this very special cinema," he said. "This building is not only a beautiful and historic one, it is also a very important one. I got my film education going to all the old rep cinemas like this one."

Many of those cinemas had since disappeared, he said, adding that the multiplexes were unable to match the variety of programming found in small independent venues like The Electric Palace.

"It is vital that we use and support The Electric Palace," he said. "We just have to raise the amount needed."

Earlier in the evening, which marked Mr. Owen's first appearance as Patron of the cinema, chairman of The Electric Palace Chris Strachan had highlighted the problems in maintaining one of the oldest cinemas in the country.

The Electric Palace is currently on English Heritage's register of historic buildings at risk of deterioration, but raising £85,000 will guarantee an independent future for the 1911-built cinema as it approaches its 100th birthday.

A showing of Mr. Owen's latest film, Children of Men, was followed by an extended question and answer session in which the actor revealed just how important watching a film in the cinema - rather than on TV or DVD - is not only to himself but also to other Hollywood figures such as director Spike Lee.

For more information and to support the theater, please visit The Electric Palace Web site

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