The Empress Picture House- Abertillery

The Empress Skating Rink – Abertillery.
The Empress Skating Rink, Carlyle Street, Abertillery was originally constructed to cater for the pastime of roller skating and named the Empress Roller Skating Rink.

In November 1909 Mr Arthur Tilney proprietor of the Pavilion Theatre, Abertillery expended a great deal of money in having the Empress Skating Rink erected. At this time there was a trend for roller skating in Abertillery with many large public buildings converting their floor space to accommodate for the activity of roller skating, though Mr Tilney wanted a purpose-built building containing a rink for skating alone.

The Official Opening.
On Wednesday 17th of November 1909, the Empress Hall Skating Rink was officially opened. The South Wales Gazette reported that a large number of skaters, some of whom arrived by motor car and some by train from other towns. The rink was decorated in green, cream and crimson, it had a refreshment bar and cloakroom for ladies and gentlemen. All staff were dressed in uniform and Mr Tilney had employed an experienced rink master who kept time and directed the movement of the skaters.

Description of the Building.
The Empress Skating Rink was built on Mr Tilney’s ground, situated close to the Pavilion Theatre and described as being on the flattest and most stable ground in Abertillery. The building was 5,000′ square feet, it had maple flooring 65′ feet by 62′ feet square, laid on a foundation of brick with a felt material underlay, making it almost silent while skating. It was fitted with heating apparatus not only for heating but for also drying the air keeping the maple flooring stable and for a healthy environment inside the rink. The colour scheme at the Empress Rink was as stated above, green, cream and crimson.

The lighting was by generator and the sanitary arrangements were on the French design, ventilated by gaps in the bottom of the walls allowing clean ventilated airflow to dispel any obnoxious odours. The fire exits were onto the road were two separate doors each 8′ foot wide.  An instructor was provided and gave instruction on skating at a rate of 2s. per hour for plain skating and 4s. per hour for fancy skating. The rink had a music license with a band, it was open for four sessions per day and closed at 10.30pm. 

In February 1910, Mr A. Tilney applied for and was granted a dancing license at the Empress Skating Rink. Mr Peter McWhirter at the Alexandra Rink, Six Bells was also granted a license.

Roller Hockey Game.
On Tuesday 8th of February 1910, a roller hockey match took place at the Empress Skating Rink, Abertillery between two teams, that of Mr H. Tilney and Mr D. T. Bond. The team members were as follows – Mr Tilney’s team were the Aberbeeg Nomads Hockey Club, Goal – Mr T. Nicholas; Back – Mr M. R. Lewis; Forwards – Mr C. S. Reed; Mr C. Stafford and Mr H. Tilney: Mr Bonds Team, Goal – Mr T. J. Keir; Back – Mr J. Bowen; Forwards – Mr D. J. Evans; Mr L. W. Wallen and Mr D. Thomas: The Aberbeeg Nomads won 3 goals to 1.

Other Rinks at Abertillery.
The following buildings provided temporary roller-skating rinks at this time – The Metropole, the Alexandra Rink (originally built for skating at Alexandra Road, Six Bells) and the Colliers Hall, Cwmtillery, the latter being known to have had a skating rink as early as 1901. 

The Move From Skating to Cinema.
As the pastime of roller skating faded out Mr Arthur Tilney proprietor of the Empress had to move with the rapid change in entertainment, at this time the electric motion pictures were beginning, Mr Tilney being a visionary was quick to react and to move with the latest trends, he completely renovated the building into a picture house and renamed it the Empress Hall, Abertillery.

The Empress Hall Picture House.
In December 1910 it was announced that the Empress Hall was to open as a picture house, cinema. Mr Tilney had a house built adjoining the Empress Picture House called Carlyle House.

On the 1911 Census Mr Tilney was living at Carlyle House, his wife Mrs Annie Tilney, his eldest son Mr Ernest De Caux Tilney (Theatre Manager and Employer) and Mr Harold De Caux Tilney (Manager) of the Public Hall, Abertillery. Owing to ill health Mr Tilney moved to Newport, Carlyle House was later used as offices for the cinema.

The Empress Hall Cinema and the adjoining Carlyle House can be seen in the (main featured image above). The photograph was kindly supplied courtesy of Mr Phillip Walkley.

The Official Opening.
On Monday (Boxing Day) 26th of December 1910, at 4.00pm the Empress Picture House was officially opened as a cinema with continuous picture entertainment. Prices were 2d. 3d. 6d. It also had the added novelty as you could come and go-as-you-please. In later reports the building was known as the Empress Picture Hall.

The Death of Mr Arthur Tilney.
In November 1917 Mr Arthur Tilney sadly died at his home in Gold Tops, Newport aged 74 years. He was buried in Newport and his funeral was a private affair. Mr Tilney was spoke of as being a leading figure in the history of Abertillery, a pioneer and a visionary.

The Abertillery Theatres Limited.
In the late 1920’s all the Abertillery Picture Houses were owned by the Abertillery Theatres Limited. The general manager of the company was Mr Albert Jackson Withers.

The First Talkie Movie Shown at Abertillery.
The first Talkie Movie the “Jazz Singer” released in October 1927 was first shown at the Palace Cinema, Abertillery during the last week of March 1929. The Jackson Withers Company chose the Palace Cinema for this film’s debut over the rest of the theatres in the area. Later in February 1930 the follow-up to “The Jazz Singer”, “The Singing Fool” starring Al Jolson, Josephine Dunn and Betty Bronson was shown at the Empress Picture Hall, Abertillery.

CinemaScope at the Empress.
On Thursday 25th of October 1956, CinemaScope was unveiled at the Empress Picture Hall. The first film shown was “Bandido” starring Robert Mitchum and Ursula Thiess.

The screen at the Empress Picture Hall had been 18′ x 14′ feet though in 1952 it had been replaced by a much larger 26′ x 15′ foot screen.

Extra information on the Empress Picture Hall was kindly provided courtesy of Mr Phillip Walkley.

The Closure of the Empress Picture Hall.
In November 1958 it was announced that the Empress Picture Hall had been closed as a cinema. The South Wales Gazette reported that the premises were to be used as a car sales room.

The Empress Car Sales and Garage.
In October 1962 it was reported that the Empress Car Sales and Empress Garage had begun trading from the old cinema building and the manager was Mr Haydn Williams.

Capels Garage.
In 1965 Capels Garage and Vauxhall dealers was advertised in local papers as trading from the Empress building.

Messrs G. & R. Thorne.
In January 1968 Messrs G. & R. Thorne advertised that the Empress Garage Service Station was under new management as Messrs G. & R. Thorne’s, Empress Garage Service Station.

L.C.R. Components, Tredegar.
In January 1969 the South Wales Gazette reported that the plastic components factory L.C.R. Components of Tredegar had moved into the now disused Empress Car Sales building. It was stated that when the plastics plant gets underway it would provide jobs for sixty people.

Mr C. Jenkins.
In the mid to late 1970’s Mr C. Jenkins was trading at the Empress Garage, Bridge Street, Abertillery.

The Empress Car Sales.
In the late 1970’s the building housed the Empress Car Sales, proprietor Mr Robert Morris.
(More information needed).

The Later Years.
The building was demolished in about 1988 and the area was landscaped as part of the A467 by-pass project.