| In
1904 the NorthEastern Railway company opened its Paragon station, and
land nearby was no longer needed. Its close proximity to a newly
emerging central area must have had a certain desirability to one J.F.
Tidswell, who could see it's investment potential. Along with three
other business associates, W.H. Heslop, Tom Dewhirst, and Robert
Freeman Snr, a directorate was formed and the land, adjoining the
School of Art, was subsequently purchased. Architect H. Percival Binks
was commissioned to design a suitable building, to be modelled on "purely
classical lines."
The design of the Tower Cinema has attracted both praise and critisism from a great many quarters over the years, and yet despite it's many features it was once described as: " undeniably debased in the extreme." English Heritage saw fit to declare the Tower a Grade II listed building shortly before it's eventual closure. Nevertheless, to this day, it remains a colourful, if somewhat delapidated feature of Hull's skyline. It's distinctive Art-Nouveau appearance: Ornate scrolls over recessed curved corner entrances. Round arched windows aloft, with stained glass features. A first floor balcony, featuring twin green tiled columns supporting a balustraded parapet, where sits between imposing domes of green and yellow mosaic, interspaced with bands of gold-enamelled glass mosaics, a figure said to represent the actress Mary Pickford. |
 TOWER CINEMA - 1957 Photo: Donald Innes Hessle  TOM DEWHIRST Photo: Enid Greenwood |
