Picture House charts the rise, fall and rise again of cinema

One of the most striking buildings in Uckfield High Street is the Picture House cinema.

It has been showing films since August 1920 but its history dates to 1916 when it opened as a “garrison” theatre, writes Paul Watson.

At this time the Army camp at Maresfield was established and troop training for World War 1 was carried out in the surrounding open countryside.

The first films were, however, not shown at the Picture House.

The cinema owners believe the Foresters Hall in Harcourt Road was used for showing films from possibly as early as 1904.

The Picture House has seen the rise and fall and rise again of the cinema.

When it opened it was home to the world of silent films, then came the talkies and the Hollywood glamour years.

With television becoming more popular from the 1950s many predicted the end of the cinema – and many did close, including those in many neighbouring towns.

The Picture House adapted and survived.

It has been with the Markwick family since 1964.

They believe turning the cinema into two screens in 1979 saved it from closure.

Twenty years later a third screen was added.

Follow the link in our Picture House listing for more detail on the cinema’s own website which has a longer history and which was used in the compilation of this article.