Name

John Knight

Designation
architect
Born
1884
Place of Birth
Pendleton
Location
Manchester
Died
1937

"An architect not of major repute, either in a provincial or national context.” English Heritage

Occasionally, a London-based architectural establishment lets slip its prejudices. However, it is for others to decide whether the accuracy of the above quotation, made in support of English Heritage’s decision to de-list the former Ambassador Cinema in Pendleton can be justified.

John Knight, was born in 1884, Census returns indicating that he was the second son of John James Knight, builder and contractor of Pendleton, Salford. By 1901 he was articled to Whitelegg and Whittaker of Brazennose Street, Manchester and studied at the Architectural School of the Manchester University. In 1907, at the age of 23 he started to practice on his own account with offices at 40 South King Street, Manchester

Some of his earliest commissions were cinema theatres, and in the early days of cinema building he was widely regarded as one of the most eminent designers of such buildings. His appreciation of art, as well as his familiarity with the latest principles and demands of construction, was deemed evident in the later Kingsway Super Cinema, Levenshulme, and the Ambassador Super Cinema, Pendleton, both of which had seating accommodation for about 2,000 patrons. Other cinemas in the Manchester area included the Claremont Super Cinema, Moss Side; the Premier Super Cinema, Cheetham Hill; the Victory, Rochdale; the Corona Super Cinema, Stretford; and the West End Super Cinema, Whalley Range.

In 1930 it was reported that “John Knight is everywhere recognised as in the front rank of architects who have made a speciality of theatre and cinema design.” However, in the de-listing of the Ambassador Cinema in 2001, English Heritage, dismissed him, somewhat unfairly, as an architect “not of major repute, either in a provincial or national context.” He also carried out a number of large industrial buildings and office buildings and was responsible for tobacco factories for Muratti and Company Ltd and R J Lea; bakeries for W J Brookes & Sons Ltd and Messrs John Scott of Bootle; schools at Eccles; Eccles Masonic Hall; and the King Edward the Seventh Memorial Hospital at Eccles and Patricroft; besides many large residences.

Little is known of his private life. After the First World War he moved to Park Hill, Broadoak Park Worsley, before moving to Calderbrook, Stamford Road, Ellesmere Park, in the mid-1930s. He was also a prominent mason. During the last few years of his life he suffered from the effects of a motoring accident, when he lost the partial use of his left hand.

John Knight died at Calderbrook on 11 December 1937, aged 53, leaving a widow, Jessie, and at least one child. His funeral was held at Manchester Crematorium on Tuesday 14 December.

Address
1907    John Knight, 40, South King Street
1916    John Knight 5 Cross Street Manchester
1920    John Knight MSA   93 & 96 Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street
1925    John Knight FSARC FIAr., 89, 90, 93 & 95A Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street
1928    John Knight Architect & Surveyor 89, 93 & 95A Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street. Tel: City 4540
1929    John Knight FRIBA FIAr Architect & Surveyor 89 & 95A Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street (also 93 Howarth's Buildings in individual listings)
1933-1936 :89, 93 & 95A Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street Manchester
1937    John Knight FRIBA FIAr., 89, 110, 111 and 112 Howarth's Buildings. 5, Cross Street

Residence   
1923 -1936 : Park Hill, Broadoak Park, Worsley
1937 : "Calderbrook," Stafford Road, Eccles and Bryn Tirion, Tyn-y-Groes, near Conway.


Buildings and Designs

Building Name District Town/City County Country
Pendleton Ragged School and Windsor Institute West George Street New Windsor New Windsor  Pendleton  GMCA  England
Residential Club Yarburgh Street Moss Side   Moss Side  GMCA  England
King Edward VII Memorial Wing Eccles and Patricroft Hospital   Eccles  GMCA  England
Empire Cinema Church Street Eccles   Eccles  GMCA  England
The Empire Electric Theatre Trafford Road Salford Ordsall  Salford  GMCA  England
Savoy Cinema Great Jackson Street (Hulme?) Hulme?  Manchester  GMCA  England
Savoy Picture Theatre Hyde Road West Gorton West Gorton  Manchester  GMCA  England
Trocadero Cinema Wilmslow Road Rusholme Rusholme  Manchester  GMCA  England
Queen’s Picture Theatre Stockport Road Longsight Longsight  Manchester  GMCA  England
Premier Cinema Cheetham Hill Manchester Cheetham Hill  Manchester  GMCA  England
Shaftesbury Cinema Theatre Stockport Road Longsight Longsight  Manchester  GMCA  England
New Popular Cinema Chapman Street Hulme Hulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
Anson Street Public Elementary School Winton Eccles Winton  Eccles  GMCA  England
Eccles and Patricroft Hospital   Eccles  GMCA  England
Casino Cinema Wilmslow Road Rusholme Rusholme  Manchester  GMCA  England
30 Houses Temple Lodge Estate Swinton   Swinton  GMCA  England
Claremont Super Cinema Whalley Range Manchester Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Additions to “White Lion” Inn Newton Heath Newton Heath  Manchester  GMCA  England
Proposed Women’s Club Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
Green Hill Chatsworth Road Broad Oak Park   Swinton  GMCA  England
Shops and Offices Deansgate Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
Extension to the Works of Ferguson Pailin Limited Openshaw  Manchester  GMCA  England
Premier Super Cinema Cheetham Hill Manchester Cheetham Hill  Manchester  GMCA  England
Victory Super Cinema, Milkstone Road, Rochdale   Rochdale  GMCA  England
Central Synagogue Heywood Street Manchester   Cheetham  GMCA  England
Ambassador Cinema Langworthy Road Salford Seedley  Salford  GMCA  England
Extension to Dye Works: Salford 3   Salford  GMCA  England
Kingsway Super Cinema. Moseley Road and Kingsway Levenshulme Levenshulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
New Shop and Showroom. 71 Market Street Manchester Central  Manchester  GMCA  England
Restaurant, Flats, and Shops. Promenade Blackpool   Blackpool  Lancashire  England
New Loading Way and Lift: Major Street Manchester Central  Manchester  GMCA  England
Branch Bank Wilmslow Road Didsbury Didsbury  Manchester  GMCA  England
Branch Bank and Shop Stockport Road Levenshulme Levensulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
Additions to Switch Gear Works Castleton near Rochdale Castleton  Rochdale  GMCA  England
Corona Super Cinema Moss Road Stretford   Stretford  GMCA  England
Electricity Showroom and Offices Eccles   Eccles  GMCA  England
Proposed “Regal Cinema” St Petersgate Stockport   Stockport  GMCA  England
West End Super Cinema Whalley Range Manchester Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Hotel and Restaurant Oxford Street Manchester   Manchester  GMCA  England
Additions. Kingsway Cinema Levenshulme Levenshulme  Manchester  GMCA  England
“Roxy” Cinema, Old Street, Ashton-under Lyne   Ashton-under-Lyne  GMCA  England
Odeon Cinema Withington Road Whalley Range Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Pavilion. Cheadle Hulme Cricket Club Cheadle Hulme  Stockport  GMCA  England
Additions to Public Baths,. Swinton Hall Road, Swinton   Swinton  GMCA  England
Flats: 43 Brantingham Road Whalley Range Whalley Range  Manchester  GMCA  England
Tobacco factory for Messrs Muratti & Co Ltd     GMCA  England
Tobacco factory Messrs R J Lea (Reddish?)     GMCA  England
Bakery for Messrs W J Brookes & Sons Ltd     GMCA  England
Bakery for Messrs John Scott of Bootle     GMCA  England
Eccles Masonic Hall Half Edge Lane Eccles   Eccles  GMCA  England