The “Grand” Theatre, Maison Dieu Road, Dover

 THE “GRAND” THEATRE, DOVER – A company has been formed for building a theatre, together with five shops and residences, on a freehold site covering 17,363 feet superficial, with a frontage of 151 feet to Maison Dieu Road, which has been purchased for £2,750 from the Corporation. Mr. Harry Percival, late Surveyor of Theatres to the London County Council, has prepared the plans and designs for a theatre (in the Italian Renaissance style, with red brick and stone dressings), having seat accommodation for about 1,750 persons, an auditorium 55 feet 6 in. wide, and a stage 38 feet deep by 55 feet 6 in. wide, with an opening of 27 feet square, and a height to the gridiron of 56 feet. The nine dressing-rooms are to be in a separate building outside the theatre's main walls, and the pit and stalls will be sunk 10 feet below the road level. The cost of the buildings, including the houses and shops, is estimated at £21,250, exclusively of the cost of the land. The theatre is to have a main frontage of 32 feet, and a private road, 10 feet wide, on each side. The contractor is Mr. W. J. Adcock, of Dover. [Builder 21 May 1898 page 499]

GRAND THEATRE DOVER - A Company has been formed to build a first-class theatre on that site in Maison Dieu Road which was obtained by the demolition of Castle Place when the Street Improvement Scheme was carried out. The company have taken a conveyance of the land direct from the Corporation of Dover, the purchase for the sum of £2,750 having been effected by Mr. Edward Compton. It would be impossible to hit upon a spot better suited for the purpose, for it is so centrally situated. that it may be said to be not more than two minutes’ walk from any point of importance in the borough. It is close to the Sea Front, the magnificent Hotel Burlington, the Castle, and the Market Square. Through the latter pass the electric trams, running every eight minutes, to the extremities of the town. The site is not only easy of approach but is spacious to allow of a private road each side of the building. The plans, which have been prepared by Mr Harry Percival, the well-known theatrical architect include, in addition to the theatre, five shops, which in such a position will command good rentals. These will not encroach at all on the space necessary for the theatre, for it will be sufficiently commodious to seat from 1.700 to 1,800 persons—a sufficient number to make it possible for the best theatrical companies to visit Dover, as at ordinary popular prices it will hold sufficient to take £100 for a performance. The total cost of the theatre will be, according to the architect's estimate £24,000. Supposing half that is raised on 4.5 per cent debentures, only a capital charge of £540 a year would have to be taken out of the profits before the shares would come in for dividends, and as the share capital would be small, and the earning capacity of the theatre large, with moderate success the investors in shares may look for a very handsome return for their money, and the debenture holders a remarkably sound investment. We hear that Mr. Alderman Adcock, who recently completed the palatial Metropole Hotel at Folkestone. has entered into a contract. [Dover Express 22 April 1898 page 5]