Drury and Gomersall

The Manchester architects, Drury & Gomersall were responsible for a number of cinemas in the North West in the 1930s. With a small staff, they had considerable experience in preparing schemes for cinemas efficiently and competitively, completing two or three major schemes each year. Joseph Gomersall, who ran the Manchester office, had a background of theatre work and restoration. He travelled widely in Europe and picked up ideas that were to influence the work of the office. Drury & Gomersall attempted to provide 'original' cinemas and, failing inspiration from contemporary sources, would consult Bannister Fletcher's History of Architecture. Drury did not work appear th have had any active role in the Manchester office and was to become better known for his textbooks on building construction, produced in association with Jaggard.