Restoration Update | Paignton Picture House

We've had another productive month at Paignton Picture House. There’s been steady progress across the building, with exciting developments both inside and out.

On the roof

The South End gable extension has now been completed, along with the timber roof extension. Internal steelwork for this area has also been installed, marking another important step in strengthening the building’s structure.

In the auditorium

Work is continuing carefully and respectfully within this beautiful historic space. Apertures in the projector room have been prepared to receive glass, and lathing has begun in readiness for plastering. At the same time, delicate cornice repairs are ongoing to restore the auditorium’s original character.

Across all floors

Electrical first fix works are progressing throughout the building, helping to prepare the Picture House for its future as a fully functioning cinema once again.

A special discovery

This month also brought a particularly exciting find. A sculpted plasterwork head of Mary Pickford, the legendary silent film star, has been carefully conserved. The sculpture sits on decorative corbels within the building.

Mary Pickford co-founded United Artists in 1919 alongside Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith, and later won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Coquette (1929).

It’s a wonderful reminder of the rich cinematic heritage embedded within Paignton Picture House itself.

We look forward to sharing more updates as the restoration continues.