The Electric Palace is one of the oldest, purpose-built cinemas still in use in the UK. It was built in 18 weeks for a cost of £1,500. 'The Battle of Trafalgar & The Death of Nelson' was the first film shown at the cinema on Wednesday 29th November 1911 - it's 'Opening Night'. This was a silent film with live sound effects and musical accompaniment - 'Talkies' - films with a recorded soundtrack - did not arrive until the late 1920s.

Tickets for the best seats originally cost one shilling for adults and sixpence for children.

Many features, like the ornamental frontage, ticket box & entrance lobby, are original and the interior has been carefully restored to its former glory. The Electric Palace closed in 1956 after 45 years of screening films - and was forgotten until 1972.

The cinemas' rescue and restoration began after the building was threatened with demolition to make way for a car park. After nearly a decade of hard work, and grant funding, the Palace re-opened on 29 November 1981; ­ the cinema's 70th anniversary. It will celebrate its centenary in 2011.

The Electric Palace now operates as a community cinema run by volunteers and screens the best of contemporary movies, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent art house films every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Visit the Electric Palace website: http://www.electricpalace.com/ (link will open in a new window)