Earlier this year we attended a book launch event in Edinburgh at the headquarters of Historic Environment Scotland.

The book in question was Art Deco in Scotland, Design and Architecture in the Jazz Age written by Bruce Peter.

Laid out in the building’s rooms were various illustrations of Art Deco designs, models, architectural plans and magazine illustrations as well as a screened photomontage of reminders of Scotland’s Art Deco past, some of which are now sadly gone.

On Saturday last I finally got round to buying a copy of the book. (Who could resist a cover featuring the Tower of Empire from the Empire Exhibition 1938?)

Among many sumptuous photographs of cinemas, public, commercial and industrial buildings and fabric designs the book has a chapter dedicated to the Empire Exhibition.

I have not yet read the text but look forward to it.

Our sojourn to Barrow (see earlier posts) was really to take a look at stuff in the Lake District, whose main town is Bowness-on-Windermere.

Among others of Bowness’s sights I found the Royalty Cinema, which has Art Deco touches in the white painting and horizontal bands but also feels a bit Edwardian. It was opened in 1927 and so is on the cusp.

Former Roxy Cinema, now an entertainment venue named Hollywood:-

Former Marks & Spencer only recently closed:-

Upper level of M&S (stitch of two photos):-

Dandy’s Fine Beds and Furniture:-

Roofline detail:-

I thought I’d posted about this one but it seems I haven’t. Variously the Rialto, Gaumont and Odeon this cinema was at 204 High Street, Kirkcaldy.

See photo on the Scottish Cinemas website.

This is in the background of my post from three days ago. It’s on the corner of Gorgie Road and Alexander Drive and used to be Poole’s Roxy Cinema. Only the facade of the cinema remains.:-

It’s glorious though:-

Detail in Alexander Drive. From the website linked to above this is a later addition, possibly from when the building was turned over to shops and flats:-

We passed this on the way in to Retford and I wandered back to photograph it after we parked. It has many Art Deco features but is now a Masonic Lodge:-

Frontage:-

It’s situated near to a bridge over the Chesterfield Canal, which the building lies beside. Side view:-

Reflections on the Chesterfield Canal from steps down from road. Former Regent Cinema reflected on right of photo:-

I wasn’t expecting to find Art Deco in Lossiemouth but then again a lot of 1920s/30s cinemas were newly built and in the deco style.

This is the former Regal Cinema, which opened in 1939. I found it in Queen Street. It’s now a Co-op:-

Frontage. Rule of three in columns to front, nice curved detail near roofline, flagpole. Glazing totally knackered, though:-

Closer view:-

From left:-

Once The Picture House, now a Carlton Bingo.

The windows above the entrance are Art Deco in style:-

Grantown-on-Spey is a town in the former county of Moray in the Highland region of Scotland.

Its War Memorial is a stone column on a square plinth and sits beside the town square. The names of killed and missing are on bronze plaques on the plinth where can also be found a frieze depicting a kilted soldier. When we visited the memorial was decorated with flags making some of the inscriptions unreadable. (Unobstructed photos can be found here.)

Dedication and names of men from Grantown-on-Spey. (The dedication is highlighted here.)

The next plaque bears names from Abernathy (obscured,) Duthil, Rothiemurchus and Aviemore.

The top named town below (Inverallan) is obscured but Cromdale and Advie are discernible:-

The Royal British Legion building in Grantown has minor Art Deco styling and was also decorated for remembrance (even though it was April.)

Edited (16/1/2/23) to add:-

According to the Scottish Cinemas website this building has been used as a cinema.

Thirsk is a town in North Yorkshire. We’d never visited before so dropped in on our way back up from Knaresborough and Harrogate.

The Clock Tower in the market place was decorated for Remembrance Day:-

I spotted the Ritz Cinema:-

And this nice bridge over the Cod Beck:-