HISTORIC UCKFIELD TOUR: THE PICTURE HOUSE

This is The Picture House – the town’s cinema, and one of the most striking buildings in Uckfield High Street!
I expect Lord Lucan used to bring his childrens' nanny here – before he murdered her!
It was opened originally in 1915, but was closed throughout Lockdown – just like the rest of Uckfield!
It has been showing films since August 1920 but its history dates to 1916 when it opened as a 'garrison theatre'.
At this time the Army camp at Maresfield was established and troop training for World War I was carried out in the surrounding open countryside.
The first films were not shown at the Picture House, but it's possible that nearby Foresters Hall in Harcourt Road (not included in this tour, but available as an optional extra by arrangement) was used for showing films from perhaps as early as 1904.
When it opened it was home to the world of silent films, then came the talkies and the Hollywood glamour years.
With television becoming more popular from the 1950s many predicted the end of the cinema – and many did close, including those in many neighbouring towns, but The Picture House adapted and survived.
It has been with the Markwick family since 1964 and they believe turning the cinema into two screens in 1979 saved it from closure, then again twenty years later a third screen was added.
The Picture House shows all the latest films immediately after their release.
Sometimes my brother Biro and me come here in the afternoons to catch a flick…