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Built in 1773, the Assembly Rooms hosted many shows. In 1840 it became known as The Music Hall and continued to be popular. In 1862 it became printing offices for the Warrington Guarwdian, then later the Municipal Libraries Reading Room until its closure in 1973.

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The Old Coffee House was built in the 18th century. It doubled as a theatre, hosting popular shows. Documents show that in 1788 it became home to the Warrington Amicable Club who held many concerts. In the 1800's bigger theatres and licensing laws took audiences away. It became a pub around 1850, and by the 1950's was a shoe shop.

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This is a printed advert for one of the shows at the Old Coffee House

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The Public Hall opened on 11th November 1862. Its performers over the years included Charles Dickens. It was later refurbished and opened as the Royal Court Theatre in 1892.

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The Royal Court Theatre around 1900

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The Royal Court Theatre was burned down on 24th December 1906, but re-opened in 1907. It finally closed in 1958 and was demolished in 1960.

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The Music Society performing Gilbert & Sullivan operetta 'The Yeoman of the Guard' at the Parr Hall, Palmyra Square in 1903. The Parr Hall was built in 1895 and cost £10,000 - good value as it is still in use today.

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The Empire Theatre opened in 1921 and had a 10-piece orchestra - plus a billiard hall in the basement!. Warrington's first 'talkie' was shown here in 1929. The last film was shown in 1961 and the cinema was demolished later that year.

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Designed by architect Joseph Gomersall, the Odeon opened in 1937. It was split into three screens in 1981, the first of Warrington's cinemas to become multi-screen. It closed in 1994.

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The Red Lion was built around 1690. In the 1700's it was rebuilt with a large concert room which attracted a lively crowd. It was also a post house - one of the countries system of inns who provided fresh horses for mail messengers. It had stabling for many horses and the archway is tall enough for a horse-drawn coach to drive through.

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The Marquis of Granby pub certainly existed in the 17th century. The Royalist Commander James Stanley lodged here when his forces occupied Warrington during the English Civil War ( 1642 - 49)

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This shows the Marquis of Granby in the 1970's. Today it is one of the best preserved and oldest buildings in Warrington.

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The Lower Seven Stars was one of the many Bridge Street pubs of the 18th and 19th centuries. There is a sign on the middle gable - click on it to read it.

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A maze of narrow alleys off Bridge Street led to pubs and dwellings. This alleyway off Bridge Street led to the Eagle and Child pub.

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The Eagle and Child in its own yard at the end of a narrow alley, about 1900. Pubs were much warmer and better furnished than poor people's homes so it they were well-visited. Some also provided free newspapers - click on the pub's windows to see closer.

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An early photo (1855?) of Church Street Fair. A fair had taken place here since the Middle Ages. William Beamont, first mayor of Warrington, wrote: '...stalls and booths were set up to attract young people and strangers, and for the sale of toys and cakes....besides these there were caravans, shows and exhibitions'

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Travelling performers made bizarre claims to attract the public's attention - this circus visited Warrington in the late Georgian period.

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A different kind of traffic jam, this time on Bridge Street in 1924, passing the Royal Oak Hotel.

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