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THE PLAZA The new Practice of Health building on the junction of Court Road and Barry Road is just the latest development on a site that has had many uses over the years. It was originally home to a building that was opened on 7th March 1891 by Mr G. Thomas, who was chairman of a group of businessmen that thought the building of a market hall would be a good speculative investment. They hoped to attract market traders and local produce growers who would be interested in renting space similar to markets in Cardiff and the valleys. Some of the first traders who took space there were Burnett's (butchers), Bruton & Mayfield (florists and plant growers), Garnett Bros. (outfitters), together with many other traders. In his opening address to the shareholders, Mr Thomas stated the company hoped to hold a livestock market there on a weekly basis, and that Mr John Thomas, Auctioneer of Cowbridge, had expressed an interest in the establishment of the same. The hall was built on land which is shown on maps of 1860 as being between Windmill Field on the Court Road /Kenilworth Road side, and Ffynnon Ddu (after which Blackwell Close is named), where there was a large pond in a field. However, the idea of a market found little support with local traders and did not stay open long. The northern side of the building was designed as a space where traders could unload and leave their horses and carts. whilst busy in the market. After the closure of the market, this side was leased to Mr Paulett, a prominent local businessman, to stable his horses. Mr Paulett had the contract to clean the streets, and to collect and dispose of the town's rubbish. In 1895, Mr Orton, who ran the American Theatre in Thompson Street, used the building to put on theatrical performances that proved very popular. In the early 1900's when the council opened its new refuse destructor in Barry Road, Mr. Paulett's services were no longer required. Although he had lost his all-important contract, he managed to stay in business hiring out horses and wagons (he was the forerunner of van hire business in Barry). When Mr. Paulett left the hall was sold to Messrs W. Fowler and E. Jones, and before long it re-opened as "The Court Cinema". It was remodelled by local architect Mr T. Lawrence, and was capable of holding audiences of over 1000. Mr Barron J. Soloman who had managed a number of halls in Cardiff, was appointed manager. The cinema's advertising slogan was "The Cinema of Big Events, Showing Pleasing Pictures - Perfectly Presented." The cinema was known as "The Court" for a number of years, until it was sold to Mr & Mrs Scott Selwyn Leek, who refurbished it, installed a sloping floor and luxury seating, and renamed it "The Plaza". Mrs Leek was always seen with a small dog, and visitors to the cinema who were unable to remember Mrs Leek's name, always referred to her "as the lady with the small dog". A projection box was built on the outside wall of the cinema at the Barry Road end, and one entrance was through the cinema, and the other was by a steel ladder on the outside. The projectionist could thus enter or leave the box without disturbing the audience. The Plaza had an agreement with the "Tivoli Cinema" whereby they showed newsreels and sometimes second features at different times. This gave time for a boy with a bicycle to cycle from one cinema to the other with the newsreel or second feature, so that only one rental would be paid. The main feature film would always be shown at the Tivoli at the beginning of the week and the Plaza at the end, giving you a choice of cinemas to visit to see the film. Raymond Stross Theatres, who had already bought the Tivoli, bought the cinema when Mr & Mrs Leek decided to retire. After renovation and the upgrading of projection equipment, the cinema was renamed "The Regal". For many years the Tivoli and the Regal, although smaller, were on a par with many of the cinemas in Cardiff, but had cheaper prices. On the advent of TV, cinema attendances dropped, and as Bingo was becoming popular it was decided to concentrate on Bingo at the Tivoli. The Regal was sold off to Taylor Bros., an old established business who had premises in Castleland Street, but required a larger warehouse. Taylor Bros. kept the name "Regal" in its title of "Regal Cash & Carry". After a number of years trading, Taylor's sold the business to Harold Leigh of Cardiff, who ran it as a "Cash and Carry" warehouse until they decided to concentrate their business in Cardiff. Taylor's sold the building to Messrs. Cotty's, an electrical wholesaler, who moved there from the Atlantic Estate. On the closure of Cotty's, W.A.P. Printers who were also based on the Atlantic Trading Estate, bought the building. When W.A.P sold the building it was bought by the Practice of Health in Barry Road, and demolished to build a new Surgery on the site.
© T. CLEMETT 1999
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