National Civilian WW2 Memorial Trust facts for kids
The National Civilian WW2 Memorial Trust (NCWW2MT) is a special group that works to save and fix up a historic building called the National Picture Theatre in Kingston upon Hull, England. This building is important because it's the last remaining civilian building in the UK that was bombed during World War II and still stands as a ruin. It helps us remember the brave people who lived through the war at home.
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The National Picture Theatre: A Wartime Survivor
The National Picture Theatre was a cinema built in 1914 on Beverley Road in Kingston upon Hull. During the Second World War, a terrible air raid happened on the night of March 18, 1941. The cinema was hit by bombs and mostly destroyed.
The Bombing and Its Aftermath
At the time of the bombing, a film was showing: Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator'. Amazingly, all 150 people inside the cinema managed to escape safely. No one was hurt. The inside of the building was completely ruined, but the front part, called the facade, somehow survived the blast.
Today, the facade still stands, along with parts of the entrance area behind it. This makes the cinema very special. It is the last remaining civilian building in the UK that was bombed during the war and left as a ruin. Because of its history, it was given a special protection status, becoming a Grade II listed building in January 2007. This means it's an important historic site that needs to be preserved.
Efforts to Save the Site
For many years, the building's owner, Saleem Hakim, had different ideas for the site. In 2009, he thought about turning it into flats and a restaurant. Later, in 2013, he planned to use part of the back area as a car park.
When these plans didn't happen, the Hull City Council decided to take action. In October 2014, they decided to issue a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the site. A CPO is a legal order that allows a public body, like a council, to buy land or property even if the owner doesn't want to sell it. This usually happens when the land is needed for an important public purpose. The council issued the CPO in January 2015 after the owner failed to sell the site at an auction.
In March 2016, the owner wanted to create an outdoor dining area where the cinema's main screen used to be. He planned to use this space with a new Indian restaurant next door. However, the Hull City Council refused this idea. They believed it would harm the historic importance of the theatre.
Finally, in May 2016, the Hull City Council issued another compulsory purchase order for the building. This allowed them to buy the land. By July 2018, the building was officially owned by Hull City Council. In March 2020, work began to make the building's foundations stronger and more stable.
The Trust: Remembering Civilian Heroes
Because the cinema has been a ruin since World War II, the National Civilian WW2 Memorial Trust was created. Their main goal is to make the National Picture Theatre ruins a special place. They want it to be a national tribute to the "Home Front." The Home Front refers to the civilians who stayed in their homes and worked during the war.
The Trust wants the site to be a place for education, history, and remembrance. They aim to honor all the civilians who lived and worked through the Blitz. The Blitz was a period of heavy bombing in Britain, not just in Kingston upon Hull but across the whole country.
The Trust officially became a registered charity with The Charity Commission on October 4, 2012. Tom Robinson is the current chairman. In the same month, the Trust received permission to turn the theatre into a memorial site. They also plan to build an education center there.
