The Glyn Cinema

The Glyn Cinema in Lostwithiel was owned by Mr Henry Williams who arrived in Lostwithiel with his fiancee, Miss Eileen Ludgate, from Ayrshire, Scotland. It opened in 1937 at the junction of Church Lane and South Street, on the site of a former saw-mill and coffin-making business. 

The cinema was due to open on Monday 5th April but due to last minute hitches, opening was delayed until Thursday 8th April. The Cornish Guardian from 15th April 1937 reported: "The opening was originally fixed for the previous Monday but the non-arrival of the seats made it necessary to postpone the ceremony. Even then it was only by every workman working regardless of hours, late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, that these were down to time...."

It had 495 seats and films were shown every night except Sunday, with an additional matinee on Saturdays. Films changed on Mondays and Thursdays. Mr Williams worked in the projection suite while Mrs Williams worked in the box office. Several other local people were employed as projectionists, cleaners and usherettes. The best remembered usherette was Minnie Roose who sat at the back knitting throughout films, and kept strict order.

The Glyn closed in 1960. Mr Williams took up a position as a senior scientific assistant at the Dounreay atomic energy establishment in Scotland. He was unable to sell the Glyn Cinema, despite various plans to convert it into a bingo hall or cabaret club. During the 1970s he designed and built a flat within the cinema shell and, on his retirement in 1977, he and his wife lived in this new flat until his death in 1994.

The cinema building has now been converted into houses called Glynn Mews.

The film below of local memories was made as part of a special event to celebrate the Glyn, held in conjunction with Lostwithiel Museum.

The film was created by Storylines with funding from Cinema For All's Reaching Communities.

Below is an interview with John Pegg in Dean's barber shop which has some of the original Glyn cinema seats.