The Great Fire of 1930
A loud crackling of burning timbers awakened a Mr Tomlinson who lived above an
adjoining shop at approximately 4.30am on Saturday 13 December 1930. He ran to the
nearby police station where the Voluntary Fire Bridge were summoned. According to
newspaper accounts they arrived in a very short time and the firemen, in great danger
from falling timbers and molten lead (which was falling from the blazing roof) took two
hours to extinguish the fire.
Although local occupants awoke to find their bedrooms full of smoke, no injuries were
sustained and the fire was confined to the interior of the Rialto. The newspaper stated
that the fire was the worst Colwyn Bay had experienced since the Pier was burnt down
five years before.
Alas, the inside of the theatre was extensively damaged – in fact, it was gutted.
According to the Pioneer, “All that remains of the theatre are four walls. The stage and
proscenium were reduced to ashes and over 800 seats were burnt out and buried
beneath the debris of the fallen roof. In the basement of the theatre are several shops,
such as the joiners and painters, but these escaped with only damage caused by water.
The shops on either side of the theatre entrance also escaped serious damage, apart
from their stock, which was damaged by water.”
The building was insured for £2,500 and the contents were insured with a Manchester
Company for £2,000. The newspaper added that both were valued at much more than
those sums. At the time of the fire the Colwyn Bay Public Hall Company Ltd owned the
building but it was rented from them by Coast Cinemas Lds (who also owned cinemas at
Conwy and Penmaenmawr).
There is, however, a missing piece to this story … the historian does not yet know how
long the repairs took and when, therefore, the building reopened. Does anybody know?
This article was written by Roy Schofield and if you have any further information, then
please email Roy (r.schofield@virgin.net)