Then and Now: A new theatre opened in Swinegate, Grantham, in 1800, owned by banker Joseph Lawrence
The earliest theatre in Grantham was in Westgate and was rather rudimentary, writes Ruth Crook of Grantham Civic Society.
It may have been situated in the cock-pit at the back of the King’s Arms, as other early theatres were in other towns in the locality. It consisted of a very basic pit and gallery.
The next theatre was situated on the Market Place in 1777 and was refurbished with boxes and new scenery in 1797.
A new theatre on Swinegate in Grantham opened in December 1800 and was owned by Grantham banker Joseph Lawrence.
Several other theatres and picture houses were subsequently built in the town. It closed as a theatre in the late 1800s and was later used as a church, billiard hall, gymnasium, dance centre and latterly seed store. It was finally demolished in 1952.