Electric Palace Archives

Location: Room 8, First Floor, Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre

The Electric Palace Archives preserve and celebrate the fascinating history of Harwich’s historic Electric Palace Cinema, one of the oldest surviving purpose-built cinemas in the country.

First opened in 1911, the Electric Palace has played an important role in the cultural and social life of Harwich for more than a century. Its remarkable history, from the early days of silent cinema through to its restoration and continuing operation as a community cinema, is documented through a growing collection of photographs, programmes, newspaper cuttings, records and other historical materials.

Based in Room 8 at Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre, the archives provide an important resource for researchers, historians, film enthusiasts and anyone interested in the history of the cinema and the local community.

The archive team works to preserve, catalogue and digitise its collections, helping to ensure that this unique part of Harwich’s heritage can be explored and enjoyed by future generations.

Visiting the Archives

Members of the public are welcome to arrange appointments to view the collections, explore the history of the Electric Palace and speak directly with the archivists.

Visits are by appointment only and must be arranged in advance via email. There are no regular public opening hours.

Accessibility

The Electric Palace Archives are located on the first floor of Harwich Arts & Heritage Centre, accessible by stairs only. Unfortunately, there is currently no lift or stairlift providing access to the first floor. We are actively working towards improving accessibility to this part of the building. The ground floor of the Arts Centre is wheelchair accessible.

Contact & Further Information

Website: https://electricpalace.com/

Email: educationofficer@electricpalace.com

To arrange an appointment, discuss a research enquiry or find out more about the collections, please contact the Electric Palace team directly by email.