A CENTURY’S worth of history was lost when a former cinema and camping shop was torn to the ground in Shoebury.

Builders pulled down the top half of the former Picture Palace cinema, in Ness Road, as work to transform the empty structure into eight flats continues.

Despite being a listed building, permission was given by Southend Council for developer Daniel Nyman to pull down the facade after small trees and plantlife where found to be growing in the brickwork.

After it ceased being a cinema, it was more recently known for being a camping shop.

Paul Seager, from ACS Design, speaking on behalf of the developer, said: “Structural engineers had a look inside and reported to us that it would be impossible to carry out the work unless we tore down the facade, as the roots of the trees had caused the mortar to rot.

“We got special permission to carry out the work from Southend Council, with every intention of rebuilding the facade to an identical state.

“If things go to plan, the flats should be ready before the end of this year, hopefully in about eight months time.”

Southend Council agreed to allow the building, which first opened in May 1913, to be converted into an apartment block split over three storeys.

The cinema stopped showing films there in March 1955. Scaffolding appeared around it last month as work began to build the flats.

Anne Chalk, Independent councillor for Shoebury, said it was a shame to see the facade go. She went on to say her preferred option for the structure would have been to see it used as a cinema again.

Mrs Chalk said: “I went past a cinema in Hampstead, north London, the other day which just showed art and classic movies, so it would have been nice if someone could have been found who would run it as a similar type of venue.”