Stafford Art Deco Architectural Gems

A trawl around some of the wonderful, surviving Art Deco buildings of Stafford Town Centre.

Stafford College Tenterbanks Building

This building was built in 1937 and was used as an American Hospital during World War two. It is an impressive, opposing building with so many art deco period details, including a range of carvings. This is a grade 2 listed building that spans Tenterbanks Street and then curves around Victoria Street.

Former Odeon Cinema

The former Stafford Odeon is now in the process of being transformed into a live music venue. It was opened in 1936 as one of the smallest Odeon’s in the chain, and was designed by Roland Satchwell in true art deco style, utilising a corner space in gorgeous curved style.

Former Burton Store

The former Burton store in Stafford is truly beautiful. Occupying a corner plot in the main shopping street, it has the traditional commemorative flagstones, this time from Raymond and Stanley Burton and a gorgeous curved detail. Currently used as an EE store, the exterior is looking pretty good.

Assorted Shopfronts

On Gaolgate Street, there are an assortment of shops, non of them now open unfortunately, that have a definite art deco look. One of the stores was the former Marks and Spencer store, now sadly closed, whilst another has been the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in the near past. The third has a commemorative stone from 1932, and was the former Co Op store, with an almost neo classical style. It was later The Fashion Factory, but is now one of a number of empty stores in the main shopping area.

Former Sandonia Cinema

Unfortunately we’re finishing this post on a sad note. The former Sandonia cinema, which lies on the outskirts of Stafford town centre, has seen it all. Originally opened in 1920, it has been a cinema, a bingo hall and finally a snooker hall, before falling empty. In 2021, it was almost demolished, with only a last minute intervention when the demolition had already started. Now it lies derelict, and in a terrible state of repair, but it still has all the signs of the beautiful, ornate building it once was.