Barton House, Plymouth

I wrote about this building in October 2008 and at the time I knew nothing more about the building than I could see in the photo which I had taken sometime in 2000-01.

Subsequently, I found out that it was known as Barton House in Colin Campbell Court. Originally it was a car showroom/garage for a dealer caled Barton and since my photo has been a Mothercare store and, I think, a Habitat store.

At one point I thought it had been demolished. Happily I was wrong.

Today I see on the BBC Devon website that the building will feature in an interesting art project from 31 March - 9 April this year.

As part of Plymouth's Hidden City Festival, theatre company Part Exchange Co will present a performance guiding people through the history of the building. Colin Campbell Court car park will be set up like a drive-in movie theatre for the audience to watch the show from the comfort of their cars.

No doubt it will be an interesting event. Unlike America and Australia, Britain does not have a history of drive-in theatres so it could be a first-time experience for many of the audience.

References:
BBC Devon, Plymouth's Drive In Deco unveiled
Hidden City website, Drive In Deco

Dragon Mart, Plymouth

I wish I knew more about this building. I snapped in on a rainy afternoon in 2001 in Plymouth in the south west of England.

The signage reads Dragon Mart and the vertical piers and the edge of the verandah have been painted red to fit in with the east asian usage of the building.

It is quite a substantial building and in a way reminds me of the Hoover Building in London, albeit stripped of most decoration.

Everything about this buildings fits the rule of three.

Three protruding, rounded sections, each with a flagpole. Three vertical piers, painted red. Three horizontal bands of windows.

I just need three people to fill me in on it's history.

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Update

I've since found out a bit more about this building through the Ask A Librarian online service and www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/garage_bartons.htm.

The building was originally Barton's Garage and then at some stage became Dragon Mart and then after that Mothercare.

It now appears that it has been demolished to make way for a fairly standard shopping centre.

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Correction - January 2011
I am very happy to report that I was wrong. This building, Barton House in Colin Campbell Court has not been demolished and will feature in an interesting arts project from March 31 - April 9.

BBC Devon - Plymouth's Drive In Deco unveiled