George Coles
George Coles • Illustration — The New Wine Church in Woolwich was one of Cole’s’ Streamline Moderne designs for Odeon Cinemas. Opened as a cinema in 1937 it is now a church. George Coles (1884–1963) was an English architect, known mostly as a designer of Art Deco cinema theatres in the 1920s and 1930s.
George Coles

Danny Robinson · From geograph.org.uk · CC BY-SA 2.0
- Born
- 1884.
- Died
- 1963.
- Nationality
- United Kingdom and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
- Occupation
- architect.
- Languages
- English.
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George Coles • Illustration — The New Wine Church in Woolwich was one of Cole’s’ Streamline Moderne designs for Odeon Cinemas. Opened as a cinema in 1937 it is now a church. George Coles (1884–1963) was an English architect, known mostly as a designer of Art Deco cinema theatres in the 1920s and 1930s.
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wikidata · Q5538053
In this article
Biography
Biography
Coles was brought up in Leyton, East London and trained at Leyton Technical Institute. From 1912 he was in partnership with Percy Adams. Coles' most notable works include the Grade II listed Troxy in Stepney, and the Gaumont State Cinema in Kilburn and the Odeon, Muswell Hill, both of which are Grade II* listed buildings. Historic England describe his 1937 Woolwich cinema as, "the best example of the 'Odeon' style". Coles designed several other Odeon Cinemas for Oscar Deutsch, including Odeon Isleworth in Isleworth, as well as the Carlton Cinema in Islington, and the Regal Cinema in Kettering. He designed the Kingsland Empire in his birthplace, Dalston, of which the ceiling and upper walls survive hidden above the Rio Cinema. Coles was also involved in the design of the People's Palace (1936), later subsumed into Queen Mary College, University of London. He designed the British Home Stores (now Primark) in Rye Lane, Peckham.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1884–1963
The full dated record · 3 entries
1884
George Coles born.
1933
Troxy is dated 1933.
1963
George Coles died.
Where the work is held
Holdings and surviving copies
Where material relating to George Coles is held. Sacred songs no. Gospel hymns no. The gospel choir, no.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.1065742. Troxy, 490 Commercial Road, London. II.
- 2.1078889. Mecca Bingo (formerly Gaumont State Cinema), 195-199, Kilburn High Road. II*.
- 3.1079178. Odeon Cinema, Muswell Hill Road. II*.
- 4.Modernism in Metroland. George Coles. Architect of the Week. 8 September 2013.
- 5.1212649. New Wine Church (formerly Odeon Cinema). II.
- 6.Apollo Magazine. When art deco went to the movies.
- 7.1292870. Mecca Bingo (formerly Carlton Cinema), 161-169, Essex Road. II*.
- 8.Cinema Theatre Association. Granada, High Street, Kettering.
- 9.1244939. Rio Cinema. II.
- 10.1393150. The Former New People’s Palace. II.
- 11.Classic movie theaters designed by George Coles. Cinema Treasures.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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