Little bit of info on Abbey Dental has surfaced from my digging:
According to: http://walthamstowdiary.com
It was a former cinema - called The St. James Electric. It started showing silent films but struggled with due to noise from the trains next-door being so loud.
https://londonsideways.wordpress.com
Next to St James Street station, on the Chingford branch, there is an impressive looking building, it’s a dental practice. But look again, do you see the steps …
You are looking at one of Walthamstow’s many lost cinemas. St James’ Electric Theatre was built in 1911 with 500 seats. During the First World War wounded soliders were admitted free.
It was said that when trains passed through the station, the projector trembled and drowned the sound.
The name was changed to Super in 1919 and to Regent in 1932. It went through the thirties being closed and re-opened till final closure in 1939.
Let us be thankful the grand old building has found use as a dental practice and not been demolished.
Thanks to: http://cinematreasures.org for the peep behind the sign (2009). And the arch is still there.
CT: The original arched entrance revealed (briefly) during renovation in September 2004.
Located in the northeast London district of Walthamstow. Opened in 1911 as the 550 seat, St. James' Electric Picture Theatre, it is located adjacent to St. James Street Railway Station on the Chingford line.
The name was changed to Super Cinema in 1919, and by 1926 was operated by the Shipman & King circuit, who operated it until around 1929. In 1932 it became the Regent Cinema. The Regent Cinema opened and closed several times, until its final closure in 1939.
The building became a health club and since at least 1997 has been occupied by Abbey Dental Practice.
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