Timeline: The highs and lows of the Derby Hippodrome

The Hippodrome when it was used as a theatre in the 1950s

Following the fire at Derby Hippodrome last night we've taken a look back at the building that was once an important part of life in Derby.

The Hippodrome opened in 1914 as a 2,000 seat theatre and was converted into a cinema in 1930.

It stayed as a cinema until the late 1940s when it closed. It was bought by Stoll Theatre Corporation in 1950 and it reopened again as a theatre that year.It stayed open as a theatre until 1959, when it closed is doors again.

In it's heyday it drew A-listers like Morcambe and Wise, Cliff Richard and Ken Dodd.

Morecambe and Wise were just a few of the famous faces that played at the Derby Hippodrome

In 1961, it was bought by Mecca and turned into a bingo hall where it remained that way until 2007 when it shut down due to competition from other bingo halls.

The building after it closed as a Bingo Hall

The building was bought by developer Christopher Anthony that year. There were fears in 2008 that the Hippodrome was going to be demolished after the roof collapsed during building repairs.

Derby City Council then took out an injunction against Mr Anthony to stop him carrying out any further work and turning the Grade II listed building into a multi-storey car park.

The scene at the Hippodrome in 2008 when the roof was damaged during building repairs

There have been a number of fires at the site since including in 2008 when it was partially destroyed by arsonists. The City Council decided to spend £30,000 to work out if the building has a future, they hope it can be turned back into a working theatre.

The Derby New Theatre Association have commissioned an artist to create an impression of what they'd like the historic building to look like.