It is fitting at the turn of the century that we review this wonderful legacy of buildings and take action to preserve them

Arts minister Alan Howarth

Eight others which were already listed had been promoted to grade one. The additions bring the total number of listed cinemas in England to 155.

Mr Howarth said: "Film is the quintessentially 20th century art form.

"The cinemas of the last century, sometimes called, without exaggeration, picture palaces, are part of everyone's heritage.

"It is fitting at the turn of the century that we review this wonderful legacy of buildings and take action to preserve them."

Inspiration

Many of the old cinema buildings boast intriguing building styles and reflect the development of the film industry.

The Gate cinema in Notting Hill, west London, for example has Edwardian plasterwork from the very early days of the silver screen.

The ABC in Halifax, west Yorkshire, has an auditorium that dates from the 1930s and is said to be one of the best remaining examples of its kind.

English Heritage found that many people were particularly concerned about the fate of those that had been converted into leisure facilities, such as bingo halls.

Film-maker Lord Puttnam was inspired by a classic cinema

Bingo has declined in popularity over the last few years leading to closure, and possible demolition, of the buildings.

Among the list of newly protected cinemas is one such hall, the Gala Bingo Club in Tooting, south London.

The club will in future enjoy an elite position as it becomes England's first grade one listed cinema.

The rest of the newly listed picture palaces cover the length and breadth of the country from the Odeon Cinema in Newcastle Upon Tyne to the Gaumont/Palace in Exeter, Devon.

Too many wonderful cinemas have been demolished or altered out of all recognition

Lord Puttnam

One of the major supporters of the English Heritage scheme has been the Oscar-winning film producer David Puttnam.

Speaking last December, Lord Puttnam explained how his own love for the cinema was sparked by an old cinema in Southgate, north London.

He said the cinema was demolished in 1982 even though it was a beautiful example of an art deco interior.

Lord Puttnam added: "Too many wonderful cinemas have been demolished or altered out of all recognition.

"We now have to make sure that those few amazing cinemas that do survive continue to exist for another 50 years."