Dacorum Pavilion

The Dacorum Pavilion stood in Hemel Hempstead as a theatre and performance venue. It opened in the 1960s and closed in June 2002. The building was designed by the modernist architect Clifford Culpin. Its construction cost £341,500 in 1964. The site now hosts The Forum, which contains council offices and a library. Major acts performed there, including David Bowie, Electric Light Orchestra, Eric Clapton and Elton John. Genesis, Rod Stewart and the Faces, Status Quo, Joy Division, Speedvark and U2 also appeared on its stage. Photographs by Henk Snoek are held in the British Architectural Library. A local group called AViD campaigns for a new arts venue in the town. The pavilion’s modernist style reflected post-war optimism in British architecture. Its loss left a gap in the town’s cultural life. Campaigners argue that Hemel Hempstead still needs a dedicated performance space. The building itself no longer exists, but its memory endures through records and images.