This building used to be the Borough Theatre. It was built in 1909 and used as a theatre, then converted to a cinema, then a bingo hall, then an amusement arcade. It’s been closed and empty since 2005.
Now it’s just home to the pigeons.
There is an old pic of the place here, and - even better - recent pics of the inside.
What a sad state for a rather fine building! I’ve always liked frontages that curve along the street. Maybe someone will reno it into apartments or something. Very evocative pictures.
Beth, once again you have educated me, I never knew it was called the Borough Theatre. I love the shot of the pigeons.
Bob B, A good idea but I doubt if you would get many people wanting to live on Wallsend High Street though I never thought many people would want to live in the heart of Newcastle but they do.
Bob, it really is! i hope something good is done with it soon but suspect Alf might be right about people not wanting to live on the High Street. But you never know!
Alf, google educated me - i had no idea either ;)
Thank you for bringing back memories from my childhood at the Boro’ on the Saturday kids cinema.
The Ritz and the Boro’ cinemas were great rivals then.
New Years Eve in Wallsend in front of the Town Hall clock was a “must”
On you next visit to Wallsend have a wee wonder down Crow Bank (your 2008 Pics)… Surprise!!
Happy Snapping
Kind regards
Malcolm
Glad you like this post Malcolm M!
I’ll definitely wander down Crow Bank next time I’m down that way. Thanks for reminding me!
Now i’ve lived in wallsend most my life, but i moved over to howdon for a couple of years and lived with my now wife and 2 kids, on moving back to wallsend, i’ve been inspired with the intricacies of the way this town is built, and especially with living near the green, there are some fairly historic buildings and places that have really stood the test of time, and they astound me! One of which has always been the borough theatre on the north eastern corner of park road and the high street. I took the oppurtunity to spend a few hours in there several years ago, (helping a friend who owned it at the time clean bits of it up, but with 2 people doing the work, there wasn’t allot got done!) and since then, have fallen in love with the place! I see it as a place of true herritage, and splendor, for all of the reasons it was built. I am however saddened to have learned that the council have put in a bid to have it demolished, as part of what seems to be a 5-10 year plan to clear the majority of the north side of the high street from park road all the way across to charlotte st.
here is a rough map of the intended area.
However, Irregardless of the scale of their plan, it’s the borough theatre i’m interested in. I feel that there needs to be a voice of concern put forward to the council as to why the place can’t be restored? or at very least saved and marketed in the right way so that it can eventually be restored back to it’s full glory and once again can be a commodity to the people of wallsend, and north tyneside!!! The place has got so much potential, and even the few people who i’ve spoken to about the place have suggested many different things that it could become, which would all benefit wallsend and our community greatly!
Please find the link to my facebook group
Here you will find just about everything that i know about the current state of play.
We desperately don’t want to lose part of our heritage, certainly not in the form of such a lovely, sound, workable building, when instead of wasting it, it could be regenerated and help wallsend get back on it’s feet!