free hit counter
Great Britain - Victoria theatre, Salford, Dec 17 | Oblivion State Urban Exploration

Post a thread

Post a thread in one of the forums

Browse the forums

Browse threads and contribute to reports

Contact Staff

Contact the team

Great Britain Victoria theatre, Salford, Dec 17

Albino-jay

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
86
Reaction score
165
Points
33
Location
Stockport
I’d had my eye on this place for years. I’m from Prestwich so only up the road and I remember going past the Rialto further up where there is now a maccies and past this place on our way into town as a kid. I lived in Broughton briefly about 5 years ago and used to keep an eye on it, however it was always well sealed. ​

 ​

Visited with @EOA initially and @Host and @CameraShy joined us later. ​

 ​

History

 ​

Built in 1899 by the Broughton Theatres Syndicate Ltd, Victoria Theatre opened in December 1900. Less than a year after opening it was used as a cinema (although sadly there is no signs of cinema use left) ​

 ​

Seating was extended from 2,000 upto 3,000 in 1910 and between 1919 and 1919 it was used as a theatre again. ​

 ​

It was then used as a cinema again until it closed in 1958 when it was then used as a clothing/furniture store until 1973 when it was an unsuccessful bingo hall, which closed shortly after. It remained closed until the 80s when it opened up as Bingo hall, which it remained until its closure in 2008 under the Palace name. ​

 ​

Its Grade II listed and on the theatres at risk register. ​

 ​

More info can be found here ​

 ​




 ​

Pics

 ​

Ill start with some old pictures of the theatre taken from google image search or the above websites. ​

 ​

27118361289_4ca310c453.jpg

 ​

27118342839_11b2b3e33b_z.jpg

 ​

38864468382_c1b9fd4654_z.jpg

 ​

and now​

 ​

38864171382_8aa9f74236_z.jpg

 ​

38864174742_9ddd91281a_z.jpg

 ​

not too sure on the date of this ​

 ​

27118361159_01786cc471_z.jpg

 ​

25023329188_403ec85cb7_z.jpg

 ​

25023328838_1873cf354c_z.jpg

 ​

Now, looking out from the stage​

 ​

38007866705_7762423728_z.jpg

 ​

Looking down at the stage​

 ​

38864154012_b67ab557d1_z.jpg

 ​

24029687107_05ea8d44e0_z.jpg

 ​

bad lens flare​

 ​

24029674817_c3a216e6ce_z.jpg

 ​

38179068694_d728220a3d_z.jpg

 ​

The upper circle seating area which has been boarded off​

 ​

38894496111_d1764e09ab_z.jpg

 ​

seating on the dress circle​

 ​

24029676957_8ef38f775b_z.jpg

 ​

looking down from the dress circle​

 ​

27118044739_248be7b8a4_z.jpg

 ​

spiderwebs and pigeon shit fill the upper levels. Looking up from the dress circle level to the awesome ceiling. ​

 ​

38864154742_ed8ac1a097_z.jpg

 ​

the stalls/stage level​

 ​

38894449351_041db0a4d4_z.jpg

 ​

more spider webby goodness above one of the boxes next to the stage​

 ​

38864158212_4b3d84c126_z.jpg

 ​

the back of the curved plaster ceiling above the stage​

 ​

24029683237_3d37341d91_z.jpg

 ​

 ​

38179072904_85c11384d4_z.jpg

 ​

stripped seating in a back room​

 ​

38864156752_5544d03d28_z.jpg

 ​

the upper circle boarded off​

 ​

38864159462_0f56651036_z.jpg

 ​

38864160512_c8137033fe_z.jpg

 ​

27118041519_617ec29a22_z.jpg

 ​

The stage level​

 ​

38007817785_291c679ff1_z.jpg

 ​

38007826445_3a27ea0b41_z.jpg

 ​

38007824665_d6d963fe80_z.jpg

 ​

38894473811_417c810231_z.jpg

 ​

38179061354_bc826f9f56_z.jpg

 ​

38179056714_5b42550504_z.jpg

 ​

38007822985_1d83ef7756_z.jpg

 ​

cheap ​

 ​

38179075674_afe1be8abe_z.jpg

 ​

Down into the basement and underneath eh stage​

 ​

38179077524_1c4f37b585_z.jpg

 ​

underneath the stage. The wooden levers you can see operated various trapdoors and other stage type thingamabobs. Which is pretty cool. ​

 ​

38179082644_89c91f59ea_z.jpg

 ​

small workshop area​

 ​

38179084424_b48287f8ef_z.jpg

 ​

Nice tilling ​

 ​

24029663327_1cef56bf52_z.jpg

 ​

Main entrance​

 ​

38894526071_a1cd443f04_z.jpg

 ​

38007860555_1a357e69ec_z.jpg

 ​

bingo at its best!​

 ​

38007863505_e78f9ac420_z.jpg

 ​

38864163362_d06ef319e5_z.jpg

 ​

38007865405_b40d233424_z.jpg
 

Urbexbandoned

Full Member
OS Full member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Messages
2,218
Reaction score
855
Points
113
Location
Lincoln
I really like that! Like your detailed shots. Isnt it rewarding when you finally get to explore somewhere you've wanted to.. 

so many really nice features left but I do like the whole place and the detail on the balcony :)  

 

The_Raw

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Dec 16, 2013
Messages
3,931
Reaction score
2,183
Points
113
That's peachy mate. I've still not been to a nice old theatre like this ?

 

jones-y-gog

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
1,742
Reaction score
848
Points
113
Location
Leodis
What a stunner!!! 

I love how they made these old places so lavish and it doesn't seem too tacky from being converted to a bingo venue. Shame there's so few left these days. Great report! 

 

Albino-jay

OS Full member
OS Full member
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
86
Reaction score
165
Points
33
Location
Stockport
What a stunner!!! 

I love how they made these old places so lavish and it doesn't seem too tacky from being converted to a bingo venue. Shame there's so few left these days. Great report! 


There's still a few about, obviously nowhere near as many as there was though, but still a few. It's mad some places you go and you can see 3/4 former theatres all within a few hundred yards of eachother. All of different sizes, and level of glam but most converted to furniture shops lol but yeah it's a shame when ones like this get left to just deteriorate to the point of no return. 

I like this a lot, you've photographed it's stunning decor really well too!


Thanks, it's always a bit of a pain in the arse with the garish colour schemes in these places, and with the lighting.....when it works 

 
Top