Byker
Raby Picture Theatre, Byker
Last Updated:
22 May 2025
Byker
This is a
Cinema
54.972017, -1.576439
Founded in
Current status is
Redeveloped
Designer (if known):
Now redeveloped for housing
Commercial Road, the main chord on the southern side of Byker, was once home to the Raby Picture Theatre.
This one was an interesting coffin shape wedged between Commercial Road and Oban Road which no longer exists. It's got to be one of the oldest cinemas outside of the city centre, opening in January 1910 to host up to 823 people which is mad considering its perceived size from the outside. There were 450 on the ground floor, 195 in the stalls and 178 in the circle all with very basic wooden seating.
Early on in its life, it was ran by Robert Scott who also owned similar picture houses at Dunston and Felling. It also had one of the only female managers in the city - Mrs A Moffatt, post WWI. Sound was installed in 1930, making it amongst one of the modern offerings in the area.
It doesn't appear to have ever been massively popular though, especially given transport onto Shields Road and Newcastle was fairly good in this area. Given its age and lack of investment attendances declined sharply through the 50s - potentially becoming a bit of a flea pit. Closure eventually came in 1959, and like most became a bingo hall 2 years later. Even this was short lived, and lay dormant as shown below for some years until the late 80s. Pretty great mural though.
Listing Description (if available)
Both these Ordnance Survey map depict the Raby Cinema from early times of its life until the 1950s. Byker had reach its zenith by this stage, with rows upon rows of terraces between the reservoirs of the Newcastle & Gateshead Water Company, and the huge Malings Pottery at St Lawrence. The Picture Theatre occupied a small site between Commercial Road and Oban Road - the former still being constructed to meet what would become Dunstanburgh Road.
The completion is visible on the 2nd shot, as is the Byker Brotherhood Hall which was formerly an army hut. There's a few recognisable features here such as the Sun Ray Clinic, Byker Branch Library and the Working Mens Club which all stood exist. The new Byker estate was simply built around them.
I just wanted to pop on the view of Byker in the 1860s, just to emphasise the great transition from semi-agricultural semi-industrial peripheries into a fully realised suburb in the late 19th century. Only 4 decades prior to that this was all fields interspersed with waggonways, collieries and quarries. The lane on the right of centre is really the only feature which still exists - St Peter's Road. It was formerly the road which led from Byker Manor to St Peter's and Dents Hole, home to shipyards and salmon fisheries owned by the Dent's of Byker.
The site of the Raby Picture House in May 2025
One of the few photographs of the Raby while it was operating as a picture house. This is likely from the 1950s.
Unknown photographer
The Raby after use as a bingo house in the 70s.
Unknown photographer