Capturing Newcastle’s Past Through Newcastle Landscape Videography – The Oxford Galleries
The Oxford Galleries in Newcastle belong to an era before I ever lived in the city—but they’ve become part of my ongoing journey in Newcastle landscape videography.
Filmed during one of my regular walks through the city, this short clip captures the fading façade of the former Oxford Galleries on New Bridge Street—a building whose presence still whispers of a rich cultural history.
The Oxford Galleries opened in 1925 as a lavish dance hall and quickly established itself as one of Newcastle’s most iconic entertainment venues. Located just outside the city centre, the building was designed to impress. Its sweeping curved façade, ornate brickwork, and grand interiors could accommodate hundreds of dancers. At its height, the Oxford was one of the North East’s favourite places for ballroom dancing, big band performances, and social events—a beacon of elegance and escapism for generations of Geordies.
Thousands of people passed through its doors over the decades. In the 1930s and 1940s, it was synonymous with formal dances and foxtrots, often accompanied by live orchestras. During the post-war years, it hosted popular tea dances—a place where couples met, friendships blossomed, and music filled the air. The atmosphere was one of glamour, framed by art deco interiors and the soft conversations between dances. For many, the Oxford wasn’t just a dance hall; it was a place where life’s significant memories were made.
As cultural tastes shifted, so did the Oxford’s purpose. By the 1960s, it had become a key venue for pop concerts, hosting future legends like The Beatles and The Who before they became household names. At one point, it even operated as a roller-skating rink—a testament to how old entertainment venues often adapt to survive. Through the 1980s and 1990s, it transformed into a nightclub, reflecting how Newcastle’s nightlife evolved with each new generation. Though the Oxford’s days as a grand dance hall have long passed, its silhouette remains etched into the city’s architectural memory.
Today, the building’s interiors have changed significantly, but its striking curved frontage and decorative details still lend it a quiet authority on New Bridge Street. For many locals, it remains a landmark of Newcastle’s vibrant social history—a piece of the urban landscape that carries stories, even if it’s not celebrated with plaques or guided tours. For a documentary videographer Newcastle locals can relate to, it’s buildings like this that offer a glimpse into both personal and collective memory.
I filmed this short clip of the Oxford Galleries as part of my ongoing series exploring Newcastle landscape videography. These videos—usually between 20 and 30 seconds long—are filmed on impulse during my walks through Newcastle and Gateshead. There’s no pre-production, no script, and often no people in frame. Instead, I focus on how light, time, and architecture intersect for just a brief moment. It’s about documenting quiet fragments of the city—places that catch my eye, whether monumental or hidden.
The footage from these walks is shared on my dedicated Instagram account, @newcastle_gateshead_landscapes, and collected on my website at alanfentiman.co.uk/vimeo-videos/landscape. These short landscape films are not about spectacle. Instead, they capture moments of stillness—where history, architecture, and atmosphere merge into a fleeting visual archive. Sometimes, as with the Oxford Galleries, I know the story behind the building I’m filming; other times, I research it later. Either way, each video becomes part of a quiet documentation of the region’s evolving cityscape.
For me, Newcastle landscape videography is not just about filming buildings—it’s about revealing layers of history and emotion embedded in the city’s structures. The Oxford Galleries remind me how places can hold memory long after their original purpose fades. It’s these moments of quiet resonance that I aim to preserve, one frame at a time.
See more fleeting moments like this on Instagram → or browse the full collection on my landscape video page →.