Photos taken in a derelict theater and bingo hall in Salford reveal how time has frozen in the once thriving community center.
An old menu, original 1980s speakers, and a bingo board can still be seen at The Victoria Theater on Great Clowes Street.
The historic building dates back to 1899 when the stone foundation was laid by Victorian actor Sir Henry Irving and his pal Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula.
It was officially opened a year later, in October 1900, began showing films in 1901, and was granted a cinema license in 1913.
Although it was used for live theater at times, it remained a picture house from 1919 until the 1950s, showing the latest publications.
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In July 1958 the building was closed and used as a furniture store.
After another brief stint as a working theater in the 1960s and bingo in the 1970s, it opened permanently as a bingo hall in the 1980s and provided daily entertainment for thousands until it closed in 2007.
But the impressive building is currently in disrepair, with the dated “Victoria Bingo” and “Palace Bingo” signs still visible outside.
In February of this year, the explorer Matthew Holmes managed to gain access to the historic building on the banks of the Irwell in Lower Broughton.
And the incredible pictures show that although the building was in disrepair for some time, it was almost frozen in time.
In an interview with MEN, the 27-year-old said: “It’s pretty impressive to be fair; There’s still a lot of originality.
“For me, that’s the most important thing I want to see when I go there.
“Many of these buildings have been converted into cinemas and bingo halls.
“Usually a lot of the original features are removed and moved, but this one was massively original. They still had the original columns and incredible balconies.
“The best I saw was the seating area. They don’t make them like they used to and it’s the connection the seats had with the people who visited the building and the joys they would have experienced.
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“It feels like their footsteps are still there. It’s not just an empty building; it is a collection of memories from the people from there. “
Photos taken inside the building include an old menu of chips and burgers for £ 1.
On the wall there is still a television from the 1990s with bingo numbers burned into it.
Matthew believes this is because the machine has been on for so long.
Other original features include a bingo board, 1980s speakers, and a ticket office.