Photo Centre Berwick

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Photo Centre Berwick

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Photo Centre Berwick, Museum, Berwick Record Office, Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

The Photo Centre Collection is a huge photographic collection which offers an unparalleled glimpse into life in Berwick-upon-Tweed and North Northumberland during the second half of the 20th century!

29/05/2026

Do you recognise anyone in this group portrait?

Our index tells us that the group are all accompanying Rev. Bob Doom of the West Street Mission.

The photograph was taken outside the Photo Centre at the entrance to the Bridge Street Car Park in August 1967.

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

27/05/2026

Last Chance!

You have two more days to see ‘Portrait of a Town’ at the Barracks!

The exhibition showcasing some of our favourite images from the 1950s, 60s and 70s closes on Tuesday 2nd June. Pop along and see it whilst you still can. We have about 40 framed images on display plus a further 60 on a screen so there’s plenty to see. There is also a selection of cameras and equipment too!

The Storehouse (the old Town Museum at the Barracks) is open Thursday 28th May and Tuesday 2nd June - 11am-4pm.

Admission is free.

22/05/2026

Scouts and Guide's Gang Show, June 1977

Do you recognise any of the gang gathered here behind the old community centre on Palace Street?

The Scouts and Guides held a gang show in the Playhouse to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

Did you take part? Let us know more about the performance.

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

13/05/2026

Free Berwick History Talk - Wednesday 20th May - 7pm

The talk will explore some of the buildings and points of interest that can be seen from the walls, looking both inside and outside.

12/05/2026

One Hundred and Eighty!

Do you recognise any members of this darts team? Our index tells us it’s the Roxburgh team back in 1976.

Can anyone identity the pub? The buildings outside don’t match for the Roxburgh. Could it be the Berwick Arms on Marygate?

This is one of 75 images we've just added to the screen at our exhibition at the Barracks. It's open Tuesdays and Thursday (11-4) and is free to visit!

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

30/04/2026

Free Exhibition - This Saturday!!!

21/04/2026

Today marks 100 years since the birth of our late Queen, Elizabeth II.

Here we see the Queen during her visit to Berwick, 70 years ago in 1956. On arrival at the railway station, she inspected a guard of honour of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers before being driven through the streets to the Town Hall.

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

15/04/2026

We’re not quite at leek show season yet but I’m sure a few of you are getting ready to plant those prize winners!

Do you recognise any of these champions at Tweedmouth Leek Club’s show? The show was held in the Co-Operative Hall in the West End in September 1966.

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

10/04/2026

A bit of history...

The Photo Centre was founded way back in January 1951 by this chap, David M. Smith. Back then the business was know as ‘D.M. Smith, Photo-News Service’.

David came to Berwick in 1938 from Perth to work at the Berwick Advertiser. He started as Chief Reporter and eventually became Editor. Totally modernising the paper, he founded its photographic department and introduced novel features such as ‘Uncle Bob’s Children’s Nook’, which appealed to future generations of readers. Despite more than doubling the circulation of the Advertiser its new owner Col. J.I.M. Smail and David didn’t see eye to eye.

Tensions reached a peak one Friday in January 1951 and David took a huge leap. In his own words he “…finished at the Advertiser on the Friday, and started my own freelance business on the Monday - plunged in immediately.”

The rest is history. He had brilliant relationships with newspapers nationwide so had a ready audience for his photographs and stories. The Photo Centre, as it became, served the area for the next 60 years providing both press and commercial photographs and their reports to all manner of papers.

Yesterday I found this fantastic set of portraits of David taken in 1956 when the business had moved to 17 Bridge Street, the address most people will associate with the business.

07/04/2026

A 'Baby Service' at Spittal

The Rev. G.A. Elcoat of St. John’s Church, Spittal had a novel idea. In October 1956, he held a ‘baby service’, inviting all the babies back to church that he’d christened since January 1955.

Here we see the bouncing babes with their mothers outside the church.

Do you recognise anyone (or maybe even see yourself!)

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© Berwick Record Office - Photo Centre Collection

Address

Berwick Record Office
Berwick-Upon-Tweed
TD151DB

Website

https://www.photocentreberwick.co.uk/

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