Billingham Snaps

Billingham Snaps 17 year old amateur photographer capturing Billingham through photos, videos and real local stories.

Started as a small project to preserve the brutalist aesthetic in Billingham Town Centre before demolition… but now so much more!

The original Billingham House building was a locally iconic office block built in 1959 on Belasis Avenue that famously s...
31/05/2026

The original Billingham House building was a locally iconic office block built in 1959 on Belasis Avenue that famously served as the headquarters of the ICI.

Once the largest office building in Teesside, it was vacated in 1995 after the fall of the ICI, left to fall derelict by new owners, and then demolished in 2012 by Stockton Borough Council.

Following the demolition, Fujifilm acquired the site and constructed two modern office buildings for its rapidly expanding local workforce. As a nod to the sites history, they named one building ‘New Billingham House’.

Today, Fujifilm now operate as one of the largest employers in the local area and have recently just opened a new £400 million factory opposite New Billingham House on the former Billingham Synthonia FC site.

Some shots of the inside of Billingham Town Centre’s empty inside area, the West Precinct building. A major part of a ma...
30/05/2026

Some shots of the inside of Billingham Town Centre’s empty inside area, the West Precinct building.

A major part of a master plan set out by Fred Dawson and Billingham Urban District Council, it was designed by Elder Lester and Partners and constructed in the late 1960s.

In October 1967, Queen Elizabeth II walked through the building past the newly opened (and now iconic) Boyes store towards the Forum.

The twin offices above the shopping units, called Kingsway and Queensway House, have been home to many government and private organisations across their lifespan. The car park of the offices is nicknamed K2 after the now demolished circular night club, previously known as La Ronde, which was directly connected to the West Precinct.

Nearly 60 years later, the building, alongside the whole town centre itself, is widely recognised within brutalist photography worldwide and amongst north east culture.

The distinctive architecture within our town centre is truly one of a kind with many people loving the concrete design and strongly believing it should be preserved and looked after.

What do you think? Should we keep our town’s unique architecture for local heritage over demolition?

In contrast to the weather at the moment, this is a shot of Billingham Town Centre in the snow sent over to me to share!...
30/05/2026

In contrast to the weather at the moment, this is a shot of Billingham Town Centre in the snow sent over to me to share!

The shot was taken next to Li Wah on the second floor and appears to be at least 15 years old.

That ramp is iconic… 🙌

Between 2005-2009, Thornaby Town Centre received a £25 million revamp from Stockton Borough Council, which involved the ...
27/05/2026

Between 2005-2009, Thornaby Town Centre received a £25 million revamp from Stockton Borough Council, which involved the demolition of the post-war shopping buildings and the building of the Pavilion Shopping Centre.

Some Thornaby residents view the new, modern retail blocks as “soulless” and feel nostalgic for the old St Peter’s Square design, whilst others disliked the older concrete layout.

Today, the Golden Eagle hotel, widely considered an eyesore among visitors, is undergoing asbestos removal to enable its demolition.

As it stands, Stockton Borough Council are considering to purchase Billingham Town Centre entirely. How would you feel if our town centre was to receive a similar revamp, involving the removal of the brutalist structures such as the precinct and the ramp with construction of modern retail units? 🤔

Sitting on the ramp leading to the roof top car park, La Ronde was a famous circular night club venue in Billingham Town...
21/05/2026

Sitting on the ramp leading to the roof top car park, La Ronde was a famous circular night club venue in Billingham Town Centre.

Designed by architects Elder Lester and Partners, it was opened c1968 with some describing it as a “concrete drum”. It was operated by the Bailey Organisation, hosting everything from live music to a bingo.

Later in its lifespan it was renamed to Chaplins, and then most notably K2, a nickname that stuck around for the roof top car park years after the night club disappeared.

Although it was a beloved hotspot for generations, the building was partially demolished in 2006, just before Stockton Borough Council sold the town centre, leaving just the ramp leading to Kingsway/Queensway House.

Some described it and its brutalist counterparts in Billingham as eyesores, others think they make the centre unique. What do you think?

I have included a BBC News article from 2006 covering the demolition for those interested.

One of our town’s most recognisable sights, Dawson House, named after one of the most influential people in Billingham’s...
09/05/2026

One of our town’s most recognisable sights, Dawson House, named after one of the most influential people in Billingham’s history: Freddie Dawson.

Known as the ‘Big Cheese’, Dawson served as the Clerk to Billingham Urban District Council from 1947 until its dissolution in 1968.

Most notably, he was the main visionary for the phased construction of Billingham Town Centre. Although he retired before the final stage was completed, Dawson House itself, the tower was named in tribute to his 20 years of service.

Since opening, Dawson House has represented the final stage of a master plan launched in 1952. Now, the architecture that made Billingham Town Centre recognisable in the first place is now under threat from a major regeneration project.

The iconic walk to Li Wah… with a view! 🙌
04/05/2026

The iconic walk to Li Wah… with a view! 🙌

Not my usual type of post, but how could I not share this shot I got in Cowpen Bewley this week!? 😍The nature we have ar...
02/05/2026

Not my usual type of post, but how could I not share this shot I got in Cowpen Bewley this week!? 😍

The nature we have around us where we live is something we take for granted, beautiful…

A very foggy night in our town centre… let’s hope this regeneration project finally kicks off and brings new life to our...
29/04/2026

A very foggy night in our town centre… let’s hope this regeneration project finally kicks off and brings new life to our town. 🙌

If anyone has any places they would like me to document before they disappear, drop them in the comments or message me!

Summer days are now on the horizon with the sun beginning to set after 17:00 this week… ☀️Let’s hope we start to get som...
08/02/2026

Summer days are now on the horizon with the sun beginning to set after 17:00 this week… ☀️

Let’s hope we start to get some nice sunsets again!

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