This shot was taken from a film made in the 1950s clearly showing the exterior of Turner’s photographic shop. The building was then known as Camera House and Turner’s operated successfully on these premises until it closed a few years ago.

Jack Turner was a pharmacist with a thriving business in Pink Lane, but like many in his profession he decided to branch out into photography. Shortly before the Second World War, he built up a reputation as an amateur photographer and began a photo processing sideline in the basement. When the war broke out, Jack joined the Navy and afterwards used his naval contacts to help expand his business.

Shortages in photographic materials and equipment caused by the war strengthened the black market trade in photographic goods. The war had a remarkable effect on the popularity of photography in that ordinary people were beginning to buy cameras and visit studio photographers. Family snapshots were becoming more common as people found themselves separated by the war.

The success of Turner’s lay in the fact that photography had become accessible to the masses.

The main development for Turner’s, however, was the film production side of the business. Jack Turner had the foresight to see that commercial film making would be the ‘next big thing’.

Turner’s made numerous films of ship launches on the Tyne, and commercial/ promotional films for North East companies on such exciting subjects as the artificial insemination of cows, the manufacture of concrete pipes and how to process chickens.

The film production studio was situated on the first floor and a small presentation cinema, seating about 15 people, was located in the basement. This cinema was used by Turner for private screenings and promotional purposes, and it was where he allegedly screened bootleg copies of the latest films. The basement cinema was used for over a decade until a more modern one was built on the first floor.

The property became vacant when the last parts of the Turner’s business moved out. It was then acquired for refurbishment by North East Workspace, who had already brought some of the neighbouring properties back to life. The building has been given a new lease of life as Northumbrian Water House - part of the Silicon Alley community.