RETRO GALLERY: 9 loved and lost Doncaster landmarks

They are buildings and places instantly recognisible to generations of Doncastrians.
The Palace Theatre in Silver Street.The Palace Theatre in Silver Street.
The Palace Theatre in Silver Street.

From football grounds to factories and theatres to newsaper offices - scores of Doncaster landmarks have vanished over the years.

Doncaster Rovers' Belle Vue stadium is now just a memory, as are the Arndale Centre, Gaumont, Guild Hall and many more.

The old Evening Post works on North Bridge.The old Evening Post works on North Bridge.
The old Evening Post works on North Bridge.
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How many of these 9 lost landmarks would make your “miss list”?

Which other Doncaster buildings which have met the wrecking ball would you love to see again? Let us know.

1. THE PALACE THEATRE, SILVER STREET

This much-loved theatre, seen here in 1963, was demolished to make way for the Top Rank Suite, later Rotters, Elektrik Avenue, Ritzy, Visage, Trilogy - and now Kooky nightclub.

The Gaumont - in its later guise as the Odeon.The Gaumont - in its later guise as the Odeon.
The Gaumont - in its later guise as the Odeon.

2. DONCASTER EVENING POST, NORTH BRIDGE

This imposing building bit the dust following the closure of the newspaper in 1983, the Doncaster Star taking its place as the town's evening read.

3. GAUMONT/ODEON, HALL GATE

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Famous for hosting the likes of the Beatles and The Rolling Stones as well as Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, the former site of the theatre and cinema is now in a car park.

The Arndale Centre in the early 1980s.The Arndale Centre in the early 1980s.
The Arndale Centre in the early 1980s.

4. DONCASTER GAZETTE, PRINTING OFFICE STREET

Another newspaper office lost to the bulldozers, the printworks, which gave the street its name, disappeared as part of the Colonnades development in the 80s.

5. ARNDALE CENTRE, ST SEPULCHRE GATE

Although still there as the Frenchgate, the new centre bears little rememblance to its 70s and early 80s counterpart, with wholesale changes in recent years.

The Guildhall in Frenchgate.The Guildhall in Frenchgate.
The Guildhall in Frenchgate.

6. THE GUILD HALL, FRENCHGATE

Perhaps Doncaster's most missed town centre landmark, this imposing columned edifice stood where Marks and Spencer is today. Its name lives on with the narrow passageway, Old Guildhall Yard.

7. ICI/DUPONT, WHEATLEY HALL ROAD

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Another unmistakable building on one of the town's main routes, generations of workers earned their crust at the factory before its demolition in the 90s.

8. DONCASTER COLLEGE, WATERDALE

A place that probably holds mixed memories for many, the old Doncaster College bit the dust to make way for the new Civic Offices, Cast and Sir Nigel Gresley Square.

9. BELLE VUE, BAWTRY ROADDoncaster Rovers' old Belle Vue ground staged its last ever match in 2006 - and is now being redeveloped for housing, with the club moving to the nearby Keepmoat.