The Landmark Arts Centre is arguably the hub of the Teddington community and is a real source of pride for the town.

The Landmark have been operating for 25 years however the building they are based in is much older.

St Alban's Church

Unsurprisingly the building was originally intended to be a church.

The new church was needed as the railway coming to Teddington meant the population was rapidly growing.

St Alban the Martyr was built in 1889 and then consecrated by Teddington's then vicar Rev. Francis Leith Boyd in 1896.

The church remained used until 1967 when the congregation moved over the road to St Mary's Church.

The building then fully closed in 1977 and remained empty and vandalised for the next 15 or so years...

The church's design

The building was designed by local architect William S. Niven in the French Gothic style.

Original plans for the church were even bigger with the building to be based on the Notre Dame de Paris with a planned 200 foot tower!

Funds ran out before this could tower could be built and while the church was never intended to be a cathedral it became informally known as the 'Cathedral of the Thames Valley'.

The church sits empty

Between 1977 and 1995 the church was empty and unused - for the most part.

The church was used for the music video of 'The Sun always shines on T.V.' by 1980s pop group A-ha.

Coming after their most famous hit, 'Take on me', this 1985 follow up would scale the charts and land a UK number one in January 1986.

You can watch the music video taking place at the future Landmark Arts Centre above.

The Landmark Arts Centre is born

St Alban's Church was set for demolition having gone nearly 20 years without being used however a passionate local campaign saved the historic building from being destroyed.

The Landmark Arts Centre has used the building for the last 25 years and the rest is history.

Find out more about the Landmark HERE

Got any specific bits of Teddington history you'd like us to dig into? Then email [email protected] and I'll see what I can find.