From royal visits and Silver Jubilee celebrations to factory floors and everyday moments, these photographs offer a fascinating glimpse of life across the Black Country and Staffordshire in 1977.
It was a year of big occasions and ordinary routines, with plenty of characters and stories captured along the way. We’ve delved into the archives to bring you a collection of pictures that show how much has changed - and how much remains familiar.
Some scenes may bring back memories of places you knew, people you remember or jobs you once did, while others offer a glimpse into a world that has almost disappeared. Take a look through the gallery and see which pictures spark a memory.
Do you recognise anyone? Where were you in 1977? And what do you remember most about the year? Share your memories in the comments.
Take a look back at 1990 in our previous gallery here.
- You can enjoy this and more with our weekly FREE Nostalgia Newsletter - with scores of archive pictures and exclusive features on the history of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country - all sent to your inbox every week. Sign up here.
1. Keeping an old craft alive
In January 1977, Clarrie Johnson demonstrated the traditional craft of chain-making at the Mushroom Green chain shop in Netherton, Dudley. The shop had been re-equipped by what was then becoming the Black Country Living Museum, helping to preserve a skill closely associated with the area’s industrial past. Clarrie was demonstrating the process during a visit by Mayor Councillor Dennis Harty. One detail that stands out to modern eyes is the lack of any visible safety wear as Clarrie works with the machinery. Can you imagine doing this kind of work day after day? Do you remember seeing traditional Black Country crafts being demonstrated? | Express & Star archive
2. Pub signs bound for Australia
Stafford antique dealer Mr Thomas Timmins had tapped into a thriving market in 1977, selling old pub signs from his shop in Eccleshall to customers as far away as Australia. Pictured with some of the signs is Mr Bill Lindop, who had been helping out at the shop since retiring. It is a reminder of how local antiques could find new homes thousands of miles away. Can you imagine seeing one of these Staffordshire pub signs hanging in an Australian pub? | Express & Star archive
3. The abandoned car that became a Lye landmark
By July 1977, an abandoned Ford Corsair had become an unwelcome landmark in Spring Street, Lye. The C-registration car had reportedly been sitting there since the previous year, despite residents trying for months to have it removed. Dudley Council finally promised action within days, while police superintendent Vic Morris said they had been unable to trace the last registered owner. How long did abandoned cars used to sit on your street? Can you remember any that became such a familiar sight that you barely noticed them anymore? | Express & Star archive
4. A royal farewell during the Jubilee
The Mayor and Mayoress of Walsall, Councillor and Mrs Jim Leadbeater, bid farewell to Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Philip as the royal couple continued their Jubilee tour in July 1977. The visit brought the celebrations for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee into the heart of the town, with crowds turning out to catch a glimpse of the royal visitors. Can you remember where you were when the Queen came to Walsall? Did you join the crowds, or watch the celebrations from home? | Express & Star archive