Step back in time with a nostalgic look at everyday life, local industry and community spirit across Walsall and the surrounding area between 1960 and 1965.
From high streets and historic landmarks to factory floors, royal visits and familiar faces, these photographs capture a changing Black Country at the start of the 1960s.
Featuring scenes from Aldridge, Bloxwich, Darlaston and Brownhills to many other places across the area, the collection offers a fascinating glimpse of places and moments that have since disappeared or changed beyond recognition.
Take a trip down memory lane, see how many familiar faces and places you can spot, and share your memories in the comments.
- Travel back to Wolverhampton in 1969 with these 61 pictures, guaranteed to bring back memories. View them 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.
5. Tying the knot in Blakenall
Tom and Beryl Askey emerge beam-to-beam from Christ Church in Blakenall following their wedding service in 1960. The bride looks stunning in a classic tea-length gown, tiered veil, and elaborate bouquet, while the groom looks dashing in a tailored suit adorned with a buttonhole. Standing beneath the stone archway of the parish church, the newlyweds capture a lovely slice of local romance and traditional Black Country wedding charm. Were you married at Christ Church in Blakenall or do you remember attending a wedding reception nearby? | Express & Star archive
6. A paradise for hobbyists in Caldmore
S. H. Grainger’s famous Caldmore Models store stands proudly on the corner of Mount Street, complete with the local post office sign above the window. Packed to the rafters with model railways, radio control kits, aircraft, boats, and cars, the shop was an absolute treasure trove for local enthusiasts and pocket-money collectors alike. Vintage advertising hoardings on the side wall complete the nostalgic street scene, capturing a beloved corner shop that drew hobbyists from all across Walsall. Did you ever spend your pocket money on Airfix kits or model railways at Grainger's shop? | Express & Star archive
7. Trolleybuses at Catherine's Cross
A double-decker trolleybus navigates the busy junction connecting Moxley Road, Pinfold Street, and Dangerfield Lane at Catherine's Cross in Darlaston in 1963. Overhead power lines crisscross above the roadway, guiding the electric transport alongside contemporary motorcars, a cyclist, and traditional brick housing. Capturing a classic slice of Black Country transit history, the scene highlights everyday commuting shortly before trolleybus networks were phased out across the region in favour of diesel buses. Do you remember riding the trolleybuses through Catherine's Cross or travelling around Darlaston back in the early 1960s? | Picture: Daniel Graves Photography
8. Lifting the lid on sand plant machinery
Mr Levi Pascal takes charge of the controls at the sand plant inside Walsall's historic Chamberlin & Hill castings factory in 1963. The image highlights the sheer scale of the automated equipment needed to prepare moulding sand for iron casting. A staple of the town’s foundry sector, Chamberlin & Hill relied on skilled operators like Mr Pascal to keep the production lines running smoothly and supply high-quality ironwork across the Black Country. Did you or anyone in your family work at Chamberlin & Hill or in the local foundry trade during the 60s? | Picture: Daniel Graves Photography