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.
25. Smiles and treats on the ward
Nurses and young patients gather round a table for a special children's party on the paediatric ward at Walsall Manor Hospital during the 1960s. Framed by classic metal hospital cots, staff members sit with toddlers to help them enjoy treats, soft drinks, and party food spread across the table. These festive gatherings were organised by dedicated hospital staff to bring a bit of cheer and comfort to young youngsters spending time away from home. Were you ever a patient at Walsall Manor as a child, or do you recognise any of the friendly nursing staff here? | Express & Star archive
26. Reaching new heights in Brownhills
A mother pushes a traditional pram past the brand-new multi-storey block of flats built by Brownhills Urban District Council, officially opened on 16 December 1961. Soaring above the surrounding neighbourhood, the modern high-rise represented a bold step forward in post-war municipal housing, offering local families private balconies, modern amenities, and far-reaching views across the district. Designed to relieve housing pressure, the impressive scheme stood as a proud landmark for the local authority during an era of rapid civic development. Were you living in Brownhills when the council unveiled these new high-rise homes? | Express & Star archive
27. Changing times at the heart of Darlaston's fastener trade
A prominent 'For Sale' sign hangs on the red-brick facade of GKN's main office block in Darlaston during an era of industrial transition. In the background across the street, the premises of Atlas Bolt (Darlaston) Ltd remain visible, grounding the streetscape in the town's long-standing reputation as the world's leading center for nut and bolt manufacturing. Once a sprawling hub of activity employing thousands, the site captured a moment of change for Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds and the surrounding Black Country industrial landscape. Did you or a family member work at GKN or any of the neighbouring bolt works in Darlaston? | Express & Star archive
28. Drama on the tracks at Aldridge
Railway workers survey the aftermath of a dramatic derailment at Aldridge in August 1960 after a heavy steam locomotive plunged off the ballast and slid nose-first down an embankment. The tender and goods wagons remained precariously balanced at track level while engineers gathered at the top of the slope to assess the damage and organise a complex recovery operation. The striking accident caused considerable disruption to local freight services, drawing curious onlooker attention to the rural line. Do you remember hearing about the train derailment or going down to see the breakdown crane at work? | Express & Star archive