Take a nostalgic journey through life in and around Cannock during the 1970s, a decade of change, community spirit and unforgettable moments.
From the coalfields and Cannock Chase to town centre scenes, royal visits and everyday life on local streets, these archive photographs, presented in no particular order, capture the people, places and stories that shaped the area.
Do you recognise familiar faces, old landmarks or places that have changed over the years? Share your memories of Cannock in the 1970s with us.
Relive memories of the Black Country and Staffordshire in 1984 in our archive gallery here.
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13. A new era taking shape at Littleton Colliery
The framework of a new pithead plant rises at Littleton Colliery, Huntington, near Cannock, in October 1974. The construction work was part of a £6 million reorganisation aimed at modernising the site and reflected the importance of coal mining to the local economy at the time. Do you remember the sights and sounds of Littleton Colliery? Did you or someone in your family work at the pit? | Express & Star archive
14. Making way for a new era on Mill Street
A power hammer tackles the 75-ton brick buttress of Cannock’s A5190 Mill Street rail bridge in February 1975, as work began to clear away the Victorian structures and make room for improvements to the road. A diesel engine crosses the new, wider steel span — capturing a moment when old and new engineering stood side by side. Do you remember the Mill Street bridge before it changed? What other parts of Cannock have been transformed over the years? | Express & Star archive
15. Pilgrims gather at Hednesford shrine
The Birmingham Archdiocese annual pilgrimage to the shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Hednesford brought together worshippers from across the region in May 1970. The Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Reverend George Patrick Dwyer, is pictured celebrating Mass and blessing the sick during the gathering. The pilgrimage became an important event in the calendar for many members of the Catholic community. Do you remember attending this pilgrimage or visiting the shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes? | Express & Star archive
16. Farewell to St Luke’s old parish rooms
This old corrugated iron parish rooms at St Luke’s Church, Cannock, was pictured in February 1971 shortly before it was due to be demolished. The modest building had served as a meeting place for the local community, hosting gatherings and activities before making way for change. Do you remember the old parish rooms at St Luke’s? What memories do you have of community buildings that have since disappeared? | Express & Star archive