When you think of the 1980s, lots of key moments spring to mind.
Whether that be the Royal Wedding of 1981, which saw a young Princess Diana join the Royal family. Michael Jackson and Madonna dominating global music or the Falklands War which saw British troops deployed in a sovereignty dispute with Argentina.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the 1980s was a transformational time for those living in the Black Country. This was a decade marked by the collapse of heavy industry in our region.
Here is a fascinating glimpse of life in the Black Country in a whooping 80 pictures from our archives.
If you have any pictures from the 1980s - I’d love to personally see and perhaps include for a future round-up.
These photographs are in no particular order.
Do message - [email protected].
Without further ado, let’s turn back the clock and reminisce on some simpler times:
53. Open air market in Dudley: May 1981
The fountain and open air market in Dudley, pictured in May 1981, when plans for a Black Country Mid-Summer Market and Fair in June were well ahead. | Local Library
54. Workers laying red-brick floor in Dudley: October 1982
Work was under way laying a red-brick floor near the entrance to their Churchill Precinct in Dudley market place on 22 October 1982. | Local Library
55. Football in Dudley: February 1983
Dudley Action Sport Returns, Mons Hill School. The group had founded Dudley's first women's football team and was appealing for more players in order to enrol in the Women's Football League in the forthcoming season. The photograph shows (from left) Paula Smith, Karen Rowlinson, Tracy Wilkes, Ann Greenfield, Jane Richardson, Kerry Cooper, Tania Wishart and Karen Powell in February 1983. | Local Library
56. Art exhibition at Dudley Art Gallery: May 1984
Mid-Art Exhibition, Dudley Art Gallery. One of the entries in the annual Mid-Art competition came from artist Bryn Jayes from Radmore Road in Handsworth, and was titled 'In praise of all bus stations'. The photograph shows Bryan Greenaway from Pensnett and Peter Saunders from Stourbridge with one of the paintings in May 1984. | Local Library