Step back to 1962 and discover a fascinating snapshot of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country at a time of change, confidence and industrial strength. These photographs capture the people, places and moments that shaped the region more than 60 years ago.
From the roaring furnaces of Bilston Steelworks and busy press lines in Willenhall to the opening of new schools, factories and industrial centres, the pictures reveal a region at the heart of Britain's manufacturing might. But alongside the industry are the stories of everyday life that made these communities unique.
You'll find Wolverhampton's Caribbean community celebrating Jamaican Independence at Wulfrun Hall, the centuries-old tradition of the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, community gatherings, familiar faces and moments that capture the character of the region in 1962.
Whether these scenes bring back memories or offer a glimpse into a bygone age, this gallery is a celebration of the people, traditions and industries that helped shape Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country. If these photographs spark a memory, we'd love to hear your stories in the comments.
- Explore these 59 nostalgic pictures capturing the workplaces and industries that shaped the Black Country and Staffordshire in the 1980s.
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61. Crafting practical skills at a modern trade workshop
Students focus intently on their woodwork at individual workbenches in the carpentry shop at the new Wulfrun College of Further Education on March 21, 1962. Kitted out with planes, vices, and specialist hand tools, the modern workshop block was built to provide top-tier vocational training for young apprentices heading into the region's bustling construction and manufacturing trades. The opening of the college marked a major leap forward in expanding further education opportunities across the town. Did you or a family member learn a trade at Wulfrun College during its early days in the 1960s? | Express & Star archive
62. A quiet corner of suburban life on a new housing estate
A mother pushes a pram alongside her young child past a newly built parade of shops at the corner of Martin Croft and Swallow Croft, off Wheel Lane in Lichfield, in March 1962. Featuring Swallow Croft Stores, Underwood off-licence, Croft Fruit Stores, and vibrant cigarette advertising of the era, the modern brick precinct served as a local hub for residents on the expanding estate. The scene offers a charming, everyday glimpse into suburban development during the early 1960s. Do you or your family remember shopping at this parade in Lichfield back in the 1960s? | Express & Star archive
63. Framing a forgotten corner of historic Stafford
Framed naturally by a brick archway, a driver reaches for his car door along Foregate Square in October 1962. Despite its grand-sounding name, the quiet thoroughfare was little more than a narrow terraced street tucked away off the main town centre routes. Lined with traditional Victorian cottages, television aerials, and cobbled entryways, this lesser-known view offers a nostalgic snapshot of everyday residential life in Stafford before mid-century redevelopment changed the urban landscape. Do you remember Foregate Square or similar quiet residential streets around Stafford back in the 1960s? | Express & Star archive