A decade of change and contrast, the 1970s saw communities across the Black Country, Staffordshire and the surrounding areas remain rooted in industry, close-knit neighbourhoods and bustling high streets, even as towns and estates adapted to redevelopment, changing economies and new ways of living.
From busy shopping scenes and Silver Jubilee celebrations to demolition sites, modern housing schemes and everyday moments, these images capture a period of transition, resilience and community spirit that helped shape the region's identity.
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41. Lodge Farm Estate, Bentley, 1978
A familiar scene of everyday estate life at Bannington Court and Pearson Court on the Lodge Farm Estate, Bentley in March 1978, where Walsall councillors had approved plans for a new footpath across a playing field to provide residents with a shorter route to the local shops. The photograph captures the practical realities of the estate, where local councillor Bill Madeley and others responded to residents’ concerns about the daily journey, often described as a “mud bath”, reflecting the ongoing balance between planning decisions and lived experience in the community. | Express & Star archive
42. Inventor's exhibition, Dudley, 1978
A lively and imaginative moment in Dudley in June 1978 as Doreen Kennedy-Way of Himley Road opened her first inventors’ exhibition, Innov-ex 78, at the Station Hotel. The photograph captures her playfully seated on a children’s toy car, while Margaret Wise, Ethel Broome and Betty Bytheway stand on the stairs behind with brooms in hand and smiles all round, reflecting the creativity, humour and community spirit of the event. | Express & Star archive
43. Wolverhampton, 1978
A changing cityscape captured in May 1978, as landscaping work transformed the canal-side in Wolverhampton into a greener, more welcoming space. With Broad Street and the Ring Road in the background, and the Chubb building visible beyond the Wednesfield Road bridge, the photograph reflects a time when industry, transport and urban renewal came together to reshape the city’s landscape. | Express & Star archive
44. Wolverhampton Open Market, 1978
A lively community scene at the Open Market at Brickkiln Croft and School Street in May 1978, where shoppers queue patiently to pick up their goods amid the bustle of stalls and conversation. The photograph captures the everyday rhythm of local trading, reflecting a time when street markets played a central role in weekly shopping and social life. | Express & Star archive