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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29. Wolverhampton Inner Wheel, 1977
A Silver Jubilee gesture of community spirit in Wolverhampton in June 1977, as the Inner Wheel presented a local children’s home with toys and book tokens. The photograph shows Anita Davenport receiving the gift from Grace Edwards, surrounded by children playing happily with their new toys, capturing a warm moment of celebration, kindness and shared joy. | Express & Star archive
30. North Street, Cannock, 1977
Bob Thomas is pictured outside his former rented home in North Street, Cannock, in September 1977, which had stood empty for 20 months after he moved out. At the time, Bridgtown Residents Action Group were campaigning to save the houses from demolition, even contacting the homeless charity Shelter in the hope they could be brought back into use for those in need. | Express & Star archive
31. Lower Hall Lane, Walsall, 1977
A moment of change for Lower Hall Lane, Walsall in 1977, as plans moved ahead to breathe new life into a row of Georgian houses. Walsall Council’s planning committee approved a scheme by clothing manufacturers John Shannon and Son to renovate the historic buildings and convert them into offices, marking a shift in use while preserving elements of the area’s architectural heritage. | Express & Star archive
32. Midlands family life in 1977
A warm, everyday domestic scene in October 1977, with two women and three children gathered in a typical living room, the familiar comfort of home life surrounding them. An archway opens into the dining area beyond, hinting at the rhythm of family life moving between rooms, capturing a simple, intimate moment of shared space, togetherness and 1970s domestic living across the West Midlands. | Express & Star archive