Some of these sights might bring back fond memories - from the early arrival of the milkman and the unmistakable call of the rag-and-bone man to the rhythmic clink of local workshops, familiar street vendors and everyday scenes that were once simply part of life.
Over the decades, many of these trades and traditional ways of life have changed, while others have quietly disappeared altogether. But through this gallery, we can step back in time across Wolverhampton, the Black Country and Staffordshire to discover the hardworking people, traditional crafts, familiar scenes and everyday items that once featured in daily life. From typewriters and index filing systems to video cameras and workshops, these pictures offer plenty of reminders of just how much has changed.
How many of these bygone moments do you remember? Take a stroll through our nostalgia gallery, see what sparks a memory and share your own stories, photos and recollections in the comments.
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1. Extra, extra! Headlines on the street
In 1985, a lively local vendor leaned out of her paper kiosk to shout out the latest headlines, her Express & Star bill poster proudly declaring "Our town's a thousand times better!". Before the internet age, these familiar street kiosks and energetic sellers were the beating heart of local news, delivering breaking stories, sports scores, and daily gossip straight to passers-by. Do you remember buying your evening paper from a street kiosk like this or hearing the vendor's call ringing out across the high street? What major local news story from 1985 do you think was making the headlines that day? | Express & Star archive
2. Crafting a bygone era on wheels
Pictured here in January 1977, 71-year-old wheelwright and coachbuilder Ernest Heath takes a seat in a freshly finished rally trap dating back to 1885 - with a rebuilt 1900 float visible in the background. Long before modern body shops and automated production lines, skilled craftsmen like Ernest shaped, turned, and assembled horse-drawn carriages entirely by hand. Do you remember seeing traditional coachbuilders and wheelwrights at work in local yard workshops? Did your family ever own or travel in a horse-drawn trap like this one? | Express & Star archive
3. Lessons in civic record keeping
In September 1948, staff from the Wolverhampton Town Hall Accounts Department demonstrated how a card index filing system worked to fascinated visiting schoolgirls during the Centenary Civic Exhibition. Long before digital databases or computer spreadsheets existed, municipal record keeping relied on meticulous hand-written index cards and heavy filing cabinets to track local council services, education, and public works. Do you remember using card index drawers in local libraries, offices, or schools to search for information? | Express & Star archive
4. A toast to the daily pinta!
Standing proudly among towering crates of glass bottles, Vin Sneyd raises a fresh glass of milk to celebrate a lifetime of service. Long before cartons, plastic jugs, and supermarket runs became the norm, dedicated dairy workers ensured households always had fresh milk ready on the doorstep for their morning cup of tea. Did your family have a favourite milkman who always stopped for a chat on his rounds? Were you allowed to peck the foil top off the creamline before anyone else got to the bottle, or do you remember the classic "Drinka Pinta Milka Day" adverts? | Express & Star archive