Step back through the decades and discover what life was like across the Black Country and Staffordshire from the 1950s to the 1970s.
These photographs, presented in no particular order, capture the everyday moments that tell the story of the region - from work and shopping to celebrations, hobbies, community life and the characters who helped shape its towns and villages.
Alongside familiar sights are some wonderfully unusual snapshots that show just how much has changed over the years. How many places, faces and memories can you spot? Tell us in the comments.
Take a nostalgic trip back to 1972 with these archive pictures.
- You can enjoy this and more with our weekly FREE Nostalgia Newsletter - with scores of archive pictures and exclusive features on the history of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire and the Black Country - all sent to your inbox every week. Sign up here.

9. Oxley sheds in Wolverhampton, 1963
Before the days of online archives and digital photographs, railway enthusiasts recorded the engines they saw with notebook and pen. On August 14, 1963, David Roberts and Malcolm Andritt were at Oxley sheds in Wolverhampton, taking numbers during a tour they had long hoped to make. Do you have memories of the steam era, Wolverhampton’s railway scene or visiting the sheds? | Express & Star archive

10. Pattingham, 1964
Deep underground near Pattingham, Royal Observer Corps volunteers carried out their duties during one of the most uncertain periods of the 20th century. This 1964 photograph shows part-time members descending into their underground post, ready to train for a role few people ever saw. Did you know about this hidden part of local history? | Express & Star archive

11. Brierley Hill, 1963
A horse and cart, a quiet terraced street and a scene from a very different era. In Brierley Hill on August 23, 1963, the rag and bone man goes about his daily rounds, collecting unwanted items from local households. For many people, the sound of the horse’s hooves and the familiar calls of the trader remain a lasting childhood memory. Did the rag and bone man visit your street? | Express & Star archive

12. Wednesbury, 1965
A world of stories waiting to be explored - this was Wednesbury’s new library in 1965. Children sit quietly engrossed in their books, surrounded by thousands of new adventures waiting on the shelves. The £2,865 facility quickly became a much-loved part of the community. Did you visit this library as a child, and which books do you remember reading? | Express & Star archive

