Take a nostalgic journey through the streets of Wolverhampton between 1960 and 1963 with this fascinating collection of archive photographs, captured when the now-city was still proudly known as a bustling Black Country town.
We’ve delved into the Express & Star archives to uncover scenes of a changing Wolverhampton, from busy shopping streets and crowded crossroads to long-lost buildings and familiar corners remembered by generations of local people. Together, the images capture the rhythm of everyday life at the dawn of a new decade, before decades of redevelopment reshaped the town into the city we know today.
Enjoy browsing through the gallery - the pictures are in no particular order - and don’t forget to share your memories and favourite snapshots in the comments.
Did you catch our nostalgic gallery of Wednesbury in the 1980s and 1990s? Take a trip down memory lane and have a look here.
- 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.
1. Civic Hall, 1961
View from St Peter’s Church across Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall car park, June 1961, takes in a sweeping urban scene where parked cars gather beneath the city skyline. The Town Hall stands to the left. | Picture: Express & Star
2. Wolverhampton Metal Co, 1962
The new building of Wolverhampton Metal Co on Rookery Street, Wolverhampton, pictured in 1962. A striking symbol of post-war industry and progress, capturing a moment when modern factory buildings were reshaping the city’s industrial landscape. | Picture: Express & Star
3. Dudley Street, 1960
A view of Dudley Street, Wolverhampton in March 1960, lined with familiar high street names of the day, including jeweller H Samuel, Winter’s, and W & E Turner Ltd. A snapshot of a thriving shopping street from a very different era, when these well-loved stores were part of everyday life. | Picture: Express & Star
4. Craddock Brothers, 1963
Craddock Brothers boot and shoe factory on the corner of Tempest Street and Powlett Street, Wolverhampton, pictured in July 1963. A reminder of the city’s proud manufacturing past, when the hum of industry and the rhythm of skilled hands shaped everyday working life. | Picture: Express & Star