Step back to 1961 with this fascinating journey across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
From rows of terraced houses and changing town centres to what is believed to have been Staffordshire's first betting shop, these photographs capture the sights, people and industries that shaped everyday life 65 years ago. Among them are evocative scenes from the region's proud manufacturing heritage, including a chainmaker who recalled becoming accustomed to the sparks flying from her work.
Drawn from the Express & Star archives, this gallery offers a glimpse of a world that will be familiar to many and fascinating to those discovering it for the first time.
What do you remember from the era? Share your memories and favourite photographs in the comments, and enjoy the trip down memory lane.
Did you see our gallery of Wolverhampton in the early 1990s? Take a look here.
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5. Pye Green, Cannock Chase, 1961
October 1961: Post-war aluminium bungalows in Broomhill, Rumer Hill and Booth Street, once built to ease the housing shortage, pictured amid concerns that they were deteriorating faster than originally predicted. Bill Wootton said: “Our home certainly isn’t falling down, but it’s pretty cold in winter and I think the rent is a bit steep.” | Picture: Express & Star
6. Rocks Hill, Brierley Hill, 1961
A row of houses at Rocks Hill, Brierley Hill, pictured in September 1961. | Picture: Express & Star
7. Old Retail Market Hall, Wolverhampton, 1961
Looking down from the tower of St Peter’s Church in January 1961, this evocative scene shows demolition work on the old Market Hall in full swing. Vehicles are parked in the foreground, while a tractor moves through the shell of the building amid piles of debris. The wider view captures St Mark’s, Chapel Ash, the Civic Hall and the Old Town Hall, with Darlington Street Methodist Church visible on the far left, offering a striking snapshot of a changing townscape. | Picture: Express & Star
8. Joseph Woodhouse, Cradley Heath, 1961
Lucy Woodhall is pictured at work at Joseph Woodhouse, chainmakers, Cradley Heath, in January 1961, offering a glimpse into the demanding world of heavy industry. She said at the time: “Yes, the sparks sometimes hurt my hands or mouth.” | Picture: Express & Star