Step back to 1971 and take a nostalgic journey through life across the Black Country and Staffordshire.
From markets and factories to workplaces, sporting events and community gatherings, these archive photographs capture the people, places and moments that helped shape the region more than 50 years ago.
See familiar landmarks, local businesses and everyday scenes from a different era, when shopping trips, public transport, factory floors and simple childhood pleasures were all part of daily life. From royal visits and sporting heroes to collecting conkers and meeting friends, these images offer a fascinating glimpse into a changing time.
How many places do you recognise? Whether you remember these scenes first-hand or are discovering them for the first time, do these pictures bring back memories of family, work, school days or growing up in the area? Share your memories in the comments below.
Did you see our gallery of Walsall in the 1980s? Take a nostalgic look back here.
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1. Copper Enamels Bilston Ltd, 1971
A craft from Bilston’s industrial past. Lynn Jones carefully places a transfer onto an enamel surface at Copper Enamels Bilston Ltd in January 1971. Do you remember working in local factories like this? | Express & Star archive
2. Guy Motors, Ltd, Fallings Park, 1971
A blast from Guy Motors’ past. A 1936 Guy Wolf ambulance built in Wolverhampton showed it still had plenty of life left when it took home a trophy in 1971. Do you remember the Guy Motors name? | Express & Star archive
3. Wednesbury Market, 1971
A new chapter for Wednesbury Market. Traders and shoppers gather at the newly opened covered market at The Shambles in October 1971, replacing the town’s historic market site. Do you remember shopping here? | Express & Star archive
4. Dudley Zoo, 1971
A new look at Dudley Zoo. Four new guide-lecturers join the team in April 1971, complete with knee-high boots that capture the fashion of the era. Do you remember visiting Dudley Zoo in the 1970s? | Express & Star archive