Step back in time and discover some wonderful memories from Wolverhampton and the Black Country.
From local pubs and workplaces to schools, celebrations and everyday life, this gallery brings together snapshots from the 1940s through to the turn of the millennium. The pictures are in no particular order, so settle in and enjoy the journey through the decades.
There are plenty of faces, memorable moments and fascinating glimpses of how the region looked and lived over the years - from school days and busy factories to jubilee parades and much-loved local pubs.
Do you recognise anyone or remember any of these places? Take a look through the pictures and share your memories with us.
- Remember these? 47 brilliant pictures of school days across Staffordshire and the Black Country in the 1980s.
- 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.
29. Raising a glass to the daily pinta surrounded by crate upon crate of goodness
Cheers to proper Black Country milkmen! Looking grand in his official cap, tie, and apron, Vin Sneyd raises a fresh glass of milk to the camera on May 6, 1968. Framed by towering stacks of metal crates brimming with glass bottles, the Midland Counties Dairy worker from Wolverhampton captures the essence of a classic British morning routine. Long before plastic cartons filled supermarket shelves, hardworking draymen and milkmen like Vin made sure the doorstep pint was delivered come rain or shine. Did you have a milkman from Midland Counties Dairy back in the 1960s, or do you remember the distinct clink of those glass bottles on your doorstep? | Express & Star archive
30. Marking their X for over half a century as unstoppable couple keep perfect voting record alive
Proudly holding up their ballot slips outside the polling station, local couple Dorothy Winnall, 75, and her husband Tom, 77, prove that civic duty never stops! Snapped outside Brickkiln Street School during the Wolverhampton local elections in May 1983, the Ash Street residents stood as shining examples of democracy in action. Astonishingly, the dedicated pair hadn't missed a single election vote since 1929, showing an inspiring lifelong commitment to making their voices heard. It’s a heart-warming look at civic pride, local loyalty, and true partnership in the heart of Graiseley Ward. Do you remember voting at Brickkiln Street School, or can you recall the very first time you cast your own ballot? | Express & Star archive
31. Catching a laugh at the edge of the bogey hole as British Steel furnace mates take five
Now that is how you make the most of a tea break! Taking a well-earned rest at British Steel in Bilston back in May 1991, ironworkers Randawar (lounging comfortably in the wheelbarrow) and Arthur Williams share a chuckle right at the edge of the "bogey hole". Amid the swirling smoke, dust, and roaring heat of the works floor, Randawar proves that true comfort is a state of mind as he kicks back with his hands behind his head. Capturing the unbreakable spirit, easy humour, and industrial camaraderie that defined local foundries, this brilliant atmospheric shot highlights the hard-working soul of the Black Country. Did you or anyone in your family ever work around the fiery blast furnaces at British Steel in Bilston or other local foundries? | ©Nick Hedges