Wolverhampton 76 - mobile version.
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- 'The shock of the new' - Wolverhampton was not the only town being transformed into some post modernist Utopia in the nineteen seventies. And why not? It was still an age of great optimism, so out with the old and in with the sleek, minimalist new. All shiny polished chrome and reinforced concrete with a bit of modern art work thrown in....Most of what you see on the orignal 8mm footage shot in 1976 has gone or changed almost beyond recognition apart from a few shady corners lurking around the outskirts of the town. Some of the town's fabric has been transported to the 'Black Country Museum', e.g : the Wednesfield Road Canal Bridge and possibly the water fountain.
Much of what was the site of the old GWR Low Level Railway Station seen in the 76 footage should have been frozen in time as part of the town's industrial and social heritage. But the public house, now appropriately known as 'The Great Weatern' remains as a popular Real Ale pub. Note - the old M&B and Butlers inn sign a thing of the past. The iconic Victorian factory where the M&B flag proudly fluttered over Butler's Brewery now sadly falling to ruin and is as they casually say 'waiting for a developer'. It looks so sad now dwafted by a huge twenty-first century monstrosity, as pictured in the last part of the video....
Yet some things remain as emblematic of this once great town St Peter's Church along side the statue of the town's Saxon founder 'Lady Wulfruna'. The stately Art Gallery remains and so does the Prince Consort, Albert mounted upon his horse in Queen Square and so much admired by Queen Victoria, the unmistakable Chubbs red brick building original home of world famous 'Chubbs Lock and Safe Company'. Then there's the renowned 'Molineux Stadium', hallowed football ground of the much celebrated Wolverhampton Wanderers.....but as it used to be with peeps of the oldest street in Wolverhampton North Street that used to be the main route out of town northwards towards Stafford....The Mander Centre featured in the 76 film still towers over the town and has become iconic or at least become acceptable over the decades.
For a taste of the old Wolverhampton wander down to the canal side and walk under the lovely old bridges and beside the 21 locks towards Compton, there you can easily think of the blood, sweat and tears shed by our ancestors.
The video ends as the unchanging, elegant and somehow reassuring spire of Holy Trinity Church surrounded in midst of a really gross urbane sprawl, can yet be seen from an almost entirely green bower on the edge of town.
Take what you can from these images most of them shot on an old 'Super 8' cine camera early one Summer Sunday morning back in 1976.
Fascinating view of the past. I was born in Wolverhampton at the end of 1976 and, despite my family leaving the area when I was 6, those shots of the Mander and Wulfrun centres bring back the memories from my early childhood. I also vividly remember the outdoor and indoor markets (even the smell of the indoor market) that we would go to every week.
Amazing footage, takes me back in time. Can remember 'the ramp' and toilets in the Mander Centre and the Saturdays spent shopping up town with mom followed by dinner in Woolies restaurant. Family were from Wednesfield and a fair few worked at Manders for many years. Memories!
Similar memories shared by myself. I did not always go along with the changes taking place then, but the rate and extent of so-called developments over recent years somehow leaves me feeling more nostalgic for the past. Yesterday's brave new world does not seem too bad on reflection. Thank you for this thoughtful comment so much appreciated. Jayne Anne,
@@feline1104 No need for thanks, lots of memories in that footage for many. Thankfully mom is still around but sadly she doesn't speak highly of the city. We haven't been 'up town' for years as we moved away but totally agree with your 'nostalgic' comment from what we've heard. Good thing is we lived through the great times of the town and have the memories, perhaps it just tried to be bigger than it was meant to be?
@@rjc7026 Yes, I think we have had the best of times. My memories are both rich and powerful, not always happy though. Looking back we rather paradoxically felt more secure I feel. 'Progress' must be a up to one's perception. Love to your Mother and
my very best wishes.
Fantastic so many memories great vid cheers👍
AHH zodiac toys 👍👌❤️.... Milk factory was where McDonald's is now on Penn Road/Leigh Road.
Just as I remember it back then some great times especially the Tavern by the man on the horse
I know where that was! Thank you for the comment.
Wow - amazing video of the dairy. I went to Graiseley Primary and crossed the Penn Rd using the underpass and ended up coming up at the start of Lea Rd next to the dairy. The massive windows were awesome as a kid as I could see everything going around inside, it was something else to an impressionable 8 year old! Thanks for that great memory.
A memory shared James. Remember going to a dentist down Lea Road when I was about 8 years old. What a mess he made of it and took all the wrong teeth out! In those days you just took it on the proverbial and literal chin! Ha Ha... Penn was a nice place to live and the Penn Road has some fond memories too. Please see Long Ago and Far Away...from 'More Midland Memories' playlist. Recall the construction of the Ring Road, at the time it all seemed very futuristic with the subways and sunken gardens to enjoy, but that ideal was from a very different era!!! Best wishes Jayne Anne.
A memory shared James. Remember going to a dentist down Lea Road when I was about 8 years old. What a mess he made of it and took all the wrong teeth out! In those days you just took it on the proverbial and literal chin! Ha Ha... Penn was a nice place to live and the Penn Road has some fond memories too. Please see Long Ago and Far Away...from 'More Midland Memories' playlist. Recall the construction of the Ring Road, at the time it all seemed very futuristic with the subways and sunken gardens to enjoy, but that ideal was from a very different era!!! Best wishes Jayne Anne.
Brilliant video .. I went to st lukes infant school but I thi k it's all demolished now and I was born in the flats in blackenhall we spent all our childhood running round theses areas great memories the mander center had much more character in the 70s and 80s
My dad was one of the town planners back in the late sixties and early seventies. All looks a bit brutalist now but it was the fashion, like flares perhaps it’ll come back !!
Thank you Mark, we need a time machine!
hey dig that crazy music man- far out!
Ruby red records,it was a shame when it closed after 35 years trading,I got most of my record collection from there,I used to work at mills fruiterers in the gallery back in 92 aswell,felt like I knew everybody in the town aswell working there,great times
Used to shop for records at Beaties basement down the fold. The HMV shop in Cleveland Street and in the Queens Arcade. Also at Clarkson's Snow Hill. Once a great town to visit and shop in, fond memories.
I miss the fountain use to splash about there with my hands when I use to be a kid :-(
There were some really artistic features mosaics and the fountain (shame it quickly got filled with letter) in the 'Wulfrun Centre'. Used to like the old Central Arcade off Dudley Street and that Barbera Hepworth 'Rock Form' sculpture in the Mander Centre.
My aunt and uncle kept the Tiger pub in North Star around this time my other aunt and uncle s kept the New Inn. What I remember most at this time and living in Wton was the Summer of 76. The town like many others were hit by major resections and it seemed social deprivation re crept in. A great video thanks for uploading
Wolverhampton was like the 'Workshop of the World', so many small and large businesses. A proud and noble town a past that should be celebrated.. Loved the old pubs in and around Wolverhampton, although some of them could be a bit rough they had character! North Street used to be the main road North out of town and ran alongside the football ground... Good old Wolves my Dad's favourite team. So glad you enjoyed this video. Please do see other videos in the 'Midland Memories' playlist to see more of old Wolverhampton and the surrounding area. Thanks for the great comment David ...Jayne Anne.
My dad tells me about the old arcades in the town centre. I grew up in the 1980s/90s and remember the Wulfrun Centre as it was at 3:00, before it was enclosed, when it had the fountain and benches outside Index/Littlewoods.
P.S a note to the asset strippers at RBS... BRING BACK THE BARBARA HEPWORTH ROCKFORM (PORTHCURNO) TO THE MANDER CENTRE WHERE IT BELONGS!!!!!!
brandybuck1984 could not agree more..
Brilliant! Brings back memories this does. Thanks for uploading.
Almost nobody in the centre now on a weekend. Like an abandoned village.
How sad it as come to this Patrick! At least a village has got some character.
Wow
Amazing
wow! I wish they had kept the mander and wulfrun centres as they were, they were lovely! ive got to ask, what was the music on the video, its brilliant!!!
+roystevensshow Hi Roy, Thanks for the comment .... it was better then but even better before! I remember the old arcade that ran from Dudley Street into St John's Street.... At least then and just after we had a little bit more art and culture in the town - like the Barbera Hepworth sculpture 'Rock Form' and light, modernist lines and style through out the mall. More of a community space then - now it just seems more commercial and run down! The music is special un-copyrighted stuff from RUclips. There is another version of this video with a great chill-out track that I would recommend to you... Best Wishes Jayne
Zodiac toys after the eye infermery then dinner in littlewoods happy days
Thanks :)
Thank you ... hope you found something of interest... Jayne Anne...
Must have been strange back then people had jobs!
Even then there were issues but more manageable than now. At least we had something called 'HOPE'.
Thanks Hannible .... Yes, it was better generally everywhere, and people were more optimistic!
I saw my house 😂
Sterilised milk !!!!!!
Hi Jayne, I would like to get in contact with you, regarding using this clip in a documentary, please contact me on sophia@bullittfilm.dk "Take what you can from these images" does it mean it private archives? or it has turned into public domain?
email - jayne.strutt@live.co.uk
Now it’s a dump in the 21st century