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in Places & People

1960s Birmingham: Cool Vintage Photos Show Streets, Markets, Landmarks and Daily Life

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Birmingham grew rapidly in the 1960s. Many new roads, streets, landmarks, and buildings were constructed during that time. The Bullring Shopping Centre was built by replacing a historic market with a modern design. The Fewtrell brothers opened large nightclub venues one in Lower Severn Street, just up from the Hippodrome, and the other just off Broad Street. Service sector employment in Birmingham grew faster from 35% of the city’s workforce in 1951 to 45% in 1966. However, the manufacturing sector shrank by 10% between 1951 and 1961.

Here below are some stunning color snapshots that show what Birmingham looked like in the 1960s. Also check, Birmingham in the 1980s.

#1 Five ways looking along the Hagley Road from the top of a bus

Five ways looking along the Hagley Road from the top of a bus

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#2 Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham

Smallbrook Ringway, Birmingham

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#3 The Bull Ring, Birmingham

The Bull Ring, Birmingham

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#4 Auchinleck House, Birmingham

Auchinleck House, Birmingham

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#5 Birmingham Salvage 222, Somerville Rd. near it’s junction with Muntz Street

Birmingham Salvage 222, Somerville Rd. near it's junction with Muntz Street

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#6 Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham – March 9 1968

Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth, Birmingham – March 9 1968

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#7 Gents toilet, Alcester Rd., Kings Heath, Birmingham

Gents toilet, Alcester Rd., Kings Heath, Birmingham

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#8 Icknield Square corner shop was off Monument Rd., quite near Monument Lane station, this little shop and gas lamp was on one of the corners

Icknield Square corner shop was off Monument Rd., quite near Monument Lane station, this little shop and gas lamp was on one of the corners

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#9 Leyland PD2 Park Royal stands at Hall Green terminus

Leyland PD2 Park Royal stands at Hall Green terminus

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#10 Moat Lane, Birmingham

Moat Lane, Birmingham

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#11 The demolition of Rosebery Street bus garage, Birmingham

The demolition of Rosebery Street bus garage, Birmingham

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#12 The Robin Hood Cinema on the corner of Stratford Rd. and Ingestre Rd., Hall Green, Birmingham

The Robin Hood Cinema on the corner of Stratford Rd. and Ingestre Rd., Hall Green, Birmingham

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#13 The Scammell Scarab 3 ton 39bhp tractor.

The Scammell Scarab 3 ton 39bhp tractor.

In the left hand top can be seen the bridge over the middle of New St. station and the corner of Pinfold St. and Navigation St.

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#14 The signpost on the corner of Vicarage Rd. and Alcester Road in Kings Heath, Birmingham

The signpost on the corner of Vicarage Rd. and Alcester Road in Kings Heath, Birmingham

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#15 A Birmingham Daimler at Bull Ring

A Birmingham Daimler at Bull Ring

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#16 Chamberlain Square from the new library site

Chamberlain Square from the new library site

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#17 Children outside Corner Shop. Thornhill Road / Holly Road Corner (Opposite Handsworth Park) – March 8 1968

Children outside Corner Shop. Thornhill Road / Holly Road Corner (Opposite Handsworth Park) – March 8 1968

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#18 Gaumont cinema in Colmore Circus, Birmingham. 1965

Gaumont cinema in Colmore Circus, Birmingham. 1965

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#19 The Corporation Street looking north towards the Central Fire station (white building with clock tower), Birmingham

The Corporation Street looking north towards the Central Fire station (white building with clock tower), Birmingham

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#20 Lamp situated on Birmingham Coventry Rd. (A45) by the Wheatsheaf Junction

Lamp situated on Birmingham Coventry Rd. (A45) by the Wheatsheaf Junction

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#21 Nechells Park Road, Birmingham

Nechells Park Road, Birmingham

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#22 RCA 277, an early Bedford van conversion is serving customers on a hot day in Kings Norton Park, Birmingham

RCA 277, an early Bedford van conversion is serving customers on a hot day in Kings Norton Park, Birmingham

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#23 Re-development near Bristol Cinéma, Birmingham

Re-development near Bristol Cinéma, Birmingham

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#24 Stechford Station, Birmingham

Stechford Station, Birmingham

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#25 A fabric body Austin Seven parked up in Fleet Street off Newhall street in Birmingham

A fabric body Austin Seven parked up in Fleet Street off Newhall street in Birmingham

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#26

1960s Birmingham: Cool Vintage Photos Show Streets, Markets, Landmarks and Daily Life

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#27 Cannon Hill Park, Tulip Festival time, Birmingham

Cannon Hill Park, Tulip Festival time, Birmingham

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#28 Edgbaston St, Edmund Bros Fruit and Veg Ltd, English and Imported Fruit, unloading Irish apples from Co Arnargh and Co Derry) A conveyor belt takes the fruit in to the store – Nov 28 1968

Edgbaston St, Edmund Bros Fruit and Veg Ltd, English and Imported Fruit, unloading Irish apples from Co Arnargh and Co Derry) A conveyor belt takes the fruit in to the store – Nov 28 1968

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#29 Bull Ring Market – 15 March 1968

Bull Ring Market – 15 March 1968

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#30 Demolition of terrace houses, Anderton Street, off Shakespeare Road, Ladywood and children playing – 1968

Demolition of terrace houses, Anderton Street, off Shakespeare Road, Ladywood and children playing – 1968

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#31 Handsworth – Thornhill Road also known as Holly Road Corner (Opposite Handsworth Park) – March 1968

Handsworth – Thornhill Road also known as Holly Road Corner (Opposite Handsworth Park) – March 1968

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#32 Bull Ring Market – 15 March 1968

Bull Ring Market – 15 March 1968

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#33 Upper Dean Street – Jamaica Row – Market Area, Randall Bros and Parsons Ltd Wholesale fruit and veg merchants – November 1968

Upper Dean Street – Jamaica Row – Market Area, Randall Bros and Parsons Ltd Wholesale fruit and veg merchants – November 1968

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#34 Sherlock Street nearr Jamaica Row (near meat market) Stokes and Dalton Ltd, Butchers and Sundries Supply Company – November 1968

Sherlock Street nearr Jamaica Row (near meat market) Stokes and Dalton Ltd, Butchers and Sundries Supply Company – November 1968

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#35 Tyseley, Kings Road, November 1968

Tyseley, Kings Road, November 1968

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#36 Newtown/Aston ‘adventure playground’ behind Gower Street and Guildford Street – November 1968

Newtown/Aston ‘adventure playground’ behind Gower Street and Guildford Street – November 1968

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#37 Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth – March 9 1968

Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth – March 9 1968

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#38 Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth – March 9 1968

Soho Road near Boulton Road, Handsworth – March 9 1968

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#39 Handsworth Market – March 9 1968

Handsworth Market – March 9 1968

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#40 Handsworth – March 9 1968

Handsworth – March 9 1968

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#41 Anderton Street, Alexandra Street and King Edward’s road corner, Ladywood – Feb 10 1968

Anderton Street, Alexandra Street and King Edward’s road corner, Ladywood – Feb 10 1968

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#42 Soho Road, in the Holliday Road area. The yams are priced at 10 pence per pound. March 2 1968

Soho Road, in the Holliday Road area. The yams are priced at 10 pence per pound. March 2 1968

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#43 Harborne High Street -12 August 1961

Harborne High Street -12 August 1961

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#44 Harborne – Corner of Vivian Road. Greenfield Road to the right – August 17 1961

Harborne – Corner of Vivian Road. Greenfield Road to the right – August 17 1961

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#45 Great Russell Street, Newtown – March 26 1967

Great Russell Street, Newtown – March 26 1967

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#46 Great Russell Street, Newtown – March 26 1967

Great Russell Street, Newtown – March 26 1967

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#47 Opening ceremony at the King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 1964

Opening ceremony at the King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 1964

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#48 King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 7 1963

King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 7 1963

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#49 King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 7 1963

King’s Norton Mop Fair – October 7 1963

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#50 View from Commercial Union House, the survey department overlooked Corporation Street opposite Rackhams shiny new shop

View from Commercial Union House, the survey department overlooked Corporation Street opposite Rackhams shiny new shop

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#51 View of Soho Hill taken from Hockley Brook in Birmingham

View of Soho Hill taken from Hockley Brook in Birmingham

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#52 Jamaica Row, Wholesale Fish Market (built as Smithfield) – Jamaica Row/Moat Row Corner – Nov 28 1968

Jamaica Row, Wholesale Fish Market (built as Smithfield) – Jamaica Row/Moat Row Corner – Nov 28 1968

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#53 Balsall Heath Longmore Street (Children outside Eastside Vegetable Shop near Balsall Heath Road) – 25 September 1968

Balsall Heath Longmore Street (Children outside Eastside Vegetable Shop near Balsall Heath Road) – 25 September 1968

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#54

1960s Birmingham: Cool Vintage Photos Show Streets, Markets, Landmarks and Daily Life

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#55

1960s Birmingham: Cool Vintage Photos Show Streets, Markets, Landmarks and Daily Life

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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Jack Sparrow says:

February 2, 2022 at 09:57 Copy Link of a Comment

So Jamaica Row and Moat Row are no more?

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Leo Parker says:

May 22, 2024 at 08:31 Copy Link of a Comment

I was expecting to see some sights unfortunately lost but no, we’d fucked it by the 60s. The lost sights I’m glad to the back of! (Modernist cubes and lite-brutalist overhangs.)

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William Taylor says:

May 22, 2024 at 08:31 Copy Link of a Comment

The land clearing for the Central Library is heartbreaking

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