Wolverhampton is a city, metropolitan borough, and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, the city grew initially as a market town specializing in the wool trade. During the Industrial Revolution, it became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making, and the manufacture of cars and motorcycles. The economy of the city is still based on engineering, including a large aerospace industry, as well as the service sector.
Large numbers of black and Asian immigrants settled in Wolverhampton in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. It is also home to a large proportion of the Sikh community. Natives of the city are called "Wulfrunians". Wolverhampton became a metropolitan borough in 1974, as a result of local government reorganization, and was granted city status on December 18, 2000.
Take a look back at the city through 36 fascinating images taken by David Rostance from 1975 to 1986. For more vintage photographs, visit
Rostance’s Flickr site.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Z6PZqWpf7L35BuqFSFlWfPa463ZiN_ki_rS6zFc2tgZy7TrXo4_vz1OkpsRAXxD1DS__5eWI2SsUbAWJQ5OvSgNzmGVEq0kjLKXSBB60af6ddZCvTwygD6HDQlJSm5FYT-BAGtOdYy8d/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-01.jpg) |
Queen Square, March 1976 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2JqP23rixtVBkX6oQ3f76nZ60xRcmDkrDirTr3r71_fA94BhfQ9FQruRq6dZkhxMVi4QCqXHAH5WpbqycE1zV98hiK4T3RnU8vJNzZ35WpmuekHpE5L-rDrWz_rxdHCHx3bTVCj2HCmI/w640-h424-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-02.jpg) |
Railway Street, April 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Fq4OS24cFrCHTGQqhpuqWQbDkxz2INoP1wsphar91YDK879YBZicxnHwsfJ1VsXEeU8llz60-BiD3Q8A6FzqwwtmROD3CBE6bhmjnSXcB6WnJ89O2VUFz3XJpkVkBzzf_y8ABisTSHPv/w640-h402-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-03.jpg) |
Darlington Street, April 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmOfY-VDlyS1PFP6vSjifRb-8G0zCmaudSqtbtK21Oe-E0epbpD4UA78Hzx8joZTT_fTdPX2cSovEr2dyeOh__RGPQ2r-DvTHQxjiQVylYvJ2u9-806dxhyaWMZA5xVwL-U_HLd6uV4Fr/w640-h416-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-04.jpg) |
Lichfield Street, April 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfk7KHYG7_76bfRqABGHTtp0pt0jQW7fcbphF8d3PaEpyFU-B00WjYGpfxa_YT84tW2uiFl2UFDk-P6iE0QKqvLt-UXRo2CxtzsNjeq8x_7aMBWjg920SUJvQAJ3xCStzEobOOQ7wWs-U/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-05.jpg) |
Lichfield Street, June 1975 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_TXEBjyF8TUpTtoIBIYWeJYtlQGtD5PmqvZ_A-8pGixYIONB8bi-T7r06WmX5pQMKo8_Bk8jdRYqv281aoB9uMNJQvyb3SsNRsN8jjFj7pqn7uA9OOA4vfQcwDMDN7nXCiUX8bCJcoYB/w640-h432-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-06.jpg) |
Connaught Road, January 1977 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrXqqBw18GvniwzVrJqL6YVFpLI-6fUJAg1qjl2dMZjJTQOzxVdHjCzl4BsBNjsUZnQblYlDlFX0HV_1VC3QHKAt1ZQCn9gkBCP89fs5BbEN3CTLP9iJgXmKUbBLkp5Y8dU0k3uYNHhJ_/w640-h430-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-07.jpg) |
Chelsea Football Fans outside Wolverhampton railway station, May 1977 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCyJDrEE4t5yCjtxUvhtuY0dlR9u18QVOyi1C0cNBBVYKLdRby_uJFUFblDLOLkx-5Pg5eKEohRE41VgMM8540rGjN6yExMCF9Ec4giiDJr4Yz-34l1LYV5_3U3_MUinuguy8ThVgEH8Z/w640-h432-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-08.jpg) |
South Street, July 1977 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZFBHWr4sgK1uMDNG62KMz-25LEsglAaBy309K_httlcRUXxsQXYlarzygctB4KaMZEPzHlkBkCZj1HM_KLGmQrVVp2RTcgkY9b_PzVUWS0xrdmgqtUQBT-tAqyUWtPx2AWGMXCSyuQgJ/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-09.jpg) |
West Park, October 1977 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8EC6CzYNh2bUywADZCWs3mrEn7BlpmfqDjdX8Unv8HyH_khHR6mA4Rdu8gpy-jl7N3RqA4ZlaM_2WsLUtFRC65zAhx4Ew0dvXXdmlJJHyUEmTps6o48xAC4jNlatb1B4W1hMJ1yqcVFm/w640-h428-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-10.jpg) |
Remembrance Sunday, November 1977 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bj7CZvIPpGMW57P9ojKluNPxiGk6qz8sXr2v6TRanV90ukV3sGWLgACLvEL3B4PsxhMcg4C93ZOVan8NyvFi9hiPJIPWkSDrqaXV70QK7fPdXE7p_Mm-l_2oR25TV7BZ3f0xNcRwXp8B/w640-h434-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-11.jpg) |
Anti-racist demonstrators, Molineux Street, March 1978 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpImuLrYbIhxcnWiTfYsI_Lq3Q5s3ul0hbP98n6bzUpMTm3HmS_yLqWpQVSa3sQpumT76wgFhEVtwe1gQS2EcBfD3Qpjjn1-DL2AD8g7rAPSlhn9V4RBDNtDGEKOeOFSKRDofZj6YNyVCJ/w640-h430-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-12.jpg) |
Tettenhall Road, January 1979 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQt8WKDw8zIN70ErYRF8bppYSaDcukShYV6WU4ThYLFQcDVvDuwMp3AtO4-xUxldYsjnopCIeWbuUjQHmHWjFLQ8OgCwLG3zoGJGC_z3RVKbtcsHBYqOa70mKIx183kNnNAxBaRP3zDDL/w640-h420-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-13.jpg) |
Stafford Street, May 1979 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7GCytifTj1vomszrwtI_f97GqEct5_z4tarGqfrhJ_dD9HSfdPUNxPMDmDCs_iyLk-zCejx2kqZFyFP7TRhyWshr2sLcPBI61LD5AVXvlVaEckSHFx-EgkV3UgtA-lr6-XGQdPRf6V-8/w640-h432-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-14.jpg) |
Court Road, August 1979 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRVOLFxmqUVUvMEFw_SkqGPpaI5jSEbX2Sw9vbRUBzRpEcKooBe-Fuwt_mwuinBdePd5gxsSDelcCjKQBFF9dSNKgYAMQyAQA7dbZrgxfqNdh6Eku0zvj_QQ1vUKqwuWzcvOAr6XCjRwW/w640-h424-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-15.jpg) |
Mander Centre car park, November 1979 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYl-eHF51akUb2dOiYkLQUtSmu3mNJ4kBjNKWGBndzagoXSLecYrrlnE1WAmKiBXRgToFaI1pcD1V4piDEVU8y5fXbjhpe8lsgu6U6xMAxFdr16AUIeGgVRd6oda1V5HXyNYEraHY9_iUH/w640-h408-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-16.jpg) |
Chapel Ash, February 1980 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5sQOF-V38nhXo27fTtHOdfT2nac6GYitU2AiWbGYRa1xmeGptERxDjolkDyrS-Bx-MFL3LeEKewVcuYAKRL4LPV9I47k90mNktcNiDFGY0q_ApFUTjSzCCCkSMvtqZRzL7RlAU0Yiw7D/s16000-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-17.jpg) |
Chapel Ash, May 1980 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBTEbDH2W40EGVZwdGstP0Zl9lntvtHjkKCKb769KAdGbaypTgjiEGzU3DoKA1nBu8-gMcBHMwd2nRKtjp7dav4cHdZ1U2KwDtDmxapSLrHih7pD1P1_7sXXuaEL9tq0PbghOiNXpi3LO/w640-h426-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-18.jpg) |
A contretemps at the junction of Lord Street and Merridale Road, June 1980 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvNe-yx3-sm8zRttczA9aYpdzdfTYQ_53HEJXaSSYnKWrqkYOwkKTxNPJwtXIa6pbJp354HZkLuoCFhpfTvOMHO0kDC0P6jTn-k763DI7p27uT0fFklwthVj2bVVsqCvdcupGEY6iU-3t/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-19.jpg) |
West Park, June 1980 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiXKmOMaX7BbzGob4PTmtsyCYZTQp0_gNSt8IKi-AgBb8a-hz7_L6_lxkd_G9jPMKYmnGWcNFvB21G_kWEqGJWLaaXJyrXc7IkxTPYV7LU5ox8Ob6FPxj8e6xbuXtDdjk5Y8CIyADwMCZ/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-20.jpg) |
Wolverhampton Ring Road, December 1980 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3er9tbwuHSQUJf0nqqvNdVC7MwghJi43P14aQ1xSDp35u4RMDrC6PrtxUO5G34lZLk0FNB8-jaSVYCcOR5cfQbAxFXxzh2H9XE97hVY9Qq3ljf9UwUnEZjZweEVi7oYb3FsrnOHdteWMC/s16000-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-21.jpg) |
Allen Road, February 1981 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9Fi7hKTbydXWQbcv2teyq4NYc4hcEUrtzaQA8i7edPUwkstjKvlPa2jAC3ZKVSsnTHlcblthPo845vYWcEfQwT9aYF5Ird718HPFwfvGUNug4SYK4MeyZNG0PgeY7VB3kHw7M5K30m7m/w640-h422-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-22.jpg) |
Newhampton Road West, February 1981 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPzTS4bImbxtV3UPjxC9r0eNoTLJIDrDO65eYDwKKFG-hVlecRpURCobiPzv_VuAVaw95gAFk3DSJY2F2H87I8Lvr6ieZya_xb3Jk8u8RD8Ak9wUbwn_Dw8pS5zRFHvIbWpRrLWQQ3hLM/w640-h426-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-23.jpg) |
Mander Centre, August 1982 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikW_J-MQr20DstoDEx8afKCcgfo2HKeOBsgdU1ctuUP9IufFz5D14Y8j3IoTMf8Ga6GH8IRtOQGf7hAUjTPlQ61isWOYnGPcAF4tgkVaJ0nyJL7U56vNm8zf2JzwmsOvBcIgNDkQsNXEV4/w640-h424-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-24.jpg) |
Pedestrians crossing the junction of Darlington Street and Red Lion Street, May 1984 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-_HwsWQLtdU-6B8P-2OaCITaJkQJSoBbAg_MnjH_XDfLo9mkHM4oKSN1dN9HyYI_D72PDM0oeF6t2EDnr57B3JuLz6NlIp_NTU3YES80jn6JRTVJhn7OV9HEUaAW7MgvlU2DIHbAER5B/w640-h414-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-25.jpg) |
Wulfrun Centre, May 1984 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rKyHU95mIZxyy0zrovB69eH3EAaZUAZJSbHTHARv84ZUDb7iZFltAzeuo92doeBcbFJFbu5s1ehVRIVOATilxi2JS3_6VLPGALZAT3yuKw-35Gi2zVap87xOUT7HNcgcycyYFMyuQou1/w640-h432-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-26.jpg) |
Darlington Street, May 1984 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisa4-3aXqCCDux4t5edepb_COSG1JtDs6LxLJE5ePNB1x_YTUAYSopOflqlpOogBTXk_huZEgu9sNbuSVo5lHfOxM46MZjOdHpRi8yMcEdjG9tlGecJW8YpKRMSuQBXnmmmRsObLzSXtJp/w640-h434-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-27.jpg) |
Wolverhampton railway station, August 1984 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRjn2U5GawEeBumQ91t40o8Z1VGLUawqJAMDYxDWDQZqxKSsUKDDTAxLiITuncq5bbC4cDpwWXL7ukroqeLUVB0Gv5rt7BMHJmUJ9D0oS5V56e0OfqqvqeADqDkHOU7InOpMj7mmd0mGy/w640-h416-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-28.jpg) |
Whitmore Reans, June 1984 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2zTeDWGut1YugtYhmINalNhQHzN0DmWQTw88FDGFTwcQeo1ucbKOypMLyTX5Ca8_hSGkyAynMwl3DbLnpewwE_xsNYc_gQiWzpsV0nYD5xs0ssf20pyILBECIHwvJxY48voTPBlf1Zq8/w640-h436-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-29.jpg) |
Allen Road, June 1985 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QXvizEa744Q5IwdWjBKsrjVTLnWUNdY6eJdmaeTe1HdtJ9kQwT9y1G-WC2N5faZagcrWy62gUqVfLAM5CSGyoG-xFi5hl-mpQQruk8gzVMP9Ij6UKmlAl8q6dIfZMBYO3V-Yay67NqyB/w640-h432-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-30.jpg) |
Fun Fair at West Park, June 1985 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntb_lZ1vsAO7tuApSpUrRdSILKofBIs6Ao2h7ofDe3O0YQSs8qBTP-AiX-UQfe-QeNMQwzexlrXNQsoWkJpKxbE2m2wpNEW_qZgGvylqmGoMD56MyUQfge8lEmj721mouPX4OGqX3kB2S/w640-h436-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-31.jpg) |
North Street, June 1985 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1Sz5YOpBhGy7v3Zh1RVwVcAq3Vbz8TfeccyCRaULkXfazQYj2o9BnfUM7lSHSw0WpailhvfP6WPAT3vvjjO0i8ESnJkJgERVjHuULPRkNPzyMVzsGVLOSyHBjuHh816WOFa7okotCGNZ/s16000-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-32.jpg) |
Queen Square, June 1985 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqVQJy7FxeXxc3fSgTVxJTJfRo8q1gFrw5B1MnOaiqEE3yyFKuwzldUBz6cO7FXstWnmyVBOuO4hAROsfHa5cEBl8FrhJQXZlitrjBbM5S0boUCwWHm-5FvLp1TTMnE4xZN1Fq_Q0AbUT/w640-h430-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-33.jpg) |
Tettenhall Road, May 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi35K5-ob0qJl30qiOy0e_cG0ZJO0ho3N9CQOpVFyP1stWHHopcCo0LcLpsz5123Wcq8wIUUd2srUJ8EhPfzOGyR_oI6RKLxUtaVI4_mNYqY00e7OJWcXmmFFAwz74hA6h2SSqD4O0F2h8/s16000-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-34.jpg) |
Rain shower, May 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigwOcyhROEife5nTmjamxZ3IBE_47nY4MwnbKd7YzBJOM6ihQY2YX0SVipDIoWQJmVHBIJGTLhVu5WXkoPFaoq4ZovuX8E0wtFCE4ZEHMHfrUIjIAe0Tk0Fp8PO27STLF6519q8ARZZ9g/w640-h430-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-35.jpg) |
Princes Square, July 1986 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUfj66CrB4rYhSwNpsaJ2a6sWrtVN5EMH5tAtnl_MCPouro6y8LhMB4GGhG1q6oJ249KI3oiTrLcasyGujygvub83e2tNpZOf0oBgDNX0B9gbwhuhOApwBLvL8dXw1bTngmt1Z9gKj9hc/s16000-rw/wolverhampton-1970s-1980s-36.jpg) |
Lichfield Street, July 1986 |
some happy memories of places no doubt gone or altered beyond recognition
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