in Places & People

1970s Liverpool: Fascinating Historical Photos Show Streets, Cityscapes And Everyday Life

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The 1970s brought economic difficulties and a steady decline in employment in Liverpool. The traditional manufacturing industries went into further sharp decline and factories were closing. An average of 12,000 people each year were leaving the city, and 15% of its land was vacant or derelict. The decline of the British manufacturing industry played a big part.

Some positive things also happened in the 1970s, the city became a metropolitan district within the newly created metropolitan county of Merseyside. Liverpool Exchange railway station was closed after 127 years and partially turned into a car park.

The following historical pictures show what Liverpool looked like in the 1970s.

#1 A small Beatles poster hangs on the traffic sign marking a street that is reserved for playing children during the day.

A small Beatles poster hangs on the traffic sign marking a street that is reserved for playing children during the day.

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#2 Members of Liverpool’s environmental health and protection committee inspecting iverpool city market.

Members of Liverpool's environmental health and protection committee inspecting iverpool city market.

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#3 Children auditioned for the Ken Dodd Diddymen at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. They will appear in his Christmas show ‘The Ken Dodd Laughter Spectacular’.

Children auditioned for the Ken Dodd Diddymen at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. They will appear in his Christmas show 'The Ken Dodd Laughter Spectacular'.

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#4 New faces at Liverpool’s famous Rodney Street, 1976.

New faces at Liverpool's famous Rodney Street, 1976.

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#6 Mona’s Isle and fleet Birkenhead coming out of winter Hibernation for summer season, Liverpool, 1975.

Mona's Isle and fleet Birkenhead coming out of winter Hibernation for summer season, Liverpool, 1975.

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#8 View of Liverpool, with the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

View of Liverpool, with the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

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#10 Cars and trucks entering and exiting from the Queensway road tunnel in Liverpool, 1973.

Cars and trucks entering and exiting from the Queensway road tunnel in Liverpool, 1973.

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#11 Back alleyway, Kensington Fields, Liverpool, 2nd July 1970.

Back alleyway, Kensington Fields, Liverpool, 2nd July 1970.

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#13 The wives and girlfriends of the Liverpool Football team in London to watch the cup final at Wembley, 1971.

The wives and girlfriends of the Liverpool Football team in London to watch the cup final at Wembley, 1971.

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#14 A cold January morning at Princes Dock, Liverpool, January 1972.

A cold January morning at Princes Dock, Liverpool, January 1972.

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#15 Church Street, one of Liverpool’s shopping areas, 1972.

Church Street, one of Liverpool's shopping areas, 1972.

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#17 A woman wearing curlers in her hair enjoying shopping in the sales after Christmas, Liverpool, 1974.

A woman wearing curlers in her hair enjoying shopping in the sales after Christmas, Liverpool, 1974.

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#18 Hands at the bars of a window at Liverpool’s Walton Prison, 1975.

Hands at the bars of a window at Liverpool's Walton Prison, 1975.

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#19 Stork hotel demolition, Queen Square, Liverpool, 1976.

Stork hotel demolition, Queen Square, Liverpool, 1976.

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#20 Liverpool FC’s Doug Livermore outside Anfield, 1970.

Liverpool FC's Doug Livermore outside Anfield, 1970.

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#21 View of a street in Liverpool showing the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

View of a street in Liverpool showing the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

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#22 Children on the way home from school wait to cross over the railway, 1970s.

Children on the way home from school wait to cross over the railway, 1970s.

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#23 Councillors and Tunnel officials pose for an official picture following the breakthrough between the tunnels from Birkenhead and Liverpool under the river Mersey, 1970s.

Councillors and Tunnel officials pose for an official picture following the breakthrough between the tunnels from Birkenhead and Liverpool under the river Mersey, 1970s.

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#24 View of race goers and spectators watching a National Hunt horse race from the grandstand on the day of the Grand National steeplechase race at Aintree racecourse, Liverpool, April 1970.

View of race goers and spectators watching a National Hunt horse race from the grandstand on the day of the Grand National steeplechase race at Aintree racecourse, Liverpool, April 1970.

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#25 Comedian Ken Dodd opens flats in Ducie Street and Beaconsfield Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.

Comedian Ken Dodd opens flats in Ducie Street and Beaconsfield Street, Toxteth, Liverpool.

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#26 Harold Wilson with his wife Mary Wilson during the 1970 General Election.

Harold Wilson with his wife Mary Wilson during the 1970 General Election.

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#27 Wholesale Fruit Market, Liverpool, 24th July 1970.

Wholesale Fruit Market, Liverpool, 24th July 1970.

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#28 A general view looking north west across the Mersey, Liverpool, October 1970.

A general view looking north west across the Mersey, Liverpool, October 1970.

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#29 A group of children playing football in Juvenal Gardens, Liverpool, 1971.

A group of children playing football in Juvenal Gardens, Liverpool, 1971.

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#30 Albert Finney and Rachel Roberts in Liverpool, 1972.

Albert Finney and Rachel Roberts in Liverpool, 1972.

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#31 The junction of Church Street, Whitechapel and Lord Street, Liverpool, 1972.

The junction of Church Street, Whitechapel and Lord Street, Liverpool, 1972.

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#32 Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly pictured relaxing at home with family, 1974.

Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly pictured relaxing at home with family, 1974.

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#34 A cyclist taking a break as he rides through wasteland in Everton, bordered by Breck Road and Heyworth Street, Liverpool, 1976.

A cyclist taking a break as he rides through wasteland in Everton, bordered by Breck Road and Heyworth Street, Liverpool, 1976.

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#37 Fans queue up outside a Ramones gig at the punk club Eric’s at the Revolution Club on Matthew Street in Liverpool, 1977.

Fans queue up outside a Ramones gig at the punk club Eric's at the Revolution Club on Matthew Street in Liverpool, 1977.

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#38 The David Lewis Hotel in Great George Place, 1977.

The David Lewis Hotel in Great George Place, 1977.

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#40 Taxi demo in the rush hour in Church Street, Liverpool, 1978.

Taxi demo in the rush hour in Church Street, Liverpool, 1978.

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#41 Ken Dodd leads a parade in Hoylake in aid the Clatterbridge Hospital Cancer Research Trust, 6th April 1978.

Ken Dodd leads a parade in Hoylake in aid the Clatterbridge Hospital Cancer Research Trust, 6th April 1978.

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#43 The lamps at the Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, 1974.

The lamps at the Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, 1974.

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#44 View of Liverpool showing St George’s Hall, with the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

View of Liverpool showing St George's Hall, with the iconic Radio City Tower in the background, Merseyside. Circa 1970.

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#46 The shopping centre of Widnes, Albert Road, Liverpool, 1973.

The shopping centre of Widnes, Albert Road, Liverpool, 1973.

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#48 Commuters and passengers walking along a platform at Liverpool Street Station, 1976.

Commuters and passengers walking along a platform at Liverpool Street Station, 1976.

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#49 Moya Kirkby sunbathing in Liverpool city centre, June 1976.

Moya Kirkby sunbathing in Liverpool city centre, June 1976.

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#50 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, standing in a Range Rover, watch a section of the musical pageant staged between the Roman Catholic Metropolitan

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, standing in a Range Rover, watch a section of the musical pageant staged between the Roman Catholic Metropolitan

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#51 A view of the Church of St Luke the Evangelist, which sits in the corner of Goodison Park, 1970s.

A view of the Church of St Luke the Evangelist, which sits in the corner of Goodison Park, 1970s.

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#53 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Martensen Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, 23rd February 1978.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Martensen Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, 23rd February 1978.

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#55 Young men with their flag during the annual Orange Order march in Liverpool

Young men with their flag during the annual Orange Order march in Liverpool

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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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