In the early 1980s, Liverpool’s situation deteriorated from hopeless to disastrous, with endless factory closures and some of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Each year, around 12,000 people were leaving the city, and 15% of its land was vacant or derelict. For the first time outside Northern Ireland, police used tear gas against civilians during the infamous Toxteth Riots in July 1981. Tate and Lyle sugar works, a mainstay of the city’s manufacturing economy, closed the following year. Dock operations had already declined significantly by this point, depriving the city of another significant source of employment. In 1985, unemployment in Liverpool exceeded 20%, almost double the national average.
In the late 1980s, however, the city began to recover, particularly in the docks, with new growth and redevelopment. New museums were opened to celebrate the city’s history and heritage.
#1 The three managers at Cagneys Night Club in Liverpool, 1980s
#2 Cagney’s Club, Fraser Street, Liverpool, 1985.
#3 The original bonfire night banger. Children at a private Merseyside bonfire night part cooking sausages over the fire, 5th November 1985
#4 General scene of Lord Street Liverpool, 15th October, 1986
#5 Aerial view of Liverpool’s International Garden Festival. 7th July 1984
#6 Soap opera Brookside, which was officially launched at Croxteth housing estate, Tuesday 10th August 1982
#7 A young boy having fun chasing pigeons, Liverpool, 13th April 1984.
#8 Giggles and a good time at Liverpool’s Club Continental, 25th February 1988
#9 The Conti in its heyday
#10 The BBC in Elswick Street, Dingle filming the hit comedy “Bread” 11th July 1987
#11 People watchiing the Christmas Lights as they are switched on, Church Street, Liverpool, 27th November 1986.
#12 John Stalker, Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police with Phil Redmond on the Brookside set, Liverpool, Monday 16th March 1987.
#13 Heritage Market, Stanley Dock, Liverpool, 25th September 1988.
#14 Residents of Hornby Boulevard, Bootle gather to watch a private bonfire and fireworks display, 5th November 1987
#15 Pizzaland Restaurant, Lime Street, Liverpool, 7th June 1984.
#16 Christmas shoppers on Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside. 24th November 1986.
#17 The world champagne fountain goes pop at Rotters night club in Liverpool.
#18 Christmas Shopping Trip, 25th November 1986. Young girls examine Gabby Bear Dolls
#19 Merseyside Beach Scenes, 23rd July 1987.
#20 Heritage Market, Stanley Dock, Liverpool, 25th September 1988.
#21 Heritage Market, Stanley Dock, Liverpool, 25th September 1988.
#22 Larks in the Park, Music Festival, Sefton Park, Liverpool, 24th August 1984.
#23 Liverpool FC, Homecoming Victory Parade after winning the FA Cup, and completing a League and Cup double, Sunday 11th May 1986.
#24 M58, new 6.5 mile stretch from Aintree to Skelmersdale helps link North Merseyside to the M6 after years of controversy.
#25 Christmas shoppers on Church Street, one of Liverpool’s shopping areas. Church Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, 4th December 1985.
#26 Albert Dock in the 1980s
#27 Spandau Ballet perform at Rock Around The Dock in Liverpool, 31st July 1986
#28 Children celebrating Halloween in Liverpool. 31st October 1989.
#29 Snobs Nightclub, Liverpool, 3rd July 1980.
#30 Liverpool footballer John Aldridge at home with his family, 13th September 1989.
#31 Shops on Smithdown Road, near the Penny Lane junction, 6th January 1986.
#32 Snobs Nightclub, Liverpool, 22nd August 1986.
#33 Kenny Dalglish and his family
#34 Formby Beach, evening sun in an autumn sky turns the beach at Formby into a surrealistic shadowland, 12th November 1980.
#35 Smithdown Road shopkeepers Mrs Anne Lev (right) and Mrs Elsie Luxton and her son, John outside their damaged shops, 10th August 1985.
#36 Pupils at St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Cantril Farm, Liverpool. 22nd February 1984.
#37 Princess Diana at Aintree Racecourse for the the Grand National horserace. 3rd April 1982.
#38 Clayton Square Shopping Centre, St Johns Blacklers store conversion well under way, Liverpool 19th July 1989.
#39 Picture shows pedestrians using the walkway, also known as the sky bridge, in Roe Street, Liverpool city centre.
#40 F W Woolworth Department Store, Liverpool, 11th March 1982.
#41 A match packer at work in the Bryant & May factory in Speke in 1980
#42 Youths standing on wasteland in front of the Anglican Cathedral
#43 A group of breakdancers, the Eastwood Rockers, going through their break dancing paces on the streets of Liverpool.
#44 Street dance crew Broken Glass, in Clayton Square, Liverpool, demonstrating their moves, 6th October 1983
#45 Shades of fame – as a group of Liverpool youngsters go through some dance routines during the summer holidays, 1982
#46 Children celebrating Halloween in Liverpool. 31st October 1989
#47 Party time for children from Tiber Street School, Toxteth, after they were given 10 out of 10 for achievement from Government inspectors, 14th April 1984
#48 Bridge stresses, young engineering scientists from St Columba’s Primary School with their teacher Mrs Naomi Flynn.
#49 11 families of Gerard Gardens celebrate a victory over Liverpool City Council.
#50 A crowd of youths standing on a street corner before rioting started in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, England, July 1981
#51 Toxteth Riot 1st October 1985 Children crossing the street as the riot goes on in the background on Princes Road, Toxteth
#52 Life in Toxteth, Liverpool. These pictures taken a few days after the riots, 9th July 1981
#53 Life in Toxteth, Liverpool, is one of despair for the unemployed. Black youths are stopped and searched by Police a few days after the Toxteth riots, 9th July 1981
#54 Life in Toxteth, Liverpool. These pictures taken a few days after the riots, 9th July 1981
#55 Life in Toxteth, Liverpool. These pictures taken a few days after the riots, 9th July 1981
#56 Life in Toxteth, Liverpool. These pictures taken a few days after the riots, 9th July 1981
#57 Life in Toxteth. Swinging on the fence are Karen and Buster, 9th July 1981.
#58 Police with young child in Toxteth, 1981
#59 Michael Heseltine Secretary of State for the Environment seen here touring Toxteth following the riots, 25th July 1981.
#60 Pupils from John Fisher School in Knowsley Village with former Environment Secretary Mr Peter Jenkin, October 1989
#61 Clare aged 6 and Lindsay Gerard aged four (right) enjoying their sparklers at an impromptu bonfire party in Kensington, Liverpool, 1986
#62 Bonfire Night Kensington, Liverpool, Wednesday 5th November 1986
#63 Bonfire Night Kensington, Liverpool, Wednesday 5th November 1986
#64 Youngsters enjoying Guy Fawkes Night, Hornby Boulevard, Bootle, Sefton in Merseyside, 5th November 1985
#65 Residents of Hornby Boulevard, Bootle gather to watch a private bonfire and fireworks display, 5th November 1987
#66 13-year-old Terry Rose with the collection of cigarettes sold to him by shopkeepers in Liverpool, 6th March 1989
#67 Schoolchildren at Ellergreen Comprehensive School, Norris Green, Liverpool, 5th April 1980.
#68 Children among the crowds to welcome Pope John Paul II on his visit to Liverpool in 1982
#69 Economic crisis in England in the eighties; a family in Liverpool on February 24, 1983 in Liverpool
#70 Boy standing in the street in Toxteth in 1981
#71 Economic crisis in England in the eighties; a family in Liverpool in 1983 in Liverpool
#72 Liverpool footballer Phil Thompson surrounded by youngsters. Dated: 26th May 1981
#73 Liverpool FC, Homecoming Victory Parade after winning the FA Cup, and completing a League and Cup double, Sunday 11th May 1986
#74 Children enjoying the summer holidays on Crosby beach. Crosby, Sefton, Merseyside. August 1984
#75 Toxteth Carnival, Liverpool, 9th July 1986
#76 Toxteth Carnival, Liverpool, 9th July 1986
#77 Toxteth Carnival, Liverpool, 9th July 1986
#78 Liverpool May Horse Parade, City Centre, Liverpool, Saturday 9th May 1987
#79 A head start for the new all-weather pitch as Sports Minister Neil MacFarlane (left) and Bobby Charlton give the youngsters in Toxteth something to cheer about. 24th February 1983
#80 Toxteth Carnival, Liverpool, 9th July 1986
#81 Garston Carnival, Liverpool, Merseyside, 2nd July 1988
#82 Margaret Thatcher visits Graden Festival, 1984
#83 British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher accompanied by Sir Leslie Young, observes the architecture of Albert Dock during her visit to the city of Liverpool, 3rd October 1984.
#84 Queen Elizabeth officially opens the Garden Festival in Liverpool, 1984
It was the first such event held in Britain designed to revitalise tourism and the city of Liverpool which had suffered cutbacks, Picture shows: Her Majesty The Queen chats to some of the crowd gathered outside the new court buildings as she officially opens the Garden Festival on 2nd May 1984.
#85 English actor Michael Starke in character as Thomas ‘Sinbad’ Sweeney from the long running television soap opera Brookside, in Liverpool on 18th April 1985.
#86 Chef, Petty Officer Bill Colmer with the cake made to commemorate HMS Liverpool’s commissioning ceremony, 9th July 1982.
#87 Pantomime at Liverpool Empire Theatre, 1983
#88 Blood Brothers premiere, 1983
#89 The Playhouse Theatre in Liverpool, 1983
#90 The Liverpool Cotton Exchange in 1896
#91 Funeral service of former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, held at St mary’s church in West Derby, Liverpool.
#92 Scottish singer and actress Barbara Dickson photographed at home, 1983
#93 Queue at Cavern Walks which began on Christmas Eve, 27th December 1985.
#94 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, 20th February 1987.
#95 Pete Wylie (centre) of British band Wah! in Liverpool, England on January 11, 1980.
#96 Pete Wylie (right) of British band Wah! in Liverpool, England on January 11, 1980.
#97 Shirley Williams of the Social Democratic Party celebrates her victory at the Crosby by-election with her supporters at the Blundellsands Hotel, Crosby, 27th November 1981.
#98 Shirley Williams of the Social Democratic Party getting her election campaign in Liverpool, 1981
#99 Shirley Williams of the Social Democratic Party getting her election campaign in Liverpool, 1981
#100 Noisy Neighbours, 1988
#101 Princess Diana at Ford Haleswood, 1988
#102 Labour Council Budget March, 1984
#103 The world champagne fountain goes pop at Rotters night club in Liverpool, 20th March 1980
#104 Computer textile designers Yvonne Robertson an d Nairish Nash with their Apple Mac computer. 30th September 1987.
#105 BBC Filming Bread in Liverpool
The cast of the BBC hit comedy "Bread" during a break in filming in Elswick Street, Dingle filming the 11th July 1987 (Left to Right Gilly Coman, Jonathon Morris, Jean Boht, Peter Howitt, Rita Tushingham seated, Kenneth Waller, Ronald Forfar, Hillary Crowson, Nick Conway and Bryan Murray.
#106 Toxteth Riot
#107 Police officers try to clear broken glass from Park Road outside a burning looted shop, so that the fire brigade can control the fire.
#108 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, 20th February 1987.
#109 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, 20th February 1987.
#110 Stewards attempt to maintain a distance between the protestors and the police officers during an anti-police demonstration in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, 17th August 1981.
#111 Diana Pregnant Sits At The Grand National Racecourse.
#112 Liverpool Councillor Hamilton addresses a rally of Merseyside trade unionist during a day of action in support of the miners strike.
#113 Post Christmas Sales Liverpool, 1985
#114 Liverpool International Garden Festival Fringe, 1984
#115 Michael stark and Sue Johnston from the Brookside cast with Trevor the Turkey, 6th November 1985.
#116 Angry residents fighting plans to build on their only recreational land might as well not bother – the work has started.
Liverpool City Council has cast aside its own regulations and begun a housing office development before the planning application is even heard. Mrs Olive Wilson of Tuebrook is one of several residents invited to put their objections next month to councillors deciding on the application. She has a 370-name petition against the development on land behind Larkhill Library, where bulldozers have already started working.
#117 Kylie Minogue in concert at Liverpool Empire Theatre, Merseyside, 19th October 1989.
#118 Queen Elizabeth officially opens the Garden Festival.
The visit to Liverpool of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to officially open the International Garden Festival held from 2nd May to 14th October 1984, It was the first such event held in Britain designed to revitalise tourism and the city of Liverpool which had suffered cutbacks, Picture shows.
#119 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visits Wavertree Technology Park, Liverpool, 20th February 1987.
#120 DJ Billy Butler shows off the new style of tabloid Liverpool Echo to visitors to the Echo Ideal Home Exhibition, 7th September 1983.
#121 Funtime at the Earl St John disci below the Rockfords Wine Bar, 27th October 1984.
#122 Liverpool Albert Dock re-development, work begins to dredge the docks, Merseyside, 17th September 1982.
#123 A Hug For Princess Diana from a Child during her Visit to Liverpool
#124 Photographer Mike McCartney, brother of Paul McCartney, at table with wife, Rowena & kids Theran, Benna, Abbi, Max & Josh.
#125 Photographer Mike McCartney, brother of Paul McCartney, at home going through photos.
#126 Photographer Mike McCartney, brother of Paul McCartney, shooting pictures with Rollei camera Paul bought him im 1962.
#127 Anti-Police Demo in Toxteth, Liverpool, 1981
#128 Tate and Lyle workers seen here at a mass meeting, vote to fight the closure of the refinery, 23rd January 1981.
#129 Radio star Billy Butler entertains a crowd of 300 fans at Anfield with a version of Top anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Clad in a Liverpool FC strip, 1983
#130 A crowded dance floor at Cagneys Night Club in Liverpool, 1980
#131 Church Street, one of Liverpool’s shopping areas, Liverpool, 1980
#132 Demonstration against police violence in Liverpool on August 15, 1981
#133 The annual Orange Order march in Liverpool, July 1982.
#134 Frankie Goes to Hollywood
#135 The Undertones in Liverpool, 1983
#136 Grand National Winner – West Tip Ridden By Richard Dunwoody
#137 Ken Dodd at Southport Theatre, 3rd September 1989.
#138 Men and women protesting outside a new sex shop in Liverpool, ‘Sven Books’ in Smithdown Road Wavertree.
#139 Ken Dodd arriving at court, 20th July 1989.
#140 Atlantic Conveyor, 1982
#141 Lord Gifford visits Granby Street, Toxteth. 29th November 1988.
#142 Lord Gifford visits Granby Street, Toxteth, 29th November 1988.
#143 A NUPE Picket at the Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, 4th December 1985.
#144 Christmas shoppers on Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, 24th November 1986.
#145 Liverpool Playhouse staff, 1982.
#146 The scene when Liverpool paid tribute to one of its most famous sons, pop superstar John Lennon.
#147 Police officers on Upper Parliament Street, in Toxteth, Liverpool in the aftermath of the Toxteth Riots.
#148 Three contestants in beauty contest being staged in Liverpool, 1981.
#149 Young men with their flag during the annual Orange Order march in Liverpool, July 1982.
#150 Randolph Street, Anfield, Liverpool road protest, 1983
#151 The Christmas shopping spree slipped into top gear with Liverpool city centre thronged with people, 1985
#152 Police after the race riots in the Toxteth area of Liverpool in July 1981
#153 Crowd gathered in tribute to John Lennon in Liverpool, December 14, 1980
#154 Protesters armed with sticks during the Toxteth race riots in Liverpool, July 5, 1981.
#155 Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, 1987.
#156 A man wearing a rosette with the message ‘No Surrender’ accompanied by two young boys carrying a union jack flag on the streets of Liverpool, June 1982.
#157 Two young boys playing out their frustrations, violence and confrontation was evident on the streets on Liverpool. 1982.
#158 A group of young boys outside a derelict building in Liverpool 1982.
#159 Paul McCartney, in Liverpool, on the day he receives the title of Honorary Freedom of the City of Liverpool, 1984
#160 Shirley Williams of the Social Democratic Party on the campaign trail in Crosby ahead of the by-election, 18th November 1981.
#161 A group of police officers stand before the rubble of a wrecked building after a night of rioting in the Toxteth area of Liverpool, July 1981.
#162 Gerard Gardens, a tenement block in Liverpool city centre, 1986
#163 Gerard Gardens, Liverpool, 1987
#164 Chinatown in Liverpool, 1982
#165 Chinatown in Liverpool, 1981
#166 A large crowd watches traditional celebrations for the Chinese New Year, Liverpool, Merseyside, 13th February 1983.
#167 Lewis’s store manager David Cameron with some of the sales assistants on the day that the Sears group sold off the Liverpool Department store, 1988
#168 Womens Fashion Floor at Blackers Department Store, Liverpool, 14th November 1980
#169 Lord Street Liverpool, 24th July 1989
#170 The restaurant at Cagneys Night Club in Liverpool, February 1980.
#171 The team behind the starts appearing at the Liver Aid concert for Ethiopia at the Liverpool Empire. 19th September 1985.
#172 Model wears apple green trousers with green white pattern jacket standing beside a 19-29 Lancia Lamda. 9th June 1986.
#173 Filming BBC Bread in Liverpool, 1988
#174 Liverpool’s International Garden Festival, 23rd March 1984
#175 The BBC in Elswick Street, Dingle filming the hit comedy “Bread” 11th July 1987.
#176 Police outside the Nite Owl Club in Davies Street the morning after a fierce fight at the club left one man in hospital fighting for his life, 1981
#177 Disc jockey Pez (left) and manager Steve Fleury seen here in the cocktail bar of the Bedrock night club 17th June 1989.
#178 Lord Gifford visits Granby Street, Toxteth, 29th November 1988.
#179 Lord Gifford talks to local resident Delroy Burris in Granby Street, Toxteth, 29th November 1988.
#180 Paul McCartney awarded the title of Honorary Freedom of the City of Liverpool, with Linda McCartney and Councillor Hugh Dalton, 28th November 1984.
#181 John and Dorothy Crawley outside their West Derby home, Tue Brook house. The pair are celebrating a full year as residents of the oldest dated house in Liverpool, 22nd April 1982.
#182 Paul McCartney in Liverpool, 1988
#183 1985 Grand National
#184 Toxteth Riot 1st October 1985 Police officers attempt to remove a road block set up by rioters on Princes Road Toxteth.
#185 The Yellow Submarine in Liverpool, 26th April 1984.
A large model representation of the submarine featured in the animated film Yellow Submarine, inspired by the song of the same name on the Beatles album Revolver, It was built by a group of about 80 apprentices from Cammell Laird's shipyard for exhibition at the International Garden Festival in Liverpool in 1984, Picture shows: The submarine is officially blessed at the exhibition site by Mrs Margaret Bailey, wife of the training workshops deputy manager, In the picture (waving at the back) are some of the young Cammell Laird trainees who helped to build the sub.
