Fascinating Photos show Life in Birmingham during the 1980s

With the recession of the early 1980s, Birmingham’s economy collapsed, resulting in unprecedented unemployment levels in the city and outbreaks of social unrest. In 1982, the city’s unemployment rate was approaching 20%, and in inner-city areas such as Aston, Handsworth, and Sparkbrook, it was twice that level. Birmingham also witnessed a new wave of migration during the 1980s, coming from communities without Commonwealth roots, such as Kosovo and Somalia.

In an unprecedented nationwide tornado outbreak on 23 November 1981, two tornadoes touched down within Birmingham’s city limits – in Erdington and Selly Oak – while six tornadoes struck West Midlands County.

These fascinating photos show life in Birmingham in the 1980s.

#1 The Bull Ring market at night overlooked by the Rotunda 1986.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#2 Aerial View of Spaghetti Junction, Birmingham, Tuesday 21st June 1988.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#3 Corporation Street showing some of the shops including C&A, ABC Warehouse and H. Samuel jewellers, 22nd July 1983.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 Duran Duran in Concert at Villa Park, Birmingham, Saturday 23rd July 1983.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Muhammad Ali is mobbed by fans and supporters in the streets of Birmingham, 9th August 1983.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 ICC under construction, 4th October 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Street party for the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at Blythswood Road in Tyseley who set up a rousing cheer as their party got underway. 29th July 1981.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 Hundreds of people, including an 80-strong party of sailors from H.M.S. Birmingham, attend the Remembrance Day service at Birmingham Hall of Memory. 6th November 1981.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Rover workers take a ballot at Longbridge, 20th October, 1980.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Prince Charles on a visit to Balsall Heath 1980,

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 April 23rd to 26th 1981 brought the coldest spell of weather the UK had experienced at this time of year since 1908.

Heavy snow blanketed the UK and northeasterly winds brought freezing temperatures. This picture taken 26th April.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Castle Vale flats, 22nd April, 1983.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 The Superprix in Birmingham, 31st August 1987.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 The Queen receiving flowers from the crowd at the opening of Birmingham International Airport, 20th May 1984.

This is the new terminal building moved from the old Elmdon site.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Mell Square in Solihull, with the fountains in the middle. 17th October 1984.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Smoke darkens the wintry scene as fire rages through Bingley Hall, Broad Street, Birmingham 14th January 1984.

This was to become the site of the ICC.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Billy Graham, American Christian evangelist, Mission England Crusade, Villa Park, Birmingham, 6th July 1984, with special guest, singer, Cliff Richard.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Penns Hall Hotel in Penns Lane, Walmley, being set up as the Crossroads Motel for filming, 24th May 1985.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Scenes from the Handsworth riots in July 1981.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Pickets at Lea Hall Colliery, Rugeley, Staffordshire, Friday 16th March 1984.

Arthur Scargill, president of the NUM, declared that strikes in the various coal fields were to be a national strike and called for strike action from NUM members in all coal fields.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 Grand opening of Hamleys Toy Shop, Bull Street, Birmingham, 12th October 1985.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 Shoppers at the Pavillion Centre 28th November 1987.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Bristol Road Selly Oak looking towards the railway bridge with the Birmingham University clock tower in the background.17th May 1987.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 Completed trackwork inside Snow Hill Tunnel as pictured on 13th August 1987 ready for the re-opening of rail services from Birmingham to Stratford

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 The Woolworth store in the Bull Ring 27th March1986.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Solihull Central Library and Theatre before Touchwood encased it, 31st December 1987.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 A typical Thursday afternoon in the open air markets in the Bull Ring, 10th December 1987.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Bros at BBC’s Pebble Mill Studios, to launch Radio One’s new frequency, 1st September 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Bros at BBC’s Pebble Mill Studios, to launch Radio One’s new frequency, 1st September 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Thousands of young pop fans gather at the Bull Ring Shopping Centre for pop singer Tiffany, 19th January 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Thousands of young pop fans gather at the Bull Ring Shopping Centre for pop singer Tiffany, 19th January 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Crowds gather at Sarehole Mill for the start of the Walkathon 30th April 1989.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Princess Diana arrives to officially open Acorns Children’s Hospice, 14th December 1988.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Workers on strike outside Round Oak Steelworks, Brierley Hill, 26th February 1980.

The site was later to become the Merry Hill Shopping Centre.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote