Birmingham, the second-largest city of England, looked totally different in the 1980s. There were no Selfridges or Harvey Nichols, no Bullring as we know it today. Instead, you had to take your life into your hands as you ventured through the city’s subway shops and underground passages that are now filled in and long since vanished. The city was going through a major economic collapse due to the 1980s recession. The unemployment rates were also high outbreaks of social unrest in inner-city districts were common. Here below are some throwback photos that show what Birmingham looked like in the 1980s. Vote your favorites and also check, what Birmingham looked like in the 1960s.
Birmingham in the 1980s: Stunning Throwback Photos Show A Different City
I miss the old library, the new is relatively hideous
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Vincent Timbers, Selly Oak. Check out that train hauling away!
Pulling in isn’t it? I think the picture was taken next to the Pear?
Had a mate who worked at Vincent timbers in the 80’s
Oh man. When I was a teenager in Birmingham in the 1980s, my school bus pass got me everywhere I wanted to go. (I went to Five Ways so had to get the 11 and then 23 to school)
So I used to get the #9 from Quinton to town, and then go and stare in the window of Hornton Electronics which was on the corner of Lower Temple Street (where Archie’s is now) and lust after the new Hifi. (It’s in a couple of those pictures).
I also used to wander down Newhall St to the Science Museum, which used to be down by the canal near the BT Tower before it moved to Millennium Point.
It was a sign you were near home when you saw the ‘milk bottles’ at Nechells power station and the HP Sauce building at Spaghetti Junction. Nechells’ cooling towers were knocked down, too.
Anyone remember the BRMB Walkathon? One lap around the 11 outer circles route was equivalent to a marathon – 26 miles. At Lordswood School, I started and finished it one year in the 80’s.
There are so many memories in those photos of exactly how I remember Brum (I moved to Yorkshire 27 years ago).
I did the walkathon too.
Was a great experience and I seem to recall brought everyone together wandering round the 11 route.
Sure it’d be a faff to organise nowadays.
These pics are great. I used to get random busses round Brum on the way from Handsworth to Sutton.
I’m roughly the same age as you. I remember it the same way as you.
Birmingham was much better then. It’s declined immensely since the 80s.
Did that walkathon and run the world love brum back in the day
All about silver blades, town misses that kind of place where kids congregated from all areas and had pure fun
I remember that. Full of all sorts of people and great arcades too. Skating followed by some video games with your mates. Then a quick meal in Chinatown after.