Ranked list Story Audio

Menu

Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time.

Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time.

in Places & People

Birmingham in the 1980s: Stunning Throwback Photos Show A Different City

5.3k Views 32 Comments

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.

#1 Heeley Road, Selly Oak. Birmingham, August 1982

Heeley Road, Selly Oak. Birmingham, August 1982

8 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Bull Ring and Rotunda. Birmingham, December 1976

Bull Ring and Rotunda. Birmingham, December 1976

7 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Birmingham New Street Signal Box, December 1983

Birmingham New Street Signal Box, December 1983

5 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 The entrance to Birmingham Shopping Centre car park in Navigation Street. Birmingham, December 1984

The entrance to Birmingham Shopping Centre car park in Navigation Street. Birmingham, December 1984

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 Shoe shop, Corporation Street. Birmingham, November 1979

Shoe shop, Corporation Street. Birmingham, November 1979

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Lower Temple Street:Stephenson Street, Birmingham, December 1982

Lower Temple Street:Stephenson Street, Birmingham, December 1982

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 View towards the city centre from High Street, Deritend on 8th November 1986.

View towards the city centre from High Street, Deritend on 8th November 1986.

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 University Station. Birmingham, July 1986

University Station. Birmingham, July 1986

4 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Birmingham Main Line Canal, January 1984

Birmingham Main Line Canal, January 1984

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

Birmingham Snow Hill station undergoing demolition on 14th May 1977

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Proof House Junction, July 1982

Proof House Junction, July 1982

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 Gough Street. Birmingham, August 1982

Gough Street. Birmingham, August 1982

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 Golden Hillock Road. Birmingham, August 1982

Golden Hillock Road. Birmingham, August 1982

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Bordesley. Birmingham, November 1983

Bordesley. Birmingham, November 1983

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Nechells Power Station. Birmingham, April 1984

Nechells Power Station. Birmingham, April 1984

Viewed from beneath the bridge carrying the Aston to Stechford line over the Midland line near Washwood Heath. The power station closed in 1982

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Piccadilly Arcade. Birmingham, December 1984

Piccadilly Arcade. Birmingham, December 1984

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Nechells Power Station. Birmingham, July 1984

Nechells Power Station. Birmingham, July 1984

The cooling towers and chimneys of Nechells power station viewed from Tyburn Road on 15th July 1984.

3 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Birmingham New Street, July 1984

Birmingham New Street, July 1984

2 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Digbeth Branch Canal. Birmingham, November 1983

Digbeth Branch Canal. Birmingham, November 1983

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#21 Grand Union canal, Bordesley. Birmingham, 5th September 1981.

Grand Union canal, Bordesley. Birmingham, 5th September 1981.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#22 New Street Station. Birmingham, December 1982

New Street Station. Birmingham, December 1982

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#23 Birmingham Moor Street Station, March 1987

Birmingham Moor Street Station, March 1987

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#24 A summer Sunday afternoon on the bridge that spans the eastern end of New Street station, in front of the Rotunda, St. Martin’s Circus, 12th July 1987.

A summer Sunday afternoon on the bridge that spans the eastern end of New Street station, in front of the Rotunda, St. Martin’s Circus, 12th July 1987.

1 Point

Upvote Downvote

#25 Hill Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Hill Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Paradise Place, Birmingham, 1980s.

Paradise Place, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Kitchener Street, Smethwick, 1980s.

Kitchener Street, Smethwick, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Nechells, Birmingham, 1980s.

Nechells, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Moseley, Birmingham, 1980s.

Moseley, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Garrison Lane, Birmingham, 1980s.

Garrison Lane, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Burlington Passage, Birmingham, 1980s.

Burlington Passage, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, 1980s.

View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, 1980s.

Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Paradise Circus, Birmingham, 1980s.

Paradise Circus, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 Mk.I Metrobus, Birmingham, 1980s.

Mk.I Metrobus, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 ‘The Railway’, Winson Green, 1980s.

‘The Railway’, Winson Green, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 New Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

New Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 Birmingham New Street Station, 1980s.

Birmingham New Street Station, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#56 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#57 Hill Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Hill Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#58 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#59 Paradise Place, Birmingham, 1980s.

Paradise Place, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#60 Kitchener Street, Smethwick, 1980s.

Kitchener Street, Smethwick, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#61 Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#62 Nechells, Birmingham, 1980s.

Nechells, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#63 The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

The Victoria, John Bright Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#64 Moseley, Birmingham, 1980s.

Moseley, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#65 Garrison Lane, Birmingham, 1980s.

Garrison Lane, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#66 Burlington Passage, Birmingham, 1980s.

Burlington Passage, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#67 View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, 1980s.

View from Birmingham Shopping Centre car park, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#68 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#69 Birmingham, 1980s.

Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#70 Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

Winson Green, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#71 Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, 1980s.

Washwood Heath Road, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#72 Paradise Circus, Birmingham, 1980s.

Paradise Circus, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#73 Mk.I Metrobus, Birmingham, 1980s.

Mk.I Metrobus, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#74 ‘The Railway’, Winson Green, 1980s.

‘The Railway’, Winson Green, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#75 Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#76 New Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

New Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#77 Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Corporation Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#78 Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#79 Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#80 Birmingham New Street Station, 1980s.

Birmingham New Street Station, 1980s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

32 Comments

Sort by

Silly Whskr says:

March 12, 2024 at 06:46 Copy Link of a Comment

When Smallheath was a nicer place

0

Reply
Iron Gorilla says:

March 12, 2024 at 06:46 Copy Link of a Comment

Look at it now…👀

0

Reply
Golden Phoenix says:

March 12, 2024 at 06:47 Copy Link of a Comment

I walked along golden hillock road to school, in the late forties. Has living close in Osborn rd. At the time.

0

Reply
Ruby Rosebud says:

March 12, 2024 at 06:47 Copy Link of a Comment

Can we not judge please.

0

Reply
Olivia Adams says:

March 12, 2024 at 06:47 Copy Link of a Comment

Golden Hillock Road looking towards the junction of Bolton and Byron Road just before work started on the bypass

0

Reply

Next post

Back to Top

Close Add post

Share this Post 🥺

Please take a moment to share this content. Your support is greatly appreciated! 🙌🙏