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Fascinating Vintage Photos Show What England Looked Like in the 1950s

The Post-War years brought tremendous economic growth in Britain. The food rationing ended in 1954 and the unemployment rate was declining rapidly. However, the legacy of World War II could be seen everywhere, particularly in London, where there were bombed homes, bomb-sites, temporary prefabs, and gardens turned into allotments. The countryside was peppered with wartime military bases, many now abandoned, others reactivated in response to the Cold War. The British government was spending 6.6 percent of GDP on defense.

The new low-cost housing sprung up around the country as people moved into new homes. People bought cars and TVs, by 1959 over 32% of households owned a car and nearly one-quarter of households had a television. The first parking meters in Britain were installed in London in 1958. The 1950s was a golden era for public transport. The trams were replaced with electric trolleybuses and petrol buses, which provided cheap and better services. On the roads, one out of every three vehicles were a bus or lorry.

Take a look at these stunning vintage photos that show what England looked like in the 1950s.

#4 Christchurch Street, 1952

Christchurch Street, 1952

#7 Guards at Coronation, Trafalgar Square, London, 1953

Guards at Coronation, Trafalgar Square, London, 1953

#11 Wooden Dock, 1953

Wooden Dock, 1953

#14 Wooden Boats, Polperro, 1952

Wooden Boats, Polperro, 1952

#17 Village Church, 1953

Village Church, 1953

#21 Silverstone Grid, 1953

Silverstone Grid, 1953

#24 Honors Graduation, 1953

Honors Graduation, 1953

#27 The East Gate Clock in Chester, 1952

The East Gate Clock in Chester, 1952

#31 Winslow, 1952

Winslow, 1952

#34 Trafalgar Fountain, 1953

Trafalgar Fountain, 1953

#37 Mevagissey Cornwall, 1953

Mevagissey Cornwall, 1953

#41 Tower bridge, 1953

Tower bridge, 1953

#44 Market at Bury St. Edmunds, 1952

Market at Bury St. Edmunds, 1952

#47 Bridge and Corfe Castle, 1953

Bridge and Corfe Castle, 1953

#51 Brighton beach, 1956.

Brighton beach, 1956.

#54 Winslow, 1952

Winslow, 1952

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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.

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