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35 nostalgic pictures from Shropshire and Powys that take you back to 1960-1965 — with high streets, local shops, and faces from the past

This collection of photos show our streets in days gone by.

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By Tania Taylor
Published

Local shops were the heart of communities, offering services that went above and beyond, when everyone knew shopkeepers by name.

We hope these images bring back fond memories for those who were there.

The Regal Cinema, Market Drayton. The print is undated but at the time it was showing 'Operation Petticoat' with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis, which dated from 1959, so a guess is this picture was taken around 1959 or 1960
The Regal Cinema, Market Drayton. The print is undated but at the time it was showing 'Operation Petticoat' with Cary Grant and Tony Curtis, which dated from 1959, so a guess is this picture was taken around 1959 or 1960
'Market Drayton Golf Club house, circa 1960.' This is hanging in the clubhouse at Market Drayton Golf Club and was copied in January 2017 with the permission of Denis Roberts, an honorary life member of the club. The car on the right is a Triumph Herald which first appeared in 1959. This particular clubhouse was known as the 'Polo Hut' as it was an old polo hut erected at the golf club. It did not stand on the same site as the modern clubhouse, sounds like it was about 200 yards or so away. This picture also appears in a book about the history of the club in which it is captioned: 'The second clubhouse was assembled in 1949 and was originally the Polo Pavilion at Budworth, near Delamere, Cheshire.'
'Market Drayton Golf Club house, circa 1960.' This is hanging in the clubhouse at Market Drayton Golf Club and was copied in January 2017 with the permission of Denis Roberts, an honorary life member of the club. The car on the right is a Triumph Herald which first appeared in 1959. This particular clubhouse was known as the 'Polo Hut' as it was an old polo hut erected at the golf club. It did not stand on the same site as the modern clubhouse, sounds like it was about 200 yards or so away. This picture also appears in a book about the history of the club in which it is captioned: 'The second clubhouse was assembled in 1949 and was originally the Polo Pavilion at Budworth, near Delamere, Cheshire.'
Mr Roberts, who became a club member in 1971, said: 'That was outside the old locker rooms. It was the opening of the locker rooms which were still there until 1993 (i.e. when the current clubhouse was built).' He says one of the children on the far left is Hughie Eardley, still a member. His father was Tony Eardley who ran a big pet shop in Market Drayton. The child mid right, looking away, is he thinks another current member, John Cushing, who now keeps Goldstone Hall hotel. He thinks his father Bill Cushing is the man in the white sweater towards the right. The locker rooms have been demolished. This picture also appears in a book about the history of the golf club which says in its caption that it is the opening of the new locker rooms in 1962.
Market Drayton Gold club. Another picture from Mr Denis Roberts, who became a club member in 1971, said: 'It was the opening of the locker rooms in 1962, which were still there until 1993 (i.e. when the current clubhouse was built).' He says one of the children on the far left is Hughie Eardley. His father was Tony Eardley who ran a big pet shop in Market Drayton. The child mid right, looking away, is he thinks John Cushing, who now keeps Goldstone Hall hotel. He thinks his father Bill Cushing is the man in the white sweater towards the right. The locker rooms have been demolished
A real photographic postcard picture of Cheshire Street, Market Drayton in 1962. This was shared by Dave Francis: 'The postcard, which is at least 55 years old, was posted to an address in Plymouth, Devon. If only Cheshire Street was as quiet nowadays although the photographer must have taken this photo early in the morning sun as only one female cyclist can be seen pedalling away from us. On the left Oakleys agricultural shop and yard can be seen followed by The Oak pub and Town Hall on the left with its unusual domed top. Way in the centre distance the Railway Hotel can be discerned. On the right foreground Morris's tobacconists can be seen advertising Gold Flake and Players Nun tobacco followed by Beresfords cycle shop showing signs for Rudge cycles, Michelin cycle tyres and Exide batteries. The last shop on the right is the Silverdale Cooperative Society Ltd. For those of you with a keen eye an old fashioned telephone box is located to the left of the cyclist at the entrance to the Oak yard which led to the old covered market. Sadly all these premises I have mentioned have long since gone, said Dave Francis.'
A real photographic postcard picture of Cheshire Street, Market Drayton in 1962. This was shared by Dave Francis: 'The postcard, which is at least 55 years old, was posted to an address in Plymouth, Devon. If only Cheshire Street was as quiet nowadays although the photographer must have taken this photo early in the morning sun as only one female cyclist can be seen pedalling away from us. On the left Oakleys agricultural shop and yard can be seen followed by The Oak pub and Town Hall on the left with its unusual domed top. Way in the centre distance the Railway Hotel can be discerned. On the right foreground Morris's tobacconists can be seen advertising Gold Flake and Players Nun tobacco followed by Beresfords cycle shop showing signs for Rudge cycles, Michelin cycle tyres and Exide batteries. The last shop on the right is the Silverdale Cooperative Society Ltd. For those of you with a keen eye an old fashioned telephone box is located to the left of the cyclist at the entrance to the Oak yard which led to the old covered market. Sadly all these premises I have mentioned have long since gone, said Dave Francis.'
Circa 1960, the sign on the front of this building reads: 'British Legion (Market Drayton) Club Ltd. Watneys Ales.'
Circa 1960, the sign on the front of this building reads: 'British Legion (Market Drayton) Club Ltd. Watneys Ales.'
nostalgia pic. Madeley. nostalgia pic. Dawley. nostalgia pic. Shifnal. The party of four who in August 1960 drove down to the Rome Olympic Games. From left, Roger Drury and Malcolm Davies, who were both 17 year olds from Cleethorpes and thought to have been school friends at Cleethorpes Grammar School; Len Roberts of Dawley (at that time), and George Bolton, of Shifnal. The photo is taken outside George Bolton's Shifnal home when they picked him up for the trip. Roger was the son of the car owner. This picture is from Mr Len Roberts, of Woodlands, Park Lane, Madeley TF7 5HJ, 580693, DoB February 18, 1935. In August 1960 he and three others, one of them being George Bolton from Shifnal, the other two being 17-year-olds from Cleethorpes, drove the 900 miles to Rome to see the Rome Olympics, and back again. At that time Mr Roberts, who was a PE teacher at Madeley Modern School, was living at 46 Chapel Street, Dawley. Old car. Old cars. The car is a 1938 Ford 8. Library code: Madeley nostalgia 2012. Dawley nostalgia 2012.
A party of four who in August 1960 drove down to the Rome Olympic Games. From left, Roger Drury and Malcolm Davies, who were both 17 year olds from Cleethorpes and thought to have been school friends at Cleethorpes Grammar School; Len Roberts of Dawley (at that time), and George Bolton, of Shifnal. The photo is taken outside George Bolton's Shifnal home when they picked him up for the trip. Roger was the son of the car owner. This picture is from Mr Len Roberts, who at that time was a PE teacher at Madeley Modern School and living in Dawley. The car is a 1938 Ford 8
In this Shifnal picture, across the road is the shop Young and Upton Ltd, which suffered a smash and grab raid in the early hour of August 5, 1964
In this Shifnal picture, across the road is the shop Young and Upton Ltd, which suffered a smash and grab raid in the early hour of August 5, 1964
Aber-Carriers (1954) Ltd, based in Severn Road, Welshpool, around 1960. The picture was shared with us by Merv Watkin. Mr Watkin worked there as a mechanic in the workshop. The vehicles are mostly Bedford TK lorries, he said. The firm no longer exists
Aber-Carriers (1954) Ltd, based in Severn Road, Welshpool, around 1960. The picture was shared with us by Merv Watkin. Mr Watkin worked there as a mechanic in the workshop. The vehicles are mostly Bedford TK lorries, he said. The firm no longer exists
'High Street looking west, Llanfyllin.' The Eagle Hotel is on the right. Presumably Llanfyllin war memorial centre left. This postcard is franked in Llanfyllin in September 1960. The message was: 'Dear Mrs Socket, It's time you came home now. In case you had forgotten Llanfyllin. Just to remind you. Hope you are better. I feel much better. B. Owen.' It was sent to Mrs Socket, Penyffordd. This was sent to us by Mrs Anne Hughes of Llansantffraid
'High Street looking west, Llanfyllin.' The Eagle Hotel is on the right. Presumably Llanfyllin war memorial centre left. This postcard is franked in Llanfyllin in September 1960. The message was: 'Dear Mrs Socket, It's time you came home now. In case you had forgotten Llanfyllin. Just to remind you. Hope you are better. I feel much better. B. Owen.' It was sent to Mrs Socket of Penyffordd. This was sent to us by Mrs Anne Hughes of Llansantffraid
Bridgnorth High Street. This is a Judges of Hastings postcard from the collection of Bridgnorth postcard collector Ray Farlow. We are looking towards Bridgnorth Town Hall. It is undated, although possibly circa 1960. The vehicle in the left foreground has been identified as a Humber Hawk from the 1957 to 1963 period
Bridgnorth High Street. This is a Judges of Hastings postcard from the collection of Bridgnorth postcard collector Ray Farlow. We are looking towards Bridgnorth Town Hall. It is undated, although possibly circa 1960. The vehicle in the left foreground has been identified as a Humber Hawk from the 1957 to 1963 period
An undated Bridgnorth aerial view. St Leonard's Church is prominent and Bridgnorth High Street runs diagonally across the photo. Bridgnorth railway station is at the top and trains and rolling stock are visible, suggesting this was taken before the closure of the line in 1963 when it closed to through passenger (September) and freight (November) services. The line can also seen to be intact in the foreground, so the picture was taken before the track north of Bridgnorth was ripped up some time after September 1963. Picture: Aerofilms and Aero Pictorial Limited.
An undated Bridgnorth aerial view. St Leonard's Church is prominent and Bridgnorth High Street runs diagonally across the photo. Bridgnorth railway station is at the top and trains and rolling stock are visible, suggesting this was taken before the closure of the line in 1963 when it closed to through passenger (September) and freight (November) services. The line can also seen to be intact in the foreground, so the picture was taken before the track north of Bridgnorth was ripped up some time after September 1963. Picture: Aerofilms and Aero Pictorial Limited.