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Retro Shropshire: 21 historic images revealing the county’s buildings and streets in 1962

These images remind us of what it was like to live in Shropshire in 1962.

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By Tania Taylor
Published

From historic street scenes and buildings, some long gone, these images from the Shropshire Star archive offer a nostalgic glimpse of the county's past, shuffled to keep you guessing. Enjoy!

This picture was shared by John Ruscoe, who said: 'I have a picture of Lord Hill from Coton Hall near Wem when he was he was the secretary of the Hawkstone Park Golf club in 1962 he is pictured standing on the 1st tee of the golf course with his dog and the Hawkstone Park Hotel in the background. The hotel was originally built around 1790 to accommodate the many visitors to the follies by the Hill family, when it formed part of the Hawkstone Estate.'
This picture was shared by John Ruscoe, who said: 'I have a picture of Lord Hill from Coton Hall near Wem when he was he was the secretary of the Hawkstone Park Golf club in 1962 he is pictured standing on the 1st tee of the golf course with his dog and the Hawkstone Park Hotel in the background. The hotel was originally built around 1790 to accommodate the many visitors to the follies by the Hill family, when it formed part of the Hawkstone Estate.'
The caption reads: 'A stately home that is a home - Stokesay Court, Onibury, near Ludlow, the private residence of Sir Philip and Lady Magnus Allcroft.' October 2, 1962.
The caption reads: 'A stately home that is a home - Stokesay Court, Onibury, near Ludlow, the private residence of Sir Philip and Lady Magnus Allcroft.' October 2, 1962.
Malinsee chapel, pictured on August 15, 1962. The caption reads: 'Malinslee Hall, tucked among the trees, and in the foreground is the old abbey ruins. Legend has it that there is a secret passage connecting the two.' The young girl on the picture is the late Shropshire Star journalist, Shirley Tart. Both chapel and hall were destroyed during the building of Telford shopping centre. The chapel site lies directly beneath the main shopping precinct, and Malinslee Hall is more or less underneath the Woodhouse Central inner ring road to the north west of the chapel site. The chapel was taken down stone by stone and later rebuilt at Telford town park.
Malinsee chapel, pictured on August 15, 1962. The caption reads: 'Malinslee Hall, tucked among the trees, and in the foreground is the old abbey ruins. Legend has it that there is a secret passage connecting the two.' The young girl on the picture is the late Shropshire Star journalist, Shirley Tart. Both chapel and hall were destroyed during the building of Telford shopping centre. The chapel site lies directly beneath the main shopping precinct, and Malinslee Hall is more or less underneath the Woodhouse Central inner ring road to the north west of the chapel site. The chapel was taken down stone by stone and later rebuilt at Telford town park.
July 27, 1962: 'Astley Abbotts School, near Bridgnorth, closes today because so few children live in the area... Most of the children will move to St Leonard's School, Bridgnorth'. The original caption also covered a second picture published at the same time which showed the headmistress Miss Eleanor Teece 'now retiring, and Miss Frances Cox, give one of the last lessons to the 18 pupils who attend the school.'
July 27, 1962: 'Astley Abbotts School, near Bridgnorth, closes today because so few children live in the area... Most of the children will move to St Leonard's School, Bridgnorth'.
September 1962: 'In the long shadows of the late afternoon sun, artist Mr. W.H.C. Twist, of Newport, paints by the Old Butter Cross in the village centre at Much Wenlock.'
September 1962: 'In the long shadows of the late afternoon sun, artist Mr. W.H.C. Twist, of Newport, paints by the Old Butter Cross in the village centre at Much Wenlock.'
Little Wenlock and Coalmoor panorama, general view, landscape, c.1962. We are looking towards Horsehay and Dawley with what looks like Dawley church tower in the distance.
Little Wenlock and Coalmoor panorama, general view, landscape, c.1962. We are looking towards Horsehay and Dawley with what looks like Dawley church tower in the distance.