Nine of the best Newport photos from 1974 show famous visitor, crash repair and building demolition

We've had a dig through the archives to give you an insight into what the town looked like half a century ago.

Here are nine photographs that show you some of what was taking place in and around Newport in the year the country marked by the three-day week and two General Elections.

Margaret Thatcher visits Newport

Taken from the Shropshire Star on Thursday, February 21, 1974. Then then Secretary for Education, Mrs Thatcher visited the town as part of the 1974 general election campaign with the then Wrekin Conservative candidate, Dr Tony Trafford and Mrs Trafford.

Caption reads: "During her walkabout in Newport his afternoon Mrs Margaret Thatcher, Secretary of State for Education (second left), chats to Mrs Ivy Pickard of Church Aston."

The photo appears to be taken outside what is now Boots, Mainstreet Nightclub and St Nicholas Church can be seen in the background.

Chemical leak on Avenue Road

Taken from the Shropshire Star picture archive either on June 1, 1974 or July 1, 1974. The caption pasted on the back reads: "Newport Fire Brigade stood by today after a van dropped 25 gallons of inflammable chemical in Avenue Road.

"The chemical, a by-product of diesel fuel used for damp-proofing houses, had leaked from a tank in the back of the van... Firemen spread sand over the chemical as it poured into the gutter."

Repairs to the canal bridge after car crash

Photograph was taken on August 14, 1974 and published in the Shropshire Star on the following day. Caption reads: "Salop County Council workers repairing the canal bridge at Newport. The wall was demolished by a car crash last Friday.

"The bridge is scheduled as an ancient monument and spans the canal over the roving lock, where horses pulling their boats changed sides."

Canal warehouse dismantled

Taken from the Shropshire Star of Monday, February 18, 1974. The caption read: "The 19th century warehouse on the side of the canal at Newport which is being dismantled by volunteers from the Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum, and will be rebuilt at the Blists Hill Museum."

Mums protest

Taken on May 31, 1974 and used in the Shropshire Star the following day with the caption: "The traffic piles up in High Street while the Newport mums march on."

The story began: "Protesting mothers, chanting and parading with placards, brought Newport to a standstill. Wheeling pushchairs and prams, singing 'The juggernauts must go' and 'we want a bypass', they wound their way up, down and across the town's busy High Street for an hour..."

Fishers Lock bungalows

Taken on August 8, 1974 and published in the Shropshire Star on August 13. The caption reads: "Bungalows at Fishers Lock, Newport".

Speech Day at Newport High School for Girls

Taken on July 11, 1974, this picture shows sixth form students from Newport High School for Girls who received prizes on their speech day.

Newport pupils take traffic census

Four students from Newport School for Girls undertaking a traffic census, likely taken on July 4, 1974 and used in the Shropshire Star the following day.

The caption reads: "From left, Anna Borkoway, Sandra Baker, Linsey Watkin (sic) and Linda Nightingale, all 16, join forces at the census point outside Newport Girls' High School."

The car is a Volkswagen Beetle and a Midland Red bus is approaching.

Vintage fire tender

Newport Fire Brigade checking over a fire tender built around 150 years prior to the date the photo was taken, which is recorded as December 23, 1974.

According to the caption, the tender - owned by the Aqualate Estate - was last used in 1926, and was being used by Newport's fire department for a Boxing Day procession.

The caption states the photo includes Mr Reg Andrews, fireman Derek Turner, station officer Leslie Talbot, and fireman John Steventon.